Customer Reviews

Crossing the Tiber

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Steve Ray, in his first effort, has clearly demonstrated a great love for Truth. Steve puts forward support of the Catholic understanding of Baptism and the Eucharistic in a readable and highly scholastic manner.

The work is a fine contribution to the Christian faith. It begins with a conversion story quite enjoyable to read and is completed by a truly revealing review of Baptism and the Eucharist.

Catholics will be strengthened in their faith. Protestants will be treated to a fine explanation of matters which often divide Catholics and Protestants. Buy the book. It is worth the read and don't pass up the footnotes.

I can't recommend this book enough. The information that is contained in CROSSING THE TIBER is unbelievable. No skimming through any of Steve Ray's books. His knowledge of Scripture and writings of the early Church Fathers is amazing. Wait until you see all of his footnotes. I'll tell you of how God used this book for someone that I don't even know the name of . I was on a flight that I wasn't even supposed to be on (flight change), in a seat that I wasn't supposed to be sitting in (someone took my assigned seat, thank God), and I sat next to a real chatterbox. He just kept talking. I tried to read the paper, eat lunch, anything, but nothing quieted him. Then he got up to use the restroom, so I pulled out CROSSING THE TIBER to finish it. I only had a few pages to go. And I thought the man would not interrupt me if he saw I was reading. I was wrong. He asked me what book I was reading so I flashed it at him. "What's it about," he asked. I told him it was a religious book since that usually ends the conversation. Not this one. He asked me specifically what it was about. So I told him. A former Baptist who converted to Catholicsm started it as an explanation to his family about his decision to convert. The last two sections deal with the Eucharist and Baptism from a Scriptural and early Church writings standpoint. Then I turned to look at him. He had gone completely white. He told me he had just converted to Catholicsm from Baptist and his family's two main problems with it were the Eucharist and Baptism. When I tried to give him the book, he refused. I told him I wasn't even supposed to be on that flight or in that seat and it was obvious God wanted him to have that book. I pray it helped him and his family. I never learned his name, but I think of him often.

Introduction:

Back in 1994 Stephen K. Ray began writing "Crossing the Tiber" as an attempt to explain to his Baptist family (and his Evangelical friends) his spiritual and intellectual journey into Catholicism. This is a conversion story (and a Roman-Catholic apologetics) book unlike any other. It has been helpful in my pilgrim's journey from a Baptist-family background to a more historical and liturgical tradition found in the Lutheran movement. The Tiber is a river that traverses the city of Rome and borders the Vatican state.

Author:

Ray, and his wife, come from strong Evangelical families, and his writing shows his candor, courage, and theological literacy. The Rays have spent years investigating and researching Church history, doctrine and theology (sola Scriptura, etc.), studying the Bible and reading the writings of the Church Fathers. The author seems to be very much in love with the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and its faith but do not let his overly enthusiastic tone be confused with lack of theological and historical knowledge.

Content:

From the very beginning the author explains his purpose for writing this book and its intent is to be " 'pastoral' in tone - not combative and harsh." The content of the book seems a bit academic, because there are many comprehensive and useful footnotes which sometimes take up 80% of the respective page. There is a good index at the end, and also a bibliographical list of the research books the author used the most in his journey across the Tiber.

The book is divided into three strategic parts.

Part one, tells the story of how the Ray's belief in fundamental evangelical Protestantism of Sola Scriptura started to crumble, how they were confronted and troubled by some historical and theological issues, and how they compared the Greek, eastern Christian tradition (Orthodoxy) with the Latin, western Christian tradition (Roman-Catholicism). I was dissapointed that in the pages that Stephen discusses Orthodoxy (a church that he almost decided to join!) he only shallowly enumerates the issues that made him chose the other ancient historical church - the Roman Catholic Church (page 79). In this section, Ray exhuberantly and almost evangelically talks about the RCC as the true ancient church "with a two-thousand year continuum" while not acknowledging that many well-meaning and well-informed Protestants and Orthodox believers disagree with the interpretations and teachings of the RCC.

Part two and three are the heart of this study book or journey from Protestantism to Catholicism. Here the author does an excellent job presenting the cultural, historical, exegetical, and theological understanding of the effecacious nature of Baptism and the deep meaning of the Eucharist (Communion, Mass, Lord's Supper) by analyzing the Biblical (both OT and NT) verses and Early Church writings on these two very important topics in Christianity. These concise yet thorough sections are the best resources of biblical explanations and patristic understanding of the traditional view of Baptism and Communion that I have in my library and I plan on using them as reference in the future.

Publisher:

It is worth to mention that Ignatius Press, the Catholic apologetics power-house, is the publisher of "Crossing the Tiber." This is also the publisher of other books in the recently emerging "conversion" cottage industry, such as Scott Hahn's "Rome Sweet Rome" and Thomas Howard's writings.

Conclusion:

For any Christian who is not afaid to have his/her doctrines challenged and can deal with a vast amount of ancient and contemporary sources, great literary handle on church history and doctrinal development (not to mention small font but large footnote sections), this is a book that will expand your horizon. The biblical texts and early church writings research on understanding Baptism and the Lord's Communion is impeccable. For me the last two parts have been very educational, but because I disagree with many of the distinctively pro-Catholic beliefs presented in the first part of the book, I can honestly say that I will be indefinitely stuck half-way across the Tiber. Enjoy the research!

Of all the books I've read on the subject of the history of the catholic/protestant scism, this is probably the best. If you have trouble reading small print, better get a good pair of magnifying glasses, cause Ray has alot of footnotes throughout, and they're as interesting as the body of the book itself. There is so much I never knew about the Church as an evan gelical christian. This book is informative, and he does not ever come across negative towards protestantism. He just pretty much relates his and his family's personal journey, and then goes into great delay on the teachings of Baptism and The Eucharist. I think alot of Catholics who've never left the church could be inspired by this writer. I'm reading it for the 2nd time, and gleaning more this time than the first!

Steve Ray is one of my very favorite Catholic authors, and his excellent "Crossing the Tiber" has impressed me every time I've read it. His discussion of non-Catholic Christianity is charitable and fair, and his study of baptism and the Eucharist is quite thorough. As someone who came home to the Catholic Church after being an evangelical Protestant, I could closely identify with the story of the Ray family's conversion process. Great stuff!

This is an excellent book for any Evangelical Protestant who is curious about Roman Catholicism. As a Southern Baptist, many misconstrued "myths" about the Catholic church were clarified for me and the true teaching of the Roman Church were clearly and logically articulated. Ray uses plenty of Scripture and Ante-Nicene literature to support Rome's long held positions; any student of the Bible will, indeed, have to give serious thought to your own beliefs in light of this excellent work.

For those not sure about what the Catholic Church
teaches on salvation and the Eucharist,this is
the book to read and contemplate.
Stephen Ray's book is brillant in expertly
defending the truth of Catholicism with the
Bible and the early Church Fathers.
A reviewer on Sept6th said it was egotistic
for him to share his testimony!
Oh please!!!Christians have been sharing their
conversions for centuries,including St.Augustine.
Also alot of former Catholics need to read this
valuable book.
Yes all of us Christians can learn alot from reading
CROSSING THE TIBER!

If you are looking for a book that explains Baptism and the Eucharist from an aplogetic view, this is the book for you. He takes you on detail journey through the Old Testament, New Testament and early Church Fathers to explain his points. Excellent reading, the only reason I gave it a four star reading,is the footnotes, the print was too small for me, it cause me to buy reading glasses, but it was worth it.

Kay's book is excellent and for a deep, researched read. That is why I am probably the only person who actually liked the footnotes as opposed to flipping back to the end of the book to read them.
First, the positives which all acted to help me, as a Protestant, undertand Catholocism better. I liked how he described the act of praying to Mary as "praying with Mary". I also liked how he focused on the tradition of the Church (Catholic) and contrasted that with interpretation of the Bible (Protestant). Not to say those are overall truths inherent in the division, just that they are the more closely guarded theology in each.
I agree with some of the other reviews that he was sensitive to a Protestant reading it, although I got tired of hearing the "one, holy, apostolic Catholic church" over and over again, even if that is his thesis. Another problem I had was his reference to the Westminster Confession of Faith, which he failed to mention that the article of the Pope being the antichrist has since been deleted. He also failed to clear my mind as to the idea of salvation within the Catholic church. I interpreted Sola Fide was viable according to the Catholic Catechism, in that fath alone is necessary from the point of view of our human responsibility. Protestants agree that "faith alone" does not save, but that grace is, obviously, a key element to salvation. Perhaps Luther felt the need during the reformation to clear the air of that idea due to the events at the time.
However, I am currently searching for a similar work to Kay's since most of our Catholic friends here on Amazon seem to have felt most of the works here on Amazon that further the debate are less sensitive than Kay's. That is why I gave this book four stars and why I believe that Protestants and Catholics are Christians and we can build on that brotherhood to fight the real battle.

Amazingly good book, a conversion story with an extensive look into the Catholic history behind Baptism and the Eucharist. More than just convincing me about these two sacraments, this book allowed me to deepen my spiritual understanding and appreciation of them. Mr. Ray clearly still loves the non-Catholic tradition he comes from and this fact makes the book an excellent "loaner" to anyone considering Catholicism or challenging it. *Make sure you read all those footnotes*