With 1 billion Catholics in the world -- and 57 million in the United States alone -- Catholicism is the world's most familiar religion. Yet many facets of this varied and dynamic tradition remain unknown or poorly understood. Now "The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism" offers a one-volume comprehensive and authoritative guide to the people, doctrines, history, worship, art, spirituality, literature, theological developments, and changes that have shaped the Church over nearly two millennia.Led by general editor Richard P. McBrien, bestselling author of "Catholicism," an editorial team drawn almost entirely from the University of Notre Dame has collected more than 4,200 entries written by 280 leading experts from around the world and across the theological spectrum, including Benedict Ashley, Gerald O'Collins, Sandra B. Schneiders, Hans Kung, Walter H. Principe, Elizabeth Johnson, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Virgilio Elizondo, Catherine Mowry LaCugna, Robert F. Taft, Peter Hebblethwaite, Dermot A. Lane, Francis A. Sullivan, Robert F. Trisco, and John Strynkowski. A concise reference for understanding Catholic terms such as "vigil light" and "maniple, The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism" also offers superb feature-length entries on subjects ranging from the seven sacraments, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Peter, Paul, Augustine, and Aquinas to prayer and Christian spirituality, Catholicism in the United States, women in the Church, and Vatican II.Treating Catholicism as a unique tradition, community, and way of life, the encyclopedia defines and describes topics such as Eastern Catholicism, canon law, devotions, religious orders and lay organizations, andsaints, angels, and archangels. Also included are tables of the liturgical calendar, ecumenical councils, and a list of all the popes, complete with a brief biography of each.A convenient and reliable source of information regarding every aspect of Catholicism, past and present, "The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism" covers the controversy and dissent within the Church as well as its teachings and beliefs, providing a balanced and unparalleled resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Catholic life.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
This book will be of interest to public and academic libraries needing an update to the New Catholic Encyclopedia (McGraw-Hill, 1967; supplements: 1974, 1979, 1989). It is aimed at the layperson, both Catholic and non-Catholic. Provided are simple definitions for terms, longer entries for broader subjects, and 29 feature articles of several pages each (e.g., Bible, The Papacy). The latter articles are sometimes not in exact alphabetical order but are listed in the table of contents.
McBrien, a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame, commissioned more than 4,500 entries on Catholic doctrine, worship, history, culture, art, literature, and biblical scholarship. There are entries on Catholicism in various countries, biographies, information on other religions, and discussions of complex moral and social issues. Such diverse subjects as Transubstantiation, the Shroud of Turin, Mother Teresa, Limbo, the Soviet pseudosynods of the 1940s, and various apparitions of the Virgin Mary are covered, along with such nonreligious topics as Romanticism, Big Bang Theory, Relativity, and Phenomenology. All entries are signed, and pronunciation is provided when necessary. Bibliographies conclude lengthier entries. Parallel time lines of world history and of Catholicism open the book. Black-and-white photographs and line drawings accompany some entries; there are two inserts of color photographs. Maps and tables (e.g., "Liturgical Calendar" ) are also featured. There is no index, but see also references direct the reader to related articles.
While this is not an official publication of Notre Dame, a large number of contributing editors are faculty members there. There is representation from other religious authorities, including the Archbishop of Canterbury. Information is presented objectively, and controversies are handled in a straightforward manner. Such heretical movements as quietism and simony (the buying and selling of church offices) are defined in historical and social context. The lengthy article Women in the Church acknowledges that "The Church gets mixed reviews for its treatment of women over the centuries." Entries such as Birth Control and Ordination of Women note that there is division within the church on these topics.
This work will be helpful in providing answers for reference questions that range from the relatively trivial (Seven Deadly Sins) to the complex (Bioethics, God). With the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Doubleday, 1994) and John Paul II's Crossing the Threshold of Hope (Knopf, 1994) on recent best-seller lists, there will be a large audience for this excellent encyclopedia.
From the Publisher
The faculty at Notre Dame University presents the most comprehensive, easy-to-use reference on the world's largest religious tradition--a must for all Catholics and anyone seeking to explore and understand the rich and fascinating world of Catholicism.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
McBrien and His Team Have Performed a Great Service,
By John P. (Kennett Square, PA USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism (Hardcover)
Since I received this book from Amazon last week, I have had real trouble setting it aside. Not only does it contain a staggering amount of information; it also is beautifully produced and intelligently written.
It is huge, a good thing for any encyclopedia -- 1300 pages and over 4,000 entries. It is full of pictures: photos of important individuals and sites, reproductions of famous artwork, and explanatory drawings. Major topics, such as each of the sacraments, are covered in long, well-organized essays. And all the details indicate that this project was undertaken with the seriousness and dedication it deserves: the entries are cross-referenced, helpful bibliographies follow many entries, boldface subheads break up and organize the longer entries, bylines are provided after the more analytical entries, a complete list of contributors with their affiliations is provided, pronunciations are given for unfamiliar terms -- I could go on and on.
33 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Comprehensive Reference for the Thinking Christian,
By Charles J Caes (Warrenton, Va. USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism (Hardcover)
This is a fine companion to McBrien's "Catholicism: New Study." McBrien has always been fearless in rising above elementary explanations for the relationship between man and God, and once again he takes us on a fantastic journey into both Catholic religion and Catholic theology. He takes you to the pillars of Chrisitianity, to its sensibleness as well as its spirituality. The piece on "hell" is only one example. Hell, the author of the piece writes, is not a place but a state of existence. "It is the the eternal loss of God.... While moral theologians have perhaps been careless over the centuries in designating certain actions as morally sinful, the church has never taught that anyone has, in fact, died in such a state..... It is not God who tortures the sinner, but the sinner who rejects God." There are countless more insightful treatments of Christian theology in this reference, and the inquiring mind will be forever flattered that McBrien and his writers never underestimate the reader.
25 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compliments RP McBrien's "Catholicism",
By barnabus fuller (McDonough GA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism (Hardcover)
If you didn't like his book "Catholicism" there's a good chance you won't like this rare assest. A rare asset since Fr. McBrien unabashedly states that it is truly comprehensive...and it is.While purusing it at Borders, I looked up several rather arcane topics I didn't think would be included and which I would be hard pressed to fine info on...voila...all were there. I also like the staggering list of contributors...of all faiths and persuasions. I looked at the "Catholic Encyclopedia" which was next on the shelf, and found in banal, definitely not worth the price. Incidently I didn't buy it as I wanted to check the price at Amazon...a $14 SAVINGS! I would have bought it from Amazon, but a friend knew I wanted it and purchased it for me. It's a great asset and I will use it in conjunction with my well thumbed and underlined "Catholicism" and "Good News Bible." Oh yes, those reviewers that panned it should be right at home with Archbishop Pilarczyk and Fr. DiNoia along with the NAB...zzzzz
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