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The Riddle of Roman Catholicism: Its History, Its Beliefs, Its Future Hardcover – 1959

by Jaroslav Pelikan (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars 6 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Abingdon Press; First Edition edition (1959)
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B000BSQHYE
  • Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,662,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Top Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsEcumenical milquetoast
By Stratiotes Doxha Theon VINE VOICE on June 7, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Professor Pelikan's historical works are unmatched in clarity and detail. But when it comes to his ecumenical works, such as this, his work is so milquetoast as to provide no insights. It seems the primary interest of this work is to play peace-maker between Protestant and Catholic Christians. Ecumenicalism could be argued to be an admirable goal and that is not our criticism. What concerns me is that the differences are glossed over with such a wide brush that it provides little understanding at the intellectual level. Sadly, true ecumenicalism requires a certain honesty and acknowledgement of differences rather than treating those differences as having little significance. As far as it goes, this is a commendable work that may indeed help some Protestants get past a few misunderstandings concerning their Catholic neighbors. But it would have been far more interesting to read the perspective of an older professor Pelikan concerning his conversion to the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Getting the insights of one who had been raised in the Lutheran tradition and why he later found himself more at home in the Orthodox tradition could give us a great deal more ecumenical understanding. Why, for instance, did he choose Orthodox over Catholic or even other Protestant traditions? Giving such answers would provide a personal emotional appeal that this work lacks and it would stimulate honest conversation toward understanding the various Christian traditions. Perhaps given the unmatched work of The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Vol. 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600), our expectations may lead us to an unfair assessment of this work.
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2.0 out of 5 starsA Clarion Call for "Unity"
By Tom on August 22, 2015
Format: Paperback
The Riddle of Roman Catholicism (1959) by Jaroslav Pelikan (1923-2006) initially presents itself as an examination of Catholicism for curious Protestants but eventually reveals it's true purpose as an ecumenical clarion call for unity among fellow "Christians." Pelikan was a Lutheran minister, Yale professor, and author of more than thirty books, most dealing with the history of Christianity.

This book is an interesting look at Catholic-Protestant relations immediately prior to Vatican II. Pelikan challenges both Catholics and Protestants to acknowledge the shortcomings of their own traditions and to recognize the positives of the other camp. Many of Pelikan's critiques of Rome are right on the money but there's also an amazing amount of compromising and accommodation in these pages. Pelikan concedes that Catholicism preaches a legalistic gospel of sacramental grace and works and has largely replaced genuine faith in Christ with ritual and ceremony yet still concedes that it's a "Christian" church.

We've seen some disturbing changes in Catholic-Protestant relations since this book was published. The mainline Protestant churches have largely embraced modernism and have become almost entirely irrelevant. We can even see evidence of modern criticism/disbelief in the pages of this book: e.g. "Since Jesus expected the end of the world to come very soon, he did not envision anything like a church; therefore the two passages in the gospels where he uses the word "church" are both pious inventions of later Christians" (p. 78). Catholicism, beginning with Vatican II, turned from confrontational militancy and has been seeking unity with the "Separated Brethren" as a more effective strategy.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsInteresting as a historical artifact
By J. Michael on July 13, 2007
Format: Hardcover
In this 1959 book, a young Jaroslav Pelikan set out to explain the mysteries of Roman Catholicism- its beliefs, rituals, attraction- to American Protestants, many of whom were probably first starting to come into contact with those mackerel snapping ethnics who were moving to the suburbs at this time.

Although irenic in its tone- Pelikan says that Catholics and Protestants need each other and that both sides have their faults- the professor leaves no doubt as to where he stands. He is a convinced Protestant who can't help but acknowledge his disapproval of various Catholic beliefs. As a Catholic, I didn't really need this book and for the interested Protestant I think there are probably better introductions to Catholicism. I think this book is most important as a historical snapshot of what educated, ecumenically-minded Protestants thought of Catholicism during this time period, and of a stage in the development of the great Jaroslav Pelikan. It's remarkable to think that the smug little bow-tie-wearing academic pictured on the back of this book (an ordained Lutheran minister actually) never knew that he would end his life in the Orthodox Church, being ushered out of this world by robed priests chanting thousand year old Slavonic hymns amidst bells and incense.
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