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Editorial Reviews from Amazon.com for Catholicism For Dummies
Book Description
"A gold mine of insight on the Catholic faith for
people of all ages and beliefs."
—Prof. Charles E. Rice, Notre Dame School of Law and Visiting Prof., Ave
Maria School of Law
Explains the deadly sins and cardinal virtues
Get the scoop on the Catholic Church’s stand on important social
issues
Want to know more about Catholicism? Catholicism For Dummies presents
the rich tapestry and history of the Catholic Church – from devotions to
doctrines. You’ll find a description of the Catholic Mass, the seven
sacraments, the liturgical calendar, the duties of the clergy, and much
more.
Praise for Catholicism For Dummies
"Catholicism For Dummies is an intelligent and faithful look at one
of the more misunderstood topics in contemporary religion."
– Michael S. Rose, author of Goodbye, Good Men, Priest, and Ugly as Sin
From the Back Cover
"A gold mine of insight on the Catholic faith for
people of all ages and beliefs."
—Prof. Charles E. Rice, Notre Dame School of Law and Visiting Prof., Ave
Maria School of Law
Explains the deadly sins and cardinal virtues
Get the scoop on the Catholic Church’s stand on important social
issues
Want to know more about Catholicism? Catholicism For Dummies presents
the rich tapestry and history of the Catholic Church – from devotions to
doctrines. You’ll find a description...
Customer Reviews
Extremely Useful and Well-Written!, June
17, 2004
I am currently an Anglican/Episcopalian
exploring the Catholic Church, likely to be
received soon. I have an extensive background in
Scripture, Church History, ancient languages,
etc. Yet as I began to explore the Catholic
Church I realized that I could tell you quite a
bit about St. Thomas Aquinas' understanding of
transubstantiation, but I didn't know something
as simple as when to cross myself at Mass! I
also didn't know the official differences
between mortal and venial sins, the ins-and-outs
of papal infallibility, or the difference
between a sacrament and a sacramental. This book
helped me understand all of these things and
then some. My point is that virtually anybody
can learn a lot about the Catholic Church from
this book, even those who consider themselves
fairly knowledgeable to begin with (like cradle
Catholics).
The style is easy-to-read, straight-forward,
and the advice and information is always based
on official Church teaching. So it is not a good
place to go if you wish to join the Catholic
Church because you like the stain glass windows
but don't want to accept Church teachings. This
does not mean the authors cover up or gloss over
difficult issues. They clearly admit how some
popes were awful, and they have harsh words for
the minority of priests who sexually abuse
children. They do put these issues in
perspective, pointing out that the papacy has a
better record than most secular leaders, and the
sinfulness of Peter, who was still chosen as
first of the apostles. They also compare
molestation by priests to molestation within
families, showing that within families it is far
more rampant (without excusing bad priests'
behavior!). These are fair and balanced
assessments in my opinion. This is not an
apologetics book, although it does go to some
length to show the Faith in a positive light.
While strict apologetics books (Protestant or
otherwise) often leave me cold, this book was a
delight to read.
I read this is an entire weekend, and felt
prepared to visit a Catholic Church for the
first time in years. In addition to using this
book, I would recommend reading the Catechism,
using The New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book,
and reading the early Church Fathers. The Faith
of the Early Fathers by William Jurgens is a
three volume set with excerpts from the Fathers.
Scott Hahn's works are also recommended.
Personally, I would say the best way to get a
glimpse of the Catholic Church is to visit a
Mass (but don't commune until you are a
member!). Ultimately it was worshipping and
praying with the Church that convinced me that
Catholic was the way to go. Overall, Catholicism
for Dummies is a good introduction to the
Catholic Church, and tells you everything you
really need to know in a concise and enjoyable
way.
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A must have for every
new Catholic., April 10,
2007
By C. Diehl-Miller
(Atlanta, GA) -
This book is a great
reference book for
anyone wanting to know
more or understand why
Catholics do what they
do. It is easy to
understand and read. It
makes even complex ideas
and beliefs,
entertaining and
comprehensible.
great read and
reference, March 21,
2007
By J. REED "micromom"
(Arkansas) -
What a great gift idea
for RCIA members! I'm a
life-long Catholic and I
found plenty of new
info. It's an easy read
but full of substance. I
especially appreciated
the history section and
the simple explainations
of...well...just about
everything! Very
non-abrasive for
non-Catholics yet not
the least bit watered
down.
Easy Reading on
Catholicism, March 13,
2007
By A. B. Ferry (Tucson,
AZ) -
Easy to understand,
up-to-date and
informative. Excellent
resource for those
considering conversion
to the Catholic Faith or
those returning after a
long absence.
Good Overview of
Catholicism, March 8,
2007
By Frank Grant
(Carlsbad, CA United
States) -
Do you read the entire
Catechism of the
Catholic Church, or
Catholicism for Dummies?
I'm a "returning"
Catholic who last worked
on Catholic issues while
enjoying 12 years of
Catholic School and is
now leading a small
ministry at my church.
It was a good refresher.
I liked that the book
was reviewed by the
church and content
approved as accurate. It
points out the
similarities and
differences of the
protestant Bibles,
something I've never
seen explained before. I
plan to use it as one of
my three core resources:
The Bible, The Catechism
of the Catholic Church,
and Catholicism for
Dummies. Good to have
all three to reference
depending upon my
audience. I'm giving it
5 Stars because its
concise, easy to read,
organized, informative
and does a good job of
covering the major
points.
A practical "how to"
guide to the Church,
February 26, 2007
By Victoria A.
Wildermuth (Odessa, TX
USA) -
If you are looking for
really practical
information on the
Church's practices,
choose "Catholicism for
Dummies" as your
reference source. Want
to know how to pray the
Rosary? Need to know
what really goes on in
Mass? This is such an
entertaining and easy to
understand book. Use it
as a "refresher" course
or a learning tool if
you are considering
conversion. It is your
beginner's guide to
theology,
practices/rites and the
history of the church.
It is an excellent
starting point for
anyone with questions.
Highly recommended.
Good for Happy
Catholics, too., January
29, 2007
By Frances May "Reader"
(Cowpens) -
I am a retired
cradle-Catholic who
never attended a public
school until I was 21
(FSU). This is a
wonderful book. It has
helped me experience my
faith anew. It is so
fascinating,
enlightening and easy to
read that I have bought
6 (so far) and given
them to people as part
of my evangelization
tools. It is my
intention to buy 4 per
month for such purposes.
Wealth of knowlege
that is easy to
understand, January 23,
2007
By Alexa "Alexa"
(Chicago) - See all my
reviews
I am new to the Catholic
Faith, currently
attending RCIA classes.
This book has been so
helpful to me as I
slowly make my journey.
Everything is clearly
written so even people
who are not Catholics,
but curious about the
Church can comprehend. I
keep this book out and
refer to it often.
Yes, very good. Have
on hand to
reference/study, January
19, 2007
By J. A. Curristan "Jooley
Booley" (South Lyon, MI)
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Good, clear, concise.
Easy to understand.
You'll be able to pick
it up to reference a
topic, and then put it
back down again. You can
also read right through
it to learn about
Catholicism.
I wish my religion books
when I was in elementary
school were this easily
understandable.
A very nice job,
January 18, 2007
By Rosario Dilorenzo -
Easy to read and
understand with good
explanations. Some
history without going
overboard. A huge amount
of material in a simple
readable compact form.
Paragraph headings are
great. Overall
excellent. Tip- if you
want more start here.
Then go to the
Compendium. Lastly go to
the Catechism of the
Catholic Church.
Everything you always
wanted to know...,
January 9, 2007
By Catherine A. Kroepil
(Bellevue, PA) -
I saw my first
"Catholicism for
Dummies" in our RCIA
library and promptly
bought my own. I find it
concise, funny, easy to
read and understand, and
very entertaining, as
well as knowledgable. A
must for every
household. I've since
bought 5 others as gifts
for friends. They also
make perfect gifts and
study aids for any RCIA
program. Thanks to Fr.
John and his associates!
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Good Overview
of Catholicism,
March 8, 2007
Do you read the
entire Catecism
of the Catholic
Church, or
Catholicism for
Dummies? I'm a
"returning"
Catholic who
last worked on
Catholic issues
while enjoying
12 years of
Catholic School
and is now
leading a small
ministry at my
church. It was a
good refresher.
I liked that the
book was
reviewed by the
church and
content approved
as accurate. It
points out the
similarities and
differences of
the protestant
Bibles,
something I've
never seen
explained
before. I plan
to use it as one
of my three core
resources: The
Bible, The
Catechism of the
Catholic Church,
and Catholicism
for Dummies.
Good to have all
three to
reference
depending upon
my audience. I'm
giving it 5
Stars because
its concise,
easy to read,
organized,
informative and
does a good job
of covering the
major points.
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A practical
"how to" guide
to the Church,
February 26,
2007
If you are
looking for
really practical
information on
the Church's
practices,
choose
"Catholicism for
Dummies" as your
reference
source. Want to
know how to pray
the Rosary? Need
to know what
really goes on
in Mass? This is
such an
entertaining and
easy to
understand book.
Use it as a
"refresher"
course or a
learning tool if
you are
considering
conversion. It
is your
beginner's guide
to theology,
practices/rites
and the history
of the church.
It is an
excellent
starting point
for anyone with
questions.
Highly
recommended.
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Good for
Happy Catholics,
too.,
January 29, 2007
I am a retired
cradle-Catholic
who never
attended a
public school
until I was 21 (FSU).
This is a
wonderful book.
It has helped me
experience my
faith anew. It
is so
fascinating,
enlightening and
easy to read
that I have
bought 6 (so
far) and given
them to people
as part of my
evangelization
tools. It is my
intention to buy
4 per month for
such purposes.
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Wealth of
knowlege that is
easy to
understand,
January 22, 2007
I am new to the
Catholic Faith,
currently
attending RCIA
classes. This
book has been so
helpful to me as
I slowly make my
journey.
Everything is
clearly written
so even people
who are not
Catholics, but
curious about
the Church can
comprehend. I
keep this book
out and refer to
it often.
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A good introduction to Catholicism,
November 9, 2006
This book explains the basic tenants of
Catholicism using plain, easy to read
and understand language, It does not
draw the reader into obscure theological
explanations of church procedures,
customs, and regulations.
It is a great read for non-Catholics,
who are curious about the day to day
operations of the Church as well as its
organization. Catholics will also find
it a valuable resource in answering
questions they may have concerning the
church.
This is a "first" book for someone who
is seeking to understand the Catholic
Church. It will lead to further, more
detailed study for the interested
reader.
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"Catholicism Is For Dummies? What?
Did A Lutheran Write This?",
November 9, 2006
My words up there refer to an incident
in a store, when my mom saw this book
out of the corner of her eye and misread
the title. Her innocent little outrage
that such a scathing attack on her
religion might've come from aggressive
Lutherans left me laughing for minutes.
But I digress.
It's like this, folks, the Dummies
series is great. Not a bad one in the
lot. If you ever wanted to know
anything---anything at all---about the
world's largest religion, you'll
probably find it in this book. From
Creation to Resurrection, Purgatory to
Judgment Day, rosary beds to votive
candles, from miracles to stigmata, you
can read about it all to your curious
heart's content. From to dean to deacon
to priest, Bishop, Archbishop, Cardinal,
and Pope, monk, nun, religious brother,
and religious sister, Holy Days,
holidays, Days of Obligation, Pentecost,
Advent, Lent, Ordinary Time, Vaticans I
and II, ordinations, consecrations,
canonizations, beatifications, ashes on
Ash Wednesday, candy on Easter, the
blessing of the throats on the Day of
St. Blase, Fat Tuesday revels, funeral
rites, baptismal rites, All Souls and
All Saints, virgins and martyrs, to why
weddings are sacramental events, from
Feast Days to Fast Days, Anointing of
the Sick, Papal infallibility (betcha
it's not what you thought it was),
Confession, Absolution, choir practice,
and saving pagan babies in darkest
Africa, nothing is left out but the
secret Catholic handshake. Yep, all that
and more right here is in this innocent
little book with the cheery yellow
cover. Impeccably researched, fluidly
written, imminently educational, it's
worth every cent you spent on it instead
of tossing into the offering basket.
Reading this took me back to theology
classes in school. I think now I'll go
take a long walk outside...
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Very Well Written, October 31,
2006
My girlfriend is Catholic, and having
been raised Protestant (and not as a
practicing one for over a decade) I
quickly realized that my standard
uneducated stereotypes of Catholicism
was way off. I attended Mass with her a
number of times, (minus partaking in the
Eucharist) and found myself "in the
dark" about most of the traditions (Why
do they do that? Whats this mean?
etc...). So I took it upon myself to
learn as much as I could, and apart from
asking her tons of questions, I figured
a good "Dummies" book would be a good
solution.
I zoomed through this book in 3 days,
glued to the pages. It is definately a
very resourceful book, very well written
and easily understandable. The
light-bulb above my head was constantly
glowing as to say "oooohhh, okay, now I
know..."
A must for anyone!
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A conservative guide to the basics,
October 23, 2006
Reviewers who get upset because this
book is mainstream and conservative are,
I dare say, missing the point. This is
meant to be an intro to all points of
faith and culture, and one that it is
easy to sift through to find what you
need. It's not meant to be a particular
partisan spin on Catholicism nor
instructions on how to make your
Catholic life more abundant. For the
average "dummy," this book is fine.
Does it need to be read along with and
against other texts, to be understood as
only a part of the total Catholic
Christian experience? Of course! What
book of this kind doesn't?
Addendum: Two points to keep in mind, to
Desert Wanderer and any other reviewers
who seem to take this book (or anyone's
mild praise for it) as an insult: 1.)
the "for Dummies" denotes a series
title, not an effrontery to your rosary
praying relations, or to any Catholics
for that matter, and 2.) said series is
designed to acquaint BEGINNERS with some
ideas of the topic in question. Usually,
the "Dummies" reading are only trying to
get some quick overview of the subject,
whether that subject is Catholicism,
Bartending, or Auto Mechanics.
No doubt, then, there are better mixed
drinks in Mr Boston's, better manuals
for working on your Porsche. But to the
interested unintiated, books like this
have real value.
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Still.... this book is valuable to
me!, September 10, 2006
This book has remained very popular
among catechists in my parish. A friend
got it for me before I was Catholic, and
of course...now I am Catholic. There are
many things in this book that are put
more clearly than in I guess any other
book I've read since this one.
And that's saying a lot!
If you read it, you will benefit
greatly. And if you read it attentively,
there will be many things that stand out
and you will likely use this book as a
reference in the future. It's that good!
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The facts with a punch, August
15, 2006
The best I can say about Catholicism for
Dummies is that it has done what it set
out to do in explaining apparently all
of the major points of Catholic theology
and practice. For the rest, I can only
point out that authors John Trigilio and
Kenneth Brighenti are, to say the least,
enthusiastic advocates of Catholicism.
In that, too, they have perfectly
encapsulated what it is to be a Catholic
in the world. I don't wish to undermine
the efforts of the authors in showing
the reader how Catholics think, but at
the same time they are highly partisan
pastors. They explain what Catholicism
is, and do it very well, but it is clear
in countless subtle ways that they are
defending and promoting what the
Catholic church says and thinks, so for
that as well I must evaluate them.
First things first. The layout is very
good. They deal with theological and
religiously ethical questions in fine
detail and are clear and memorable about
what Catholicism teaches, how it differs
from other Christian beliefs such as
various Protestantisms and Eastern
Orthodoxy (not to be confused with
Eastern Catholics, a specific category I
didn't know even existed), and they
often cite the relevant biblical
passages that form the foundations of
their rites and beliefs. The papacy,
Mary, sacraments, the mass, devotions,
points of the cross, sins, saints - the
list goes on, including stuff I didn't
even know about, and it's all here. I've
even somewhat lost papal infallibility
as a point of criticism in my
evaluations of the Catholic Church
thanks to this book. So in telling the
reader what one must know, I give kudos
to the text.
And then there are the brass tacks.
While the use of analogies is helpful,
they also show the moral shortcomings in
Catholicism. Original sin as a genetic
condition for example (p 263 for anyone
who already has the book). Sin is
supposed to be a moral shortcoming. So
why must it be intrinsic? That's the key
problem to the morality that the authors
have rather strongly promoted throughout
- the notion that human wickedness must
be intrinsic for all people and must be
remitted only through Christianity (the
authors do not condemn or even strongly
criticize other denominations). Equally
evasive are other claims about the
Church. That it is incapable of
ordaining women, for example. While I
don't care myself, being neither female
nor Catholic, it's a twisted and not
entirely honest argument. And when they
get into mixing and matching statistics
while dismissing the ordained pedophilia
in the Church, well, the less said about
that the better. Lest there be any
mistake, they devote a rather sizeable
chapter just to the Church's specific
stance on many of the major issues of
the day. Their moral superiority complex
here is at its highest. If they could
replace a few "This is how it rightfully
is," thoughts with some "This is what we
happen to believe," quotes it would go a
long way towards keeping the book
explanatory and not so much promotional.
This is not just a guide for lapsed
Catholics, but for everyone who wants to
know the what's and how's of
Catholicism, and whether or not they are
seeking the Church's ethical wisdom.
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Outstanding introduction or
re-introduction!, July 18, 2006
This book explains the major (and many
minor) components of catholic faith
including- The structure of the church
(with a good&short outline of history in
the back), the total outline of the mass
and what it means, what the sacraments
are, how the cathlic church interprets
the 10 commandments (very enlightening-
for any Christian!), the steps one takes
to becomming catholic, the eucharist and
transubstantiation, and the church's
position (and biblical basis) for issues
on the death penalty, abortion,
euthenasia, birth control, etc. It even
devotes an entire chapter to what the
Virgin Mary is for catholics. It
includes how to say the rosary in detail
and gives several other common prayers.
The ONLY thing I didn't find in here
were mass responses.
This is well thought, humorous, and an
easy read. Very informative! Definately
recommend!
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Good reference book. Answers FAQs.,
June 9, 2006
Often looking for a book to recommend to
those who ask me for an introduction to
Catholicism, I pick up a number of
introduction books on a regular basis. I
came across "Catholicism for Dummies" in
a bookstore while browsing and picked it
up with the expectation of being
disappointed. To my pleasant surprise, I
was not.
While this book is composed of "just the
facts" with little breadth, it is a
surprisingly complete basis for further
inquiry. I found that this is more
appropriately a reference book than an
introduction. Composed in a systematic
way, this book outlines those issues of
greatest import and most likely the FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions). While it
clearly lacks the ability to do any
reasonable justice to the depth of
Catholic theology and teaching, it is a
solid starting point.
If you are looking for a sound reference
book that calls for your attention with
its distractingly bright yellow cover -
this book is for you! If you don't mind
being a dummy.
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Catholicism for Anyone..., May
23, 2006
| Reviewer: |
Dawn (Houston, TX
USA) - |
This book was helpful and fun to read! I
found myself highlighting tidbits and it
answered many of my questions. It is
filled with so much useful information,
including technical stuff, and random
trivia. After my husband reads it, I'll
probably go through it again.
I was born into a Catholic family and
attended Methodist Church growing up. My
husband was raised Southern-Baptist and
now wants to join the Catholic Church. I
bought the book to refresh my memory on
why we do the things we do at mass - and
I was extremely pleased.
Whether you are Catholic, are joining
the church for the first time, or just
curious and like to have all the answers
- this book is a really good read.
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Thank you Father Trigilio, May
10, 2006
As a person who was raised in a
Protestant background, I find myself
becoming very interested in the Catholic
faith - in no small part because of the
straight talk of Father John Trigilio
(and of course his partner in crime on
EWTN Father Levis!) Recently ordered
this book and highly recommend it as an
excellent starting point for those of us
who just may be on a somewhat scary
journey. Thank you and God Bless You
Father John.
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I like the Truth, May 8, 2006
I read your book and also read the
Complete Idiot's guide. Yours makes the
effort to present the Truth about the
Church teaching, even when those
teachings are not in step with our
current culture. There are reasons
behind rules, and it's our choice to
obey or disobey, but the Idiot's guide
seems tries to make you believe that if
you really think about your decision,
it's okay to break the rules. You make
no such claims, and present the facts
with little or no editorial fuzziness.
Thank you for your frank and
easy-to-understand presentation of
Catholic teachings.
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very good book, April 13, 2006
If you want to find out about the
Catholic Church...here is your
guide....you will not be
disappointed.....
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Great Resource!!, March 20, 2006
This book is a great resource. It helps
me with info I didn't know & also helps
answer questions from my kids.
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excellent resource!, March 16,
2006
This book is wonderful for us cradle
catholics who missed out on or didn't
learn all the basics of our catholic
faith. This would also be an excellent
resource for those new to the faith. It
is written by two priest both are on
EWTN (our catholic on air resource if
you have this channel it is a priceless
resource also) This is a must have book
for catholics everywhere I havent found
very many books that have so much
catholic faith information in one
resource. You will find yourself
refering to it over and over again!
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Good explanations, March 16, 2006
This book certainly could help a "dummy"
understand the intricacies of the
catholic church. I was looking for a few
explanations and found them. I give the
book a thumb's up for that.
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Catholicism Unwrapped, March 9,
2006
For the Catholic and the Non-Catholic
alike, If you are interested in a more
thorough understanding of the Catholic
religion, this book is a must read. It
is written in simple but direct
language, easy to understand, and gives
a remarkably clear picture of
Catholicism. It does not try to convert
you, but answers the
who,what,why,when,and where of
Catholicism. A book of this sort should
be written for each of the "Great
Religions of the World".
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Fabulous!!, February 24, 2006
This book is written in an easy-to-read
format and is humorous, too. Great
reference guide! Our parish priest uses
it for his adult education class! Very
well attended!!!
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A book every Catholic and Protestant
should read., February 23, 2006
I am a Protestant (at least for now, but
I haven't finished the book yet). This
book makes me question everything I have
been taught about Catholicism to date.
My wife was raised a Catholic and this
has dispelled a number of misconceptions
she had growing up.
I highly recommend this book to anyone
who wants to understand the truth of
what the Catholic Church teaches. This
book clears up a number of issues such
as the misconception of Mary worship and
idolatry that we Protestants cling too.
This book has given me a much better
understanding of how a Catholic mass
engages all of ones senses in the solemn
worship of God, something sorely lacking
in most Protestant worship.
I cannot say enough good things about
this book.
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I Can't Wait to Use This Book with My
RCIA Students, February 20, 2006
I am the director of RCIA at my parish,
and I am always looking for new material
that will make the study of Catholicism
more profitable for my students. This
book is clear and concise, easy to read,
and answers the perennial questions that
always pop up (e.g., "why do Catholics
use holy water?" "why can't
non-Catholics receive Communion?" and
"do Catholics worship Mary?"). I am
seriously thinking of using this as one
of the textbooks for our RCIA process,
along with the Bible and Catechism which
I already use.
I highly recommend this book for anyone
who wants to know more about the
Catholic Church. While I wouldn't
classify it as "apologetics" per se, it
does a great job of explaining the whats
and whys of Catholic doctrine.
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From the Author, February 6, 2006
Our book conforms to the 'Catechism of the Catholic Church' and the
official IMPRIMATUR given it assures
readers that nothing in the book is
inconsistent with defined faith and
morals. The competition does not have
such an ecclesiastical seal of approval.
Furthermore, neither myself nor my
co-author (Father Ken Brighenti) ever
impugned nor questioned the credentials
of our colleagues who wrote similar
books for other publishers. Contrary to
what some overactive imaginations claim,
there is no global right-wing
traditionalist conspiracy to hijack or
derail the reforms of the Second Vatican
Council. On the contrary, our book
explains that all the ecumenical
councils, from Nicea to Vatican II, are
authentic exercises of the Magisterium.
Furthermore, we maintain that the only
true way to KNOW, UNDERSTAND and
INTERPRET Vatican II is to READ the
actual documents of Vatican II. The
"spirit of Vatican II" is contained
within the "letter of Vatican II."
Rather than a mantra for liturgical
abuse and theological dissent, the true
spirit of Vatican II, as we point out
throughout "Catholicism For Dummies", is
found in what Vatican II actually said
and not what people 'claim' it said or
meant. Pope John Paul the Great told us
that we are not free to do what we want
just because we have a free will and
conscience. We are free to do what we
ought, i.e., we can do the right thing
for the right reason, not out of
instinct as do animals nor because we
are programmed like machines, but
because we have a rational intellect and
free will. Hence, abortion is not a
choice. The choice is sin or grace, good
or evil, right or wrong. If I chose
evil, then abortion is committed or
condoned. If I chose good, then the life
of the unborn is protected. Our book
tries to blow away the smoke which blurs
the moral vision and fools some into
thinking there are only gray areas of
morality. Truth is not ambiguous, be it
scientific, philosophic or theological.
"Catholicism For Dummies" hopefully
clears up some of the unnecessary
confusion which erupted in the post-conciliar
era by those who had other agendas.
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Doing RCIA? This is your book!,
November 21, 2005
I finally decided to convert to
Catholicism after a life long search in
other faiths. I began RCIA classes in
September and waited for a text to be
assigned but there was no text. I was
drowning in bits and pieces of
information with nothing to guide my
path. So I bought this book. BINGO! Or
should I say AMEN! This book has
enlightened me on any topic imaginable
about Catholicism. It is plain and
simple and positive. There is no way it
will be over anyone's head. I have
strongly recommended it to my convert
friends as well as my Cradle Catholic
friends. If you are beginning your
search or have been a life-long Catholic
but don't really know much about your
faith, purchase Catholicism for Dummies.
It will enlighten you!
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Thorough yet pleasantly readable.,
November 8, 2005
Two thumbs up. The authors have done a
magnificent job presenting a cogent,
complete, good natured explanation of
the Catholic Faith, its history,
practices, beliefs, and devotions. The
tone is scholarly yet appealing and
conversational.
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very reliable, July 24, 2005
This is a trustworthy book written by
Catholic clergy who understand
tradition, dogma and doctrine, believe
it, and can present it truthfully. It's
great for just about anyone, rather
cradle Catholic looking to learn a
little more or non-Catholic unfamiliar
with the faith. I read it around the
time of the election of Pope Benedict,
and I learned a great deal about the
heirarchy. I also thought other
sections, such as the one on the
vestments, were interesting. These are
things Catholics don't learn much about
because they are not of major
consequence. But don't let that fool you
- there is plenty of important
information in this book. A great
summary of Catholic beliefs!
Stay away from Idiots Guide to
Catholicism and get this book instead.
:)
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Great Beginner's Book, March 8,
2005
This book is a great read for anyone. If
your thinking about becoming Catholic,
know someone who is, or you just want
some more information on the Catholic
religion in general then this book is
for you.
I found this book to be very
informational and easy to follow. If
you're looking for more information on
the general traditions and guidelines of
Catholicism, this is a wonderful
starting point for that. Overall, it's a
great addition to your library.
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Add this to your library of resources,
November 19, 2004
I am always on the lookout for resources
that will assist me in learning about my
own Catholic faith and in sharing that
faith with my children, family and
friends. I find Catholicism for Dummies
(Wiley, June 2003, paperback, 384 pages)
an excellent resource for both my own
research and for teaching the faith in a
straightforward yet comprehensive
manner. Authors Rev. John Trigilio Jr.
and Rev. Kenneth Brighenti have compiled
a wide-ranging resource which will be of
help for anyone looking to increase
their knowledge of and devotion to their
own practice of Catholicism.
Written in a concise, organized fashion,
the Catholicism for Dummies offers
practical information on all of the most
basic elements of Catholicism, including
- but not limited to - the Four Marks of
the Church (One, Holy, Catholic,
Apostolic), the structure of the Church,
basic beliefs, worship types, the
Sacraments, the Mass, and much more.
Timely (and at times controversial)
issues of concern to most Catholics are
discussed.
I found especially enjoyable the "Part
of Tens" which relates the stories of
remarkable Catholic role models and
landmarks. The two appendices, one
detailing the popes and a second
outlining a brief history of the Church,
are helpful additions.
Buy this book for your own Catholic
library or as a gift for a friend
interested in exploring the treasures of
our Catholic faith.
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Better to be a Dummy than an Idiot,
August 14, 2004
'Catholicism For Dummies' is far
superior to the 'Complete Idiot's Guide
to Catholicism'. The former gives you
objective data on what Catholicism
officially teaches, how it worships and
how it works as an institution. The
latter dressess up opinion as if fact
and dishonestly injects dissident
theology where readers are actually
expecting and deserving accuracy and
authenticity. I found CFD lightyears
better than CIGC in content and layout.
The book is not supposed to be about
aberrations and deviations among
renegade Catholics, rather it is
supposed to present and explain a two
thousand year old religion which
presently incorporates a billion
members. I found this book easy to read,
enjoyable and informative. Had I wanted
to read politically-correct, opinionated
and hidden-agenda propoganda, then I
would buy the Idiotic version.
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Thorough overview of the Catholic
Church, July 11, 2004
If anyone wants to read about what
Catholicism teaches, this is an
excellent book to start with. It's
written on a level that both scholar and
"Average Joe" can appreciate. It
attempts to explain and defend
Catholicism without trying to tear down
others. As a convinced Protestant, I
understand this religion much more now
than I once did, as reading this book
will take away many misunderstandings
people have about the Catholic faith.
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Very Informative, June 10, 2004
This book is really easy to understand
and is helpful in explaining about the
church to other Christians. I would
recommend this to anyone interested in
finding out more about the Catholic
church. This book gets it right, unlike
the Idiots Guide! Do not purchase that
book; get this one instead!
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Handy, useful, and easy to read,
May 14, 2004
I've been Catholic for more than thirty
years, but my wife just converted six
years ago. When she started going
through RCIA there were a ton of
questions from her, her family, and our
friends about Catholicism. I was stunned
to find that I didn't know the answer to
quite a few of those questions.
Catholicism For Dummies is the very
best of the reference books I've found
on the topic. Most of the other books
I've used to help answer questions about
holy days, rituals, and of course Mary
were hard to read, or assumed that the
reader had quite a bit of prior
knowledge. But this book, just like it
says on the cover, truly is "the
reference for the rest of us!"
I'd recommend this book to every
Catholic, as well as to anyone
considering joining the church.
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An Everyman's Catechism of the
Catholic Church, February 18, 2004
Trigilio and Brighenti have authored one
of the best explanations of the Catholic
faith available today. Thoroughly
orthodox, their everyman's catechism
performs a tremendous service,
describing the pillars of the Faith -
Creed, Sacraments, Commandments, and
Prayer - in clear, often humorous prose.
"Catholicism for Dummies" clarifies
misconceptions and false teachings held
by many self-professed Catholics. For
instance, in the section on the all-male
priesthood, the authors write
"[Christ's] gender is more than
accidental, because the Church is His
bride. And because the priest acts 'in
persona Christi' (in the person of
Christ) as an 'alter-Christus' (another
Christ), then the priest reflects Christ
to the entire Church whenever he
celebrates any of the sacraments. The
maleness of Christ was part of who He
was, and therefore, Jesus only called
men to be His apostles even though His
mother would've been a far better
choice. But if a woman were to be
ordained, she couldn't be espoused to
the Church, because the Church is
considered 'mother'. A mother needs a
father to complement the equation."
Similarly, in the section on the
historical validity of the Gospel
narratives, the authors debunk the
notion that the New Testament is full of
"inconsistencies". Noting that Luke's
"sermon on the plain" seemingly
contrasts with Matthew's "sermon on the
mount", the reader is informed that
Christ likely gave a slightly different
version of the same sermon many times.
Luke recognizes that his Greek audience
is egalitarian, and so would appreciate
a "plain"-given sermon, while Matthew's
Jewish audience would have appreciated
the parallels to Moses' delivery of the
Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai in a
sermon delivered from a "mount"
True to the "Dummies" format, each
chapter is self-contained. So readers
can skip ahead to a topic of interest -
like chapter 12: "The Church's Stance on
Some Sticky Subjects" - and not be at a
disadvantage.
This book is an excellent catechism for
lightly-catechized Catholics, RCIA
candidates and catechumens, and anyone
seeking to know what the Church teaches.
Even knowledgable "cradle Catholics" are
guaranteed to learn new things about
their faith, as the authors include
aspects of Canon Law, Church history,
and overall instruction that are often
skipped or skimmed over by others.
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FOR CATHOLIC's & Prostant's alike-
EXCELLENT BOOK, December 27, 2003
Thank U Fr.Trigilio for this most
wonderful & fascinating book. I am
married to a prostant & have had a hard
time in the past in explaining
Catholicism, but now it is possible
w/your book. Basic layman's terms! This
book gives insight to all Catholics to
renew their faith and tradition. A must
read for prostants to understand why
Catholics do & believe as they do. I
have learned more now than I ever did in
catechism. A get off the fence book. I
am honored to have a copy of it. This
book says what today's priest are afraid
to speak out and say to the
congregation.Read, Learn & Become more a
part of our Catholic faith. Follow Jesus
& love everyone! May God Bless You!
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Flawless and magnificent summary of Catholicism, July 19,
2003
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Reviewer: Sebastian from Philadelphia, PA
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Although page 13 (not 14) says "all men and women have been
saved by Christ and are adopted children of God," page 11 also
says that "grace is necessary for salvation" and "a person can
accept or reject it. If accepted, it must be cooperated with."
This is the teaching of Saint Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Trent,
and the Catechism. Trigilio and Brighenti show the continuity of
faith, from the universal salvific will of God (sufficient and
efficacious grace) to the universal call to holiness and living
a saintly life. I and my family find this book to be the perfect
companion to the Catechism for the ordinary laymen, be they
Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim or otherwise. It
is not a replacement for the Catechism nor is it meant to be
anymore than it is a substitute for the Summa or the Catholic
Encylopedia. Yet, for the typical person, it is goldmine, in my
humble opinion.
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Infinitely Better than the "Idiots" Book, July
18, 2003
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Reviewer: A reader from Waterford, MI
United States |
"Catholicism For Dummies" towers above the similar
sounding book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to
Understanding Catholicism". The Dummies book actually
teaches authentic Catholicism, whereas the Idiots book
is rife with errors and vacuous fluff. If
you're trying to decide between these two books get
"Catholicism For Dummies".
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A must have! Orthodox, accurate, helpful and fun too!,
May 10, 2003
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Reviewer: Thomas A. Lang from Middletown,
PA USA |
WARNING! ONCE YOU START READING FATHER JOHN AND FATHER
KEN'S BOOK YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP!!!!
This book is essential for ALL Catholics and for anyone
who wants to learn more about Catholicism. Next to THE
Bible, this will be considered the "bible" for anyone
who has a question about the history, doctrine, dogma
and practice of the Catholic faith. It is well written
in clear, concise and "readable" language. "Catholicism
For Dummies" is an excellent learning tool, as well as a
super reference and research source.
This book will make excellent gifts for your family
members and friends, Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
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Reverend Father Kenneth D. Brighenti
Reverend Father John Trigilio, Jr.
with imprimatur
