What is a good book that explains the basic tenements of the Catholic faith without preaching?

Question

Not the catechism.

Answer 1

A nice little book that explains the basics of the Catholic faith in simple terms is called "This Is Our Faith" and the author is Michael Francis Pennock.

When instructing RCIA classes about the Catholic faith, I always give them this book for self-study and many of them have found it useful.

Another good book is "Why Do Catholics Do That?" and the author is Kevin Orlin Johnson. This book is a simple and basic guide to the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. You can also find it at a very reasonable price.

Also, you might just be interested in learning about the Mass itself and how it is Biblical...rather than about all the teachings of the Catholic Church all at once. If this is the case, a wonderful book that explains the Mass is called "The Lamb's Supper" and the author is Scott Hahn.

I hope this helps. God bless you in all of your endeavors.

Answer 2

Any of these titles by Father Oscar Lukefahr should do:

"We Believe: A Survey of the Catholic Faith" *
"We Worship: A Guide to the Catholic Mass" *
"A Guide to the Catholic Bible" *
"The Catechism Handbook"
"The Privilege of Being Catholic"
"We Pray: Living in God's Presence"
"The Search for Happiness"
"Christ's Mother: and Ours"

* I have read these, and they are very "down to earth". Someday, I intend to have read them all.

In fact, if you are feeling ambitious, you can get these books for free. They are the text in a variety of correspondance courses offered at: http://www.amm.org/chss.htm.

That's where I found out about them, and got the three I've read so far.

Answer 3

A very readable, slim book that I have given to my non-Catholic friends from time to time -- quite well-received -- is "We Believe: A Survey of the Catholic Faith" by Oscar Lukefahr. It is cross-referenced to the catechism but explains things in very clear language.

Here's the Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/We-Believe-Catholic-Cross-Referenced-Catechism/dp/0892435364/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-6692662-3197617?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183991800&sr=8-2

Answer 4

Here are a few books:

"Catholic Christianity" by Peter J Kreeft

"Does the Bible Really Say That" by Patrick Madrid

"Catholic Questions, Catholic Answers" by Fr. Kenneth Ryan

"The Catholicism Answer Book" by Rev. John Trigilio Jr, and Rev. Kenneth Brighenti

"What Catholics Really Believe" by Karl Keating

"Catholicism and Fundamentalism" by Karl Keating

"Catholic and Christian" by Alan Schreck

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 5

The Catechism. It explains it all and why Catholics believe the way they do.

Or you could get Catholicism for Dummies.

Answer 6

Catholicism for Dummies is very good and informative. It gives just the facts.

Feel free to contact me any time. I promise not to preach, just explain.