Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences [Paperback]

Norman L. Geisler (Author), Ralph E. MacKenzie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

This comparative study shows that Protestants and Catholics are not as separated theologically as they may think. An excellent reference tool or textbook.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Norman L. Geisler (PhD, Loyola University of Chicago) has taught at top evangelical schools for over fifty years and is distinguished professor of apologetics and theology at Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California. He is the author of more than seventy books, including the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 538 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801038758
• ISBN-13: 978-0801038754
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.3 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Norman Geisler (PhD, Loyola University) is president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and author or coauthor of over fifty books including Decide for Yourself, Baker's Encyclopedia of Apologetics, and When Skeptics Ask.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

130 of 139 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Charitable and Fair - but I'm still Catholic :) March 14, 2001

By Chris in Maine

Format:Paperback

I bought this book on a whim one day while browsing books, and I was very pleased with what I found. I had previously read Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating, as well as some books by Scott Hahn, Stephen Ray, among others. Reading those works, I became familiar with the arguments, and subsequently, the critiques of less than fair polemic works.

The positive comments from Catholics on the back cover (no less a figure than James Akin praised the work for its fairness) made me give in and buy it. The first section was wonderful, presenting the great amount of agreement we have in very charitable terms. The second section, where differences are discussed, the authors seem to go out of their way to "get it right." Most Catholic arguments for a given position are presented, and then refuted in generally kind, charitable terms. There are some exceptions though, where they leave out the most convincing arguments for the Catholic position. One glowing example is the chapter on justification. On page 227, some Catholic Scriptural arguments for their position are presented, and they cite such things as Matthew 5:12, 25:34, Romans 2:6, among others. Curiously missing from this, and hence never discussed, is James 2. One has to wonder why they would decline to interact with the one verse in the whole Bible that contains the clause "faith alone", and condemns it (James 2:24).

While I think that many of their arguments are very inadequate, and at times they seem to apply a double standard when quoting the fathers (depending on if the fathers seem to support or refute their positions), others are very well presented. In fact, their chapter on baptism got me thinking very, very hard. Wonderful stuff indeed.

This work stands miles apart from other works that are often used to refute Catholicism. In general, other books written in opposition to Catholicism lack scholarship, as if the authors don't want their readers to check the sources, but rather just accept what they're presented as fact (oftentimes fabricated out of thin air). Further, some authors show no interest in presenting the Catholic defense of a given doctrine. Geisler and MacKenzie go out of their way to footnote everything, present facts fairly, and make a genuine effort to initiate REAL discussion about the issues, and that is something that is greatly needed. Readers who are truly interested can easily identify and consult the source documents in their own time.

This is the book I give to my staunch Protestant friends who need to learn what the Church really teaches, but won't trust Catholic sources.

The actual arguments and methodology contained within only merit 4 stars from a scholarly and logically consistent point of view, however, given that this book sets a new standard in dialogue, I have to give it 5. I truly hope this sets an example for the future of dialogue between Catholics and Evangelicals.

67 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed book October 13, 2000

By Timotheos Josephus

Format:Paperback

As an evangelical, I found this book to be very helpful in providing a fair treatment of this topic. Rather than trying to paint Catholics in a negative light, Geisler attempts to sort throught the theologies of Catholics and evangelicals in order to find out what things we agree on and also those things with which we disagree. Unlike some evangelicals, Geisler doesn't appear to be on a 'witch hunt'. He seems sincere in trying to have honest dialogue with Catholics and I think this is the main strength of this book.

Some of the differences addressed in this book are the canon of Scripture, papal infallibility, the role of sacraments, the role of Mary, purgatory, and justification. Geisler highlights areas of theological agreement and those practical areas such as evangelizing non-Christians, social reform, and education where evangelicals and Catholics can find common ground.

This book contains a wealth of information that would benefit Catholics and evangelicals along with helping us to better understand each other. Geisler and MacKenzie have given all of us a great resource for further dialogue. Buy this book if you are the least bit interested in getting to know the 'other side' in a more accurate light. This goes for Catholics and evangelicals.

55 of 61 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mostly fair and accurate March 25, 2000

By bibcath

Format:Paperback

I am a Catholic, and I am in a position to tell you, that unlike most books written by Protestats about Catholicism, this one by Geisler is a very fair, charitable, and mostly accurate presentation of the differences between Catholic and evangelicals. Most Protestants writing about Catholicism (e.g. James White) adopt a condescending tone towards Catholics, and attempt to set Catholics straight about what we really believe. This book, however, allows Catholics to define for ourselves what Catholicism is all about, it allows Catholics to speak for themselves, it goes back to the original source documents, which is unusual for this kind of book, which usually rely on works by former Catholics, or non Catholics. I am afraid that I believe they misinterpret and distort some of the teachings of the early Fathers of the Church, plus there are a few minor factual errors in the text (i.e. the claim that the "apocryphal" books of the Old Testament were first recognized by the Council of Trent) so I am afraid that I must take away two stars for sloppiness. And, of course, I believe that in some cases they commit some serious logical errors and bad arguments. Overall, I would much pleased if evangelicals interested in Catholicism would turn to this book instead of, say, the intellectually dishonest works of Loraine Bottener.