Customer Reviews

Understanding Roman Catholicism: 37 Roman Catholic Doctrines Explained

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

Having Catholic friends and family members, I was very interested in reading this book. I read "Understanding Roman Catholicism" cover to cover, and even purchased a copy of the 1994 Catholic Catechism to independently verify quotes from the official cathechism itself. Every quote cited was word for word as it appears in the Cathecism. Jones argument is well thought out, and is a must read for Catholics serious about their relationship with God. If you love religion and tradition, however, you will find this book to be very disturbing.

This book is entirely Scriptural based and represents God's truth! The Catholics who are criticizing it just don't want to face up to the truth that the Catholic Church adds to God's Word. They refuse to accept things God has established and would prefer to put their trust in a manmade institution. I am a former Catholic and finally see the light! God revealed to me what He wanted of me in His Word.

Rick Jones did an excellent job in revealing the Catholic church's domination over it's flock. He points out that the Catholic religion is comprised of so much legalese, one can not experiencel the freedom that scripture promises, but in fact becomes enslaved by the doctrines. He also further implores us to check our belief systems, and does not introduce his own beliefs, but compares the Catholic church's doctrines side by side with scripture, the only authority of God. I was truly astounded and am quite frankly, fearful for the Catholic priests and the Pope who will have to address and account to God for leading so many astray, 'In the name of God." Woe be to them - we are to love the Lord with all our heart, and all our mind - use your intellect - do not be a leming!!!!!

After being a catholic for more than 40 years, my brother (a former catholic) had tried to get me to read the Bible more and rely less on the teachings of the church. This was difficult for me, because I was in a leadership position in our parish. I was a lector and an educator in the church's RCIA program, an adult education program for those wishing to convert to catholicism.

My brother bought me this book, but I put it aside and didn't bother reading it. I thought it was propaganda that twisted the catechism for the purposes of bashing catholicism.

Well, despite being a life-long catholic and despite being someone who actually was charged with teaching the catechism, I began to read the Bible and listen to a very educated Bible teacher. Many of the messages the teacher was giving me ran directly contrary to the teachings of the catholic church -- teachings I had, myself, been giving to others.

In time, through my own self-education within the Bible itself, with research into scripture, with the help of learned Bible teachers and students as well, I finally came to the conclusion that the catholic church had strayed away from the truth of the Word. While the church may have, at one time, been true to Word, it clearly no longer is.

The church taught me that my salvation was based on how I behaved, that I could be doomed to hell for my sins if I didn't seek absolution, and that is simply not the case.

It was only after I learned the truth that I turned to this book. In that context, I highly recommend this book, even though there are certain parts that may bear further investigation on the part of the reader.

My advice, particularly to those who are questioning the catholic church, is to read this book but don't take it completely on it's own. Instead, get yourself an Old Scofield Study Bible, read this book and research the material presented--then come to your own conclusions.

The bottom line is that you can develop a completely personal relationship with God, that you don't need any organized religion to filter or otherwise mold that relationship, and salvation is a free, permanent gift that requires no church affiliation to obtain. It is yours for the asking.

And remember: this is an honest review from a former life-long catholic who, after more than forty years and having been a lector and educator, found the truth in the Word. My relationship with the Lord has never been stronger, my life of worship never fuller, my happiness never greater.

Good luck!

I was born, raised, and lived as a Catholic, until someone shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with me. Now as a Bible believing Christian it is incumbent on me to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. In doing so I enter into discussions with others, which include those who are of the Catholic religion. This book is a valuable tool in understanding the basis of Catholic doctrines, and examining them with the final authority (The Bible). This book was not written to trash Catholics, and I believe all Catholics should read it. They will be surprised how little they actually knew about the true root basis, and message of their religion, I was. It also gave me additional information to be able to address questions directed to official Roman Catholic doctrine (Catechism). No one should be afraid to search for the truth, if they have the right motives. This book will serve at least as a tool for self-examination, and encourage further Bible study. Matthew 7:7&8 - John 8:32

This book is a great blessing. As a former Catholic who never even considered leaving the Roman Catholic "Church" this is a real eye-opener. The book methodically details the difference between God's Word, The Bible, and the TRADITIONS OF MEN, the Catechism.

If you no longer want to be brainwashed and realize the bondage you are in when it comes to the Catholic religion, read this book. God Loves you! That's the Good News. The question is, do you know Jesus?

Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

READ: He did not say through RELIGION, nor did He say THROUGH MY 'CHURCH', nor did He say THROUGH MY SACRAMENTS.

Trust Jesus, and Him alone!

As a soon-to-be Catholic, I need to see if Catholic beliefs can withstand all sorts of "Biblical" attacks.

Firstly, this book presents nothing new. It just repeats the same rhetoric Protestants have been using for 500 years. This book also does not respond to the Catholic counter-arguments and defenses. Why? Because it can't.

All it does is state a Catholic doctrine, then patch together a few out-of context verses to try to disprove it. It also is full of false assumptions, like;
*The Bible says you are saved by faith. Therefore you are saved by faith ALONE.

It tries to give Catholics more reasons not to believe something rather than take away the reasons they do believe in it. I don't have room in this review to defend every doctrine, because that would be 37 examples. This book is either horribly written or Protestantism just has a really weak foundation.

I've trused Jesus the christ as my savior since Friday, December 18th, 1998 when I was 11 years old. It's been almost 3 years strong. However even though I had denounced my catholic beliefs when I gave my life to christ, my mother still made me go to the Catholic church every other week untill my confirmation which was Thursday, May 11th, 2000, almost 18 months later. I didn't believe it was anything special, a bishop put some oil on my head. When people asked me if I felt more santified, I replied, "I've felt more santified since I learned Jesus gave his life on the cross for me."

The reason I read this book was to learn more about roman catholicism. Sadly, most Roman catholics don't know thier offical doctrines OR the Bible, So I wann learn both and witness to people. It had a lot of information, but was poorly written for it's audience, the Roman Catholics. The author used his opinions to much (kept saying "Jesus is demoted again")used a few scriptures out of context, and should have used the catholic bible. Many catholics reviwing this book complained about that. The only difference between the Catholic Bible and regular bible is the apocrophial book, which were left out of the regular bible because Jesus, nor his apostoles ever quoted them, most of all, they weren't even included in the origional hebrew bible. But other than that, the difference in writing would be like comparing the King James Version Bible to the New International Version.

This book certainly made my job talking to catholics easier, but it didn't talk to catholics that good it self. It was good, but could have been great and deserves 3 stars. I'm only 14, maybe someday I'll write my own book

"You worship me in vain for you teach as doctrines the commandments of man." Mark 7:8

After reading this book and reading the reviews I have come to the conclustion that everyone should read something else. It added nothing to my understanding of Roman Catholicism. I'm a devout Catholic who has studied my faith and the scriptural basis for it, and the reasoning behind it. As a result, I am more devout, closer to God, and love being Catholic even more. I urge everyone who wants to discover truth to study christian history. Read the ancient church fathers who came right after the apostles. They know Jesus' doctrine better than anyone. Research for yourself, don't let me, Rick Jones, or anyone else tell you what to believe, but faithfully find out what Jesus taught as best you can by READING!

I was pleased to find the "pre-chapter" in this book, called "Who is The Final Authority," would present a solid proof that I could use with my Catholic acquaintances to show them that, as Rick Jones says at the end of the chapter, "Scriptures plainly state that they alone are the Word of God." This is important also because he uses it as a basis for his proofs in the rest of the book. As I re-read it and looked up the verses he used, I was also able to learn more about Sacred Scripture and my faith in God and Jesus. As I dug into the chapter and the Bible I realized that Rick Jones has not proven that it is as "plainly stated" as he says. Worse, when I tried out some of this on some Catholics, they referred me to some other verses that I hadn't looked at. Those verses plainly state that the Church, Catholic or otherwise, may also be a source of God's Word.

The closest Rick Jones comes to proving his proof is on page 13, Revelation 22:18-19, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book," and on page 15, Proverbs 30:5-6, "Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words." But did John know that his Book of Revelation was going to be part of Sacred Scripture? Didn't he write after Proverbs 30 was written? Did Moses write down every last word that he heard from God? He didn't write down the names of the Egyptian magicians, but somehow Paul knew their names, 2 Timothy 3:8. I'm sure that God would know what would be the final version of the Bible, but not every one who has read these things knew that. Were they supposed to reject the Book of Revelation based on Proverbs 30? Proverbs 30, if anything, rejects the arrival of the entire New Testament for the people who already knew Sacred Scripture.

How can this be? Are there better verses available for proving the validity of Scripture? Why didn't Rick Jones use them? If not, then the Bible does not plainly state that Scripture alone is the Word of God, and instead plainly states otherwise. So to know when Scripture is plainly stating and when it isn't, I'm in the position of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:31 who needs someone to explain things to him. Or the disciples on the road to Emmaus who needed their eyes opened, Luke 24:32. Who has the authority to open my eyes and explain things to me? Rick Jones? The pope? John Calvin? Bill Burrer?

I can and certainly have prayed to the Spirit to guide me on this. But Catholics make that claim, too. How do I prove to them that the guidance they received was not really from the Spirit? If, as Rick Jones plainly states in his note on page 21: "...the written Scriptures plainly state that they alone are the Word of God..." then Rick Jones' words are not the Word of God.

This book has already been useful to me in helping to build my faith and love for the Bible, but Rick Jones seems to have laid a foundation of sand for proving to others what he believes about the Word of God. I will proceed to read the rest of the book. Are the proofs going to get any more solid than they are in this non-proof?