Customer Reviews

The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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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Sixty million Roman Catholics live in the United States, with six out of nine supreme court judges, foregoing and present speakers of the house, Catholicism became America's most influential facade of Christianity, since JF Kennedy presidency. Yet, many facets of this varied and dynamic tradition remain vaguely known to most other Christian Americans.

The Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism in one comprehensive volume, while not agreed to be an authoritative guide to English speaking Catholics, in view of both monthly 'First Things' and Jesuite weekly 'America'. For most of other Americans, general editor Richard McBrien had a unique opportunity to reveal to them how close Catholicism is to their own doctrines, spirituality, worship, and how interesting is its religious literature and theology that have shaped the Roman Church over nearly fifteen centuries, and provoked the reformation in the Seventeenth Century.

Led by general editor Richard McBrien, and his editorial team selected more than 4,200 entries written by 280 leading experts from around the Catholic world, representing the full theological spectrum, including Hans Küng, G. O'Collins, Elizabeth Johnson, Joseph Fitzmyer, R. Taft, F. Sullivan between others. The Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism offers entries on subjects ranging from Aaron to Zwingli, and biographies of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Saints Peter, Paul, Augustine, and Aquinas, and prayer, spirituality, to Vatican II.

Catholicism is a unique ancient tradition, expanding community, and progressing way of life, which the encyclopedia outlines and explores topics on canon law, devotions, religious orders, saints, and angels. The liturgical year, ecumenical councils, and a complete list of the popes. The Encyclopedia covers all aspects of Catholic life, including the controversy and dissent within the Church, in contrast with its teachings and beliefs, providing a better means for a deeper understanding of its life and being.

As an Oriental Orthodox, who believes in One Holy Catholic Apostolic church, I enjoyed using this encyclopedia for over ten years, which may qualify me to express my exchange during this relatively long association. With most of the associate editors from Notre Dame editorial homogeneity was guarded, but within some variance. While I consulted with the contributors when I engaged their assigned entries some proved interesting, others compelling, few were still wearing pre Vatican II outdated scholastic thought.

In defense of Origen, John Cavadini wrote, "Origen denies metempsychosis and explicitly affirms the uniqueness of Christ's sacrifice, and although the salvation of the devil must be left open as a logical possibility in a system emphasizing the divine pedagogy and human freedom of will to the degree that Origen does,..." Another is a liturgical explanation on the two and three branch episcopal candelabras used by Byzantine bishops proved the writer's insight of the liturgical symbolism of the trikiron, in honor of the Trinity, and the dikiron, for the divine and human natures of Christ.

A leading authority on Catholicism, Richard McBrien is Professor of Theology at Notre Dame. The bestselling author of Catholicism, educated at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, has served as president of the Catholic Theological Society of America. McBrien offers expert religious views and is a prize winning syndicated columnist in the Catholic press.

If you are a fundumentalist/ radical Mother Angelica type catholic you will be hard pressed to appreciate the truth presented in this book about the Roman Catholic Church. As a masters level student in Theology, I am familiar with Mcbriens other publications and I commend Mcbrien et.al. for their courage to continue publishing "truth" even at the risk of medieval magisterial papal suppression. This book is an excellent resource for parish catechists and all lay ecclesial ministers.

If you can handle the truth, buy this book. Otherwise spend your money on beads and leaflets

Richard McBrien is a scholar of great distinction and this book is a useful and reliable resource for believers and inquirers. No one who has attacked McBrien has a small percent of his scholarship. We have used this book for years in our parish Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults program and have found it most helpful. The word catholic means universal. There will always be those whose view is narrow, but McBrien is not one of them. He's still a good Catholic.

I use the Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism extensively in the study of Church history. It is well indexed and highly readable. Among its contents are an historical time line, a concise summary of the Ecumenical Councils and a brief note on each Pope -- all of which elucidate the interplay of European history, the papacy and the councils in the development of Catholicism.

I recommend this book to any Catholic, especially those seeking to understand their tradition in a better way. This book contains the ABC's of Catholicism and then some. It has much more information than what I imagined and has helped me to understand more about the Church. A must have for any Catholic.

My problem with this book is putting it down. Not that a three and a half pound book is normally physically difficult to drop, but this tome is so engrossing that long nights quickly pass in the reading of it.

If you must work the next day, struggle not to declare an old night prayer vigil with it, especially if you operate heavy machinery in my area. Seriously, faithful, this large and comprehensive study deserves it requisite ten by seven by three inch space on your bookshelf next to the New Jerome Biblical Commentary and the REv. Father McBrien's other well-known magnus opus Catholicism, along of course with all your hagiography by Sr. Ita Ford, Dorothy Day, the Jesuit Most Rev. and learned Fathers Daniel Berrigan, John Dear, Fr. Ellacuria and Jon Sobrino, alongside of course Fr. Thomas Merton, Fr. Matthew Fox, Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez, the Brothers Boff, Father Ernesto Cardenal, Father Hans Kung (represented here with his wonderful questioning in this great Encyclopedia), Sr. Joan Chittister, etc. etc., all available here on amazon for less than the price of shipping (except for one of Fr. Sobrino's most intriguing brief articles which here costs over ten dollars a page!). At under ten bucks this Encyclopedia is the best buy on the mighty amazon, as well as the most orthodox and comprehensive work on Roman Catholicism. I only wish the Search Inside service were active for this tremendous tome.

Briefly this great Catholic reference work is similar to any Encyclopedia in that it contains items on just about every related to the topic, which is Catholicism, apparent from the title of this work. Not only are there brief items on just about every topic having to do with Catholicism, but there are also extended articles which run several pages on major topics. There are also mid sized items as well. Each of these items are written by a renowned and recognized expert in the field; in fact there are hundreds of contributers as well as the Reverend Father Richard P. McBrien who serves as editor in chief for this essential Catholic reference work, which is a joy in itself to read. Get lost in it!

This is a great reference book for anyone really wanting to understand the what's and why's of the Catholic religion as well as it's history. There's a lot of background information to Catholicism that you get during catechism, but at that age who remembers it? As an adult, you start to question things and need the background information to find out how your faith fits you. This is a good book to help you with those questions. I also recommend "The Essential Catholic Catechism" (which is an easy-read version of the Catholic Catechism) and "Catholicism For Dummies" for anyone with an interest in getting to know your Catholic faith. The Essential Catholic Catechism: A Readable, Comprehensive Catechism of the Catholic Faith, Catholicism for Dummies.