Book that answers a Catholic's doubt?

Question

I have a friend who was raised Catholic but has grown very doubtful. She is very open-minded and has accepted many of the slanders and conspiracy theories that have been thrown around. She wants to know WHY the Church believes and does certain things; why she doesn't accept certain Gospels; other questions generated by movies like DaVinci Code and Stigmata, etc... questions I find hard to answer with my limited knowledge of my faith. Is there a good book, from an orthodox perspective, that adequately explains many of the 'stranger' or more misunderstood aspects of the Catholic faith? She's asking to read such a book and I'm sure one exists. Thanks!

Answer 1

There's a great author called Josh MacDowell who has a lot of resources on defending the faith. He's a lawyer was an atheist who set out to disprove Christianity but in the process ended up proving to himself it was true. He's not Catholic but the the principles do defend the Christian faith. His website is: http://www.josh.org/

Answer 2

There's no book existing dismantling conspiracy theories surrounding the Catholic Faith. But the Holy Bible may be able to answer some questions your friend may have about the rituals and doctrines the Catholic Faith teaches. The bible teaches us that there will be great apostasy (distortion of the Word of God) in the last days that do not align with God's intention for mankind (1 Tim 4:1-13 KJV). I recommend this scripture to allow your friend to compare toe-to-toe what the Catholic Faith professes vs. what the Word of God says.

There is something else that can elucidate your friend's spiritual confusion. Its called the Holy Spirit. If your friend can get a hold of the Holy Spirit, then her spiritual eyes will be opened. If she is in doubt of where to get it, find a Pastor of a non-denominational church that can help her understand what the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit is a gift that allows us non-Jews to receive the promise of God through repentence (Acts 11:15-18 NIV) . Further, we are given the opportunity to be baptized in water and in spirit, so that our sins could be buried under the blood of Jesus. With the Holy Spirit, one can attain the gifts that bear the wisdom and knowledge of God (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV).

Answer 3

Pastor Billy says: here are several with the primary topic

Apologetics:
Fundamentalism and Catholicism by Karl Keating (helps dispell many of the Protestant myths about Catholicism)

History of the Church:
Triumph by Harry Crocker III (a covert to the faith)
How the Catholic Church build Western civilization by Prof Thomas E. Wood

Symbolism in and Practise of Catholicism:
The Catholic Source book by Rev. Peter Klein

Catholic Church Catechism: the best question/answer book which clearly spells out the whys of our Christian faith

Answer 4

*Is Catholic*

Message me questions if you have them.

The stranger aspects can be a lot of fun.

Get the The Da Vinci Hoax for taking a part the code.

Here is a small book list on the "stranger aspects"

Pseudo Dionysius: The Complete Works by Paul Rorem
Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know About Them? by Peter J. Kreeft
A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist by Abbot Vonier

If you have specific subjects, let me know.

You might also want to get Faith and Certitude by Dubay

Answer 5

A book "What Catholics Really Believe" is quite good. Even better are the three-book series "Surprised by Truth". This is a collection of personal testimonies by people from a variety of backgrounds - atheist, Muslim, Evangelical, Mainline protestant, Jewish, etc - who by personal searching have found that the Catholic Church is just what the Bible says it is - "the pillar and foundation of truth" - and have consequently become members of the Catholic Church. Your friend could also learn a lot at the website www.Catholic.com

Answer 6

Here's one: Catholic and Christian - An Explanation of Commonly Misunderstood Catholic Beliefs by Alan Schreck.

Check out these sites:
www.catholic.org
www.catholic.com

She needs to stop read the Da Vinci code. That is blasphemous fiction being peddled as fact. Even non-religious historians have laughed Dan Brown off the bookshelves for his incredible inaccuracies.

Hope this helps. God bless.

Answer 7

I've found books by Catholic converts to be really helpful for friends who were in similar situations.

"My Life on the Rock" by Jeff Cavins and "Rome Sweet Home" by Scott and Kimberly Hahn are awesome.

You can also order free Catholic CDs from the website below, including the conversion stories of Dr. Scott Hahn and Father John Corapi. They are both excellent! Anyone can order these CDs for free.

Answer 8

The perfect book for you, for the purpose of helping her, is:
A Biblical Defense of Catholicism" by Dave Armstrong.

The perfect book for her, for the purpose of helping herself, is: "The Biblical Basis for the Catholic Faith" by John Salza.

Understand that your friend may not accept the teachings as put forth by the aforementioned books. There is consolation in the fact that the Bible finds it's Authority in it's Divine Author. How does your friend expect her personal opinion to measure up to the Divine Authority of the Bible? Make sure and ask her that if/when she challenges the Church's teachings.

Answer 9

Karl Keating's books are great:

Catholicism & Fundamentalism
Nothing But the Truth- Essays in Apologetics
The Usual Suspects
What Catholics Really Believe

"What Catholics Really Believe" and "Nothing but the Truth" might be good places to start, although the other two books contain valuable information, too. Keating's style is light and easy to read, but very thorough and informative.

You can order them online from:

http://www.inhisname.com/Books/Apologetics5.htm

Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Try:

Letters to a Young Catholic by George Weigel
The Truth of Catholicism by George Weigel
Why be Catholic? by Richard Rohr
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

About the Da Vinci Code, see: http://www.jesusdecoded.com

With love in Christ.