Spirit of Catholicism (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"The Spirit of Catholicism" is a brilliant and widely influential reflection on the fundamental nature of the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church. First appearing in 1924, this is a truly pioneering work of Catholic theology, one that had a major influence on subsequent theology. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Franciscan Press (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940535858
• ISBN-13: 978-0940535855
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #436,837 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprising and wonderful book!, October 24, 1998

By	John Knutsen (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Spirit of Catholicism (Milestones in Catholic Theology) (Paperback)

This book is considered to be the best available by respected converts such as Thomas Howard and Scott Hahn. Adam covers all the most important points in a short book, and he covers them very well. This is a brilliant description of what Catholicism is all about -- a must-read for Catholics and non-Catholics alike, particularly for those who believe that the Church is nothing more than a tyrannical, despotic body that kills reason and self-discovery in the name of absolute obedience. One of the strengths of this book is that Adam frequently quotes the leading Protestant thinkers of his day in order to show the limitations of Protestantism generally. To his credit, Adam is never judgmental or hostile to non-Catholics. On the contrary, he goes to great lengths to show just how open-minded the Church is regarding non-Catholic (and non-Christian) beliefs, and what is positive and helpful about them. I was very surprised to find how little I knew about the complexities of, for example, the Church's position on salvation through the Church, and the role of individual conscience and freedom in faith. Adam shows, very convincingly, that the Catholic Church is exceedingly fair, open, reasonable, and caring in its approach to these controversial and widely misunderstood issues. His approach is always positive, hopeful, and logical. His arguments are iron-clad, rooted in Scripture, and absolutely devastating. Adam's book is extremely valuable and must be read if one wishes to gain a real understanding of Catholicism in a short book. Whether you are a Catholic seeking to know more about your ancient faith or a non-Catholic seeking to learn about Catholic beliefs, Adam's book is required reading. You'll be surprised at what you find within these pages, and perhaps even ashamed that you believed all the half-truths and distortions about Catholicism. Let the reader beware: if you have any doubts at all about your own church's teachings and traditions before you pick this book up, Adam's book will certainly amplify then, and it may well bring you into the Catholic Church!

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A profound and insightful explanation of the Catholic faith, July 7, 1998

By	Carl E. Olson "Author of 'Will Catholics Be '... (Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Spirit of Catholicism (Milestones in Catholic Theology) (Paperback)

That such a book could have been written nearly 50 years before Vatican II is an amazing testament to the insight and understanding of the brilliant German theologian Karl Adam. This work beautifully explains the many facets of Catholic doctrine and shows how they are so tightly and organically intertwined. Particularly helpful is Adam's explanation of Catholic soteriology and sacramental life. He avoids the more technical theological language without sacrificing precision or detail, plus rightly emphasizes the Biblical nature and core of Catholic doctrine and dogma. A must buy for anyone wishing to more deeply appreciate and comprehend the riches of the Catholic Faith.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, January 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Spirit of Catholicism (Milestones in Catholic Theology) (Paperback)

This book helped me immensely with my apologetics "homework", especially concerning communion of the saints and other issues that are so alien to Protestants. The book is extremely well written and contains so much information that I haven't found in one source anywhere else. If you are sitting on the theological fence then this book is a MUST read!