This Is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers The Real Presence [Paperback]

Mark P. Shea (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

This is My Body is a popular apologetic written in terms engaging and accessible to Evangelical Protestants. Shea treats standard misconceptions and objections to the teaching on the real presence of Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist, showing most to be simple errors in logic or ironic oversights in scriptural exegesis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Christendom Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0931888484
• ISBN-13: 978-0931888489
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Soteriology
  • #42 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Apologetics

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars escaping the Real Abscence, July 23, 2000

By 

matt - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers The Real Presence (Paperback)

Shea's work is a great place to start if you're interested in the traditional, biblical view of the Eucharist and matter in general. While the Roman Catholic Church holds a rather defined view of the sacramental presence (compared to the Orthodox) it is well worth noting that the west approaches many topics with its own concepts, which is not something to be looked down upon or rejected as "a tradition of men". Shea's book is another of those which Catholic apologists will want to have to give away. It's cheap and accurate, as well as persuasive. For a more detailed study, see "Eucharist" by Louis Bouyer. For general critiques of Protestant anti-Catholic arguments, see Shea's other book, "By What Authority?" or for an Orthodox approach to Protestantism, see Jordan Bajis' "Common Ground". The main thing is to pray, receive the Eucharist, and study for yourself. There are no missing links in the history of Eucharistic theology. Take some time to review the data first hand; pick up the Fathers and the New Testament. But don't forget that this book is a fine place to start.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy & Enjoyable Intelligent Read, January 16, 2000

By 

Grace Burns (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers The Real Presence (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for those who want the basis of Eucharistic belief broken down into readable, understandable pieces. It is hardly exhaustive of the topic, as that is not what the author was attempting. A good companion would be Scott Hahn's tape "The Fourth Cup". For a good understanding of the belief in the Eucharistic Presence, start with Catholic authors. Otherwise, such writers as William Webster and Jame R. White (who is anti-Catholic) as another has recommended without revealing these authors slant against the Church, might confuse searchers by presenting some very misunderstood ideas by outsiders incapable (& often not desirous) of understanding & then allege that they are expounding upon the Catholic teaching. Tim Staples is another excellent author for follow-up to this one who was once evangelical but became Catholic for the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why did they build all those Cathedrals? The Real Presence, April 11, 2004

By 

matt (the reading room) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers The Real Presence (Paperback)

All of the magnificent cathedrals of Europe were based upon one fact- that Christ God became present to humanity on the altar and was eaten by the faithful every divine liturgy. The architects and builders sought to pay homage to Christ's humility to come to them in the simple forms of bread and wine. Heaven and earth meet in this act. When you realize this basic fact, that the real presence is the heart of two thousand years of worship, then you begin to understand the perspective of Christian theology and worship. You also realize why the modern notions of worship, which are usually not more than emotionalism and bubblegum self-help, fall far short of the rich heritage of Christianity East and West.

Shea's work is a great place to start if you're interested in the traditional, biblical view of the Eucharist and matter in general. Shea's book is another of those that Catholic and Orthodox (and maybe Lutheran) apologists will want to have to give away. It's cheap and accurate, as well as persuasive. While the Roman Catholic Church holds a rather defined view of the sacramental presence (compared to the Orthodox) it is well worth noting that the west approaches many topics with its own concepts, which is not something to be looked down upon or rejected as "a tradition of men". For a more detailed study, see "Eucharist" by Louis Bouyer. For general critiques of Protestant anti-Catholic arguments, see Shea's other book, "By What Authority?" or for an Orthodox approach to Protestantism, see Jordan Bajis' "Common Ground". "The Lamb's Supper" by Hahn was a nice introduction to liturgical and eucharistic theology.

If you want to dig even deeper to realize what weight the Eucharist bears upon ecclesiology, McPartlan's books "The Sacrament of Salvation" and "The Eucharist Makes the Church" are fundamental, as is the newly reissued "Eucharist and Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries" by Werner Elert. You see, it all ties together- Eucharist, Incarnation, Forgiveness, Church, Worship, Passover and Eschatology.

The main thing is to pray, receive the Eucharist, and study for yourself. There are no missing links in the history of Eucharistic theology. Take some time to review the data first hand; pick up the Fathers and the New Testament. But don't forget that this book is a fine place to start.