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Why Do Catholics Do That? [Paperback]

Kevin Orlin Johnson (Author)
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Amazon.com Review

Why Do Catholics Do That? by Kevin Orlin Johnson assumes nothing and tells all. As such, it's not only an ideal catechism companion but also a source of infinite wisdom for students of art history, politics, literature, philosophy, and pretty much any other subject connected with Catholic history. In a voice refreshingly free of condescension (and full of humor, witnessed in chapter titles such as "Saints: How You Get To Be One"), Johnson defines and expatiates upon hundreds of topics, including the Mass, the rosary, the cross, the eucharist, and the pope. Why Do Catholics Do That? is destined for the all-time top 20 list of indispensable desk references. Whether your interest in Catholicism is devoutly religious or defiantly secular, you'll be glad Kevin Orlin Johnson has fulfilled his vocation so faithfully. --Michael Joseph Gross

Product Description

"Johnson offers lucid explanations of a dizzying array of customs and beliefs."
--Publishers Weekly
In Expressions of the Catholic Faith, renowned scholar and religion columnist Kevin Orlin Johnson answers the most frequently asked questions on Catholic faith, worship, culture, and customs, including:
* How the Church Makes Laws * The Hard-Fought Genesis of the New Testament * The Cycle of Redemption * A Short Guide to the Meaning and Structure of the Mass * Decoding Symbols of Scripture and the Sacraments * The Calendar as the Image of Christ's Life * The Rosary * The Stations of the Cross * Monks, Nuns, and the Rules That Guide Them * The Pope * The Laity in the Modern World * Saints * Fatima, Lourdes, and the Story of Apparitions * The Vatican: A Holy City * The Sign of the Cross, Christianity's Best-Known Symbol * Candles in Prayer and Liturgy * The Meaning of the Nativity Scene
Blending religious history, a deep appreciation for art and culture, and an enlightened reverence for the traditions of the Church, Expressions of the Catholic Faith is the definitive resource for any one who wants to learn more about the rituals, symbols, and traditions that can strengthen our faith every day.
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Kevin Orlin Johnson
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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THE MINUTE YOU SAY Tradition,"" a lot of people think that you're talking about things like holy cards, the Mass in Latin, long-habited nuns, and fusty old priests who always said you weren't allowed to." Read the first page
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separated sects, sanctoral cycle, funeral industry
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Old Testament, Our Lady, Holy Spirit, New Testament, Middle Ages, Holy Orders, United States, Blessed Mother, Sacred Tradition, Second Vatican Council, Cycle of Redemption, Last Supper, Middle East, Old Covenant, Blessed Virgin, Council of Trent, Latin Rite, Vatican Hill, Way of the Cross, Wise Men, New Covenant, Roman Empire, Roman Missal, Ark of the Covenant, Byzantine Rite
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Customer Reviews

84 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (84 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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133 of 134 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Solidified My Decision to Join the Church, March 17, 2004
This review is from: Why Do Catholics Do That? (Paperback)
During the late 90's, I was investigating a number of Christian faiths. For many years I was bouncing around from Protestant church to Protestant church with no real clue as to what I was looking for. Becoming Catholic never entered my mind. Eventually I ran into a Catholic friend who explained a few of the basics of the Church to me. Intrigued, I began to study on my own and found "Why Do Catholics Do That?" The title seemed straightforward enough, so I picked up the book and read it from cover to cover. It was amazing. Kevin Orlin Johnson's book answered all of my major questions about the Church and most of my minor questions. I had read a number of other books up to that point and none of them gave me answers as honestly or inoffensively as this one. It didn't try to hammer anything down my throat. Instead, it gave me answers in plain English and with no intent to brush me off as "just another Protestant." After reading the book, I decided to enter the RCIA process, where I entered the Church at Easter in 2000.

I can honestly say that this book was the decision maker for me. It is written in a way that isn't too "bookish" or intellectual for the casual reader, yet has a good amount of information in it. The writing style used, which has a lot of humor in it, lessened the blows of what some consider "cocky Catholicism." Another reviewer felt that in her original review this book came across as too cocky. I understand what she is talking about. I've met quite a few people with that cocky attitude. That attitude was one of the major things that turned me off from the Church originally. This book to me, however, wasn't too cocky. I enjoyed it. It gave the reader information in a straight manner. I also found nothing anti-Semitic about this book, as another reviewer mentions.

With this book, I learned that a number of the things that I was taught as a child about the Catholic Church was mere propaganda or, in most cases, misinformation. A lot of what I thought I knew about the Church was actually a misunderstanding of practices and beliefs.

I believe this book, with its simplicity, could easily challenge some of the harder hitting Protestant theories about the Catholic faith. Although it doesn't really go into any major theological arguments, it openly explains why Catholics do the things they do. It's hard to argue with someone when they are straightforward and honest with their beliefs. Perhaps that's what we need a little more of in the world today.

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56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Catholic Background Book, February 13, 2005
By Glutton for books (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Why Do Catholics Do That? (Paperback)
This is my favorite "Why do Catholics" book, and I have read quite a few, as I was raised Catholic and had to learn to defend my beliefs when my parents moved to the Bible belt in my late teens. If I had known about this book then, my life would have been much easier.

Dr. Johnson's book is much more entertaining and thorough than work of a similar nature, such as Karl Keating's better known books. Dr. Johnson converses with the reader, which makes the writing style engaging and memorable; he does not say use the dry approach of "some people think this," but rather uses and approach of "We Catholics believe." He does not discuss beliefs of other religions, except when comparing the different approach used for compilations of scriptures. This makes me more comfortable in recommending to books to other Christians, unlike Keating's work, in which the terms used sometimes appeal slanderous to people from denominations such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses.

This is a book of Catholic practices and religious beliefs and explores illustrates from where they came. It does not address moral theology, but is more concerned with issues such as "why does the Old Testament comprise these books," "why is there a Pope," "what is the official stances on alleged apparitions," "what is the roles of saints," ect. But is also has fun tid bits of information that many Catholic information guides fail to address, like the use of incense, the dress of clergy, and terms used for the religious. It also explains popular devotions and their history; such as The Way of the Cross and the rosary.

Amazon recommended it to me for some time. I wish I bought it sooner, but I thought that it looked too basic to be a wise investment for me. Then some one gave me a gift certificate for Christmas and this book was at the store; I flipped though it and found so much entertaining trivia, that I purchased it on the spot- wishing I had listened to Amazon sooner.

I have since given them as gifts to people who wanted to learn more about Catholicism, and contrary to a few opinions expressed form other reviews here, they did not find the book offensive, but appreciated it. I highly recommend it. The broad range of information it contains makes it an ideal reference for the uninitiated and curious, as well as for the person who has had much experience and education in Catholicism seeking to fill in any gaps of knowledge.
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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Reversion, August 6, 2001
By Robert Ray (Chino, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Why Do Catholics Do That? (Paperback)
I was raised Catholic, and like so many of my generation, I grew up with a very weak foundation in the faith. Although I was raised Catholic and attended CCD throughout my formative years, in time I left the Church and began attending fundamentalist churches. This book was instrumental to my coming back to the Church after fourteen years away, as it was the first time that I actually read anything indepth on what we as Catholics believe and why. I did not buy the book, but rather it was loaned to me by my Mother, but God used this book to bring me back home. I highly recommend it! Although at the time I first read it, some of it was difficult to read, and some of it I did not agree with at all, it planted the seeds of desire to understand the Catholic faith which lead to the desire to return to the Catholic Church. My wife, who was Baptist, also read it and in time became a Catholic. We are both very active in our parish, and it is good to be home! Is it biased; it is a presentation of Catholic beliefs which does not seek to comprimise those beliefs. I don't know that I would call that biased. As to addressing the issues that are often brought up in arguements against the faith, I don't believe that the intent of the book is to answer protestant charges against the faith, but rather simply to present the faith, and in the latter intent, it more than succeeds. There are other books which intend to address the charges against the faith made by protestants and others, and which do a great job, but again, I do not believe that is the intent of this book. It is the Holy Spirit which touches hearts, and indeed this book can be used by the Spirit to touch hearts. I highly recommend this book to Catholics who desire to have a deeper understanding of their faith, and to Catholics who have left the Church, for they might see that the reasons they left were based on misunderstanding, and there are some truly great reasons to come back.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Explaining the Truth - It's all Good!
I started this book with a ho-hum heard it all before attitude, but I was pleasantly surprised by the teaching style of the author. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Justin Martyr

5.0 out of 5 stars All the things you never knew to ask
Kevin Orlin Johnson's book "Why Do Catholics Do That" is so good that I had to have 2 copies of it, one to keep and one to share. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Benigno J. Ornelas

2.0 out of 5 stars Not objective enough, singing to the Catholic-only choir
I thought this book would be able to tell me how some Catholic practices came into being, and how Catholics view these practices--things foreign to many Protestants, such as... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Shelby Duncan

5.0 out of 5 stars Most enjoyable and informative book
I am not of the Catholic faith but have always had great interest in it. I grew up with lots of Catholic friends, and have many today, as well. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Joyce Mayberry

5.0 out of 5 stars Now We Know!
Why Do Catholics Do That? by Kevin Orlin Johnson is a book with oodles of information on Catholicism. Read more
Published 18 months ago by John H. Eagan

5.0 out of 5 stars Tells why Catholics Do that!
Very informative in an interesting, easy to understand format.
I am a cradle Catholic but myself had questions of "why". I found this book answered a lot of my questions.
Published 18 months ago by SLP books

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and entertaining trivia
The book is a great read. It provides insights into how things came to be in the context of history, especially art history. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Walter G. Gozar

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching tool
I coordinate a program for adults who want to become Catholic and this book has become an invaluable teaching tool. I have used it for years.
Published 23 months ago by Kris Nelson

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
I have purchased this book over and over because when someone expresses interest in Catholicism I usually give them my copy. Read more
Published on February 2, 2008 by Shoe Lover

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Really great information for Catholics and Non-Catholics alike. Rich in history and easy to read. Pick this one up!
Published on January 2, 2008 by E. Dansby

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