Advice to protestant converting

[Pilgrimbygrace]

Hello all,

I’m a Presbyterian Protestant ( coming out of the reformed faith ). Setting theology aside, for a couple of years now, I’ve just been strongly convicted of the witness of the Catholic Faith.

So now after going to my first Mass last week, ( done in mostly all Latin ) I realize that there is a lot for me to learn. I know that I’ll be going through formation classes, but I was wondering if anyone could suggest some good books to help me understand the Catholic Faith better and also help strengthen my faith.

I would like to better understand Catholic Church History and Papal succession. I would also like a good apologetic book against the Protestant faith.

This decision has been very difficult for me and one that has taken years, so it hasn’t been taken lightly. But I am now fully convinced without a doubt that the Catholic Faith is the full expression of biblical truth and I am ready to convert, but It would help comfort me if I could better understand ( in a moderately easy reading format please ) supporting facts for the Faith.

Thank you

Dave

 

[hojo234]

If you want an easy-to-read-and-understand book to learn the Catholic faith, I’d suggest Father Smith Instructs Jackson by John Francis Noll .

Father Smith Instructs Jackson is a classic Catholic book that has been in print over eighty years; the last revision in 1995. In a question and answer format, the book covers many of the Church’s doctrines and history as asked by a non-Catholic.

You can preview the book at books.google.com/books?id=HdNTggUWV8AC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22Father+Smith+Instructs+Jackson%22&source=bl&ots=OpOknuJT63&sig=n6lskBtxHpl_Nn9nksXFk2NC_kw&hl=en&ei=2336S63tCoW6NpG5yJkF&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

Best of luck on your journey.

Howard Johnson

 

[Will_B]

I very much like Dr. Scott Hahn’s books and CDs… Dr. Hahn was a Presbyterian minister who was very anti-catholic, saw the truth and converted to the Catholic faith. He is a professor to theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH.

You may like his book “Rome Sweet Home” which is the conversion story of Scott and his wife.

We will be praying for you as you journey towards the Catholic Church.

 

[CDNowak]

I’ll second Hahn, and Keating’s Catholicism and Fundamentalism is a good comparison of Catholic and protestant doctrine.

 

[FidesSpesCarita]

Books to read… Well, Rome Sweet Home is good.

For fundamental education, Catholicism for dummies has a good reputation. But I strongly suggest you study the Catechism. Find things you want to learn and read individual sections. If you try to read it straight through you will most likely get burned out.

For Apologetics, I suggest “A Biblical Defense of Catholicism”. very well written.

But for basic apologetics without diving too deep theologically, check the faith tracts here on Catholic.com. They are very well done and I have yet to see one that does not bear the Nihil Obstat or the Imprimatur.

The key here (which I am beginning to learn after 3 years in the Church) is not to learn your faith from the standpoint of “I need to defend this” or “I need to show others their error”. Learn it because it is true. And as you do that you will be better able to defend the attacks of your protestant brethren. But dont do as I do and pick arguments, it gets us nowhere.

Anyway, thats one mans opinion,

FSC

 

[Rachel_1]

Hello all,

I’m a Presbyterian Protestant ( coming out of the reformed faith ). Setting theology aside, for a couple of years now, I’ve just been strongly convicted of the witness of the Catholic Faith.

So now after going to my first Mass last week, ( done in mostly all Latin ) I realize that there is a lot for me to learn. I know that I’ll be going through formation classes, but I was wondering if anyone could suggest some good books to help me understand the Catholic Faith better and also help strengthen my faith.

Here’s what I did (I just got done with RCIA and just got Confirmed yesterday)-
I wrote out a list of questions that I had in the beginning. Then I got the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults - it’s a big red book that they used in my RCIA class. It’s easy to read too. By the time I was done with the Catechism between reading it, and coming here and searching out stuff, I literally had all my questions on my list answered.

I would like to better understand Catholic Church History

I like the book Triumph- The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church-A 2,000 Year History by H.W. Crocker III

and Papal succession.

Will this do? List of Popes

I would also like a good apologetic book against the Protestant faith.

I would go with others suggestions here because I don’t have a book like that yet

This decision has been very difficult for me and one that has taken years, so it hasn’t been taken lightly. But I am now fully convinced without a doubt that the Catholic Faith is the full expression of biblical truth and I am ready to convert, but It would help comfort me if I could better understand ( in a moderately easy reading format please ) supporting facts for the Faith.
Thank you

Dave

I’m so happy for you Dave Let me know if I can help in any way.
Rachel

 

[qui_est_ce]

Hello all,

This decision has been very difficult for me and one that has taken years, so it hasn’t been taken lightly. But I am now fully convinced without a doubt that the Catholic Faith is the full expression of biblical truth and I am ready to convert, but It would help comfort me if I could better understand ( in a moderately easy reading format please ) supporting facts for the Faith.

Thank you

Dave

Welcome and keep coming back! One is never finished learning. It’s a journey.

scripturecatholic.com/

Also, I strongly suggest you go through the Evangelization forum. You will get much more information there. Traditional Catholic forums is where Catholics duke it out . :slapfight:

 

[Rachel_1]

Traditional Catholic forums is where Catholics duke it out . :slapfight:

haha that’s one thing that kind of shocked me when I first started going to Mass was that I couldn’t understand why some Catholics argued with each other. The :slapfight: smiley made me giggle

 

[qui_est_ce]

haha that’s one thing that kind of shocked me when I first started going to Mass was that I couldn’t understand why some Catholics argued with each other. The :slapfight: smiley made me giggle

It’s embarrassing, isn’t it?

 

[Poco]

Traditional Catholic forums is where Catholics duke it out . :slapfight:

Too funny!

Anyway, the first book I would suggest is a Holy Bible with “all the books”. I went with a Douay-Rheims version, but there are some threads on here discussing the various versions.

The second would be a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I’ve got a copy of the second edition with a glossary and an analytical index. Very nice!

As far as Apologetics go, I’ve heard the “Beginning Apologetics” series by Patrick Madrid is pretty good. I’ve also heard good things about some of the books mentioned in previous posts.

The Pastor in my parish uses “In His Light” by the Rev. William A. Anderson for RCIA.

Yes, Dave, the decision can be tough! In my case (I was born and raised Episcopalian), when I told family and friends what church I had started attending, the response was basically, “Isn’t that Catholic?” Almost as if I had said a Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc., that would have been ok, but Catholic? Anyway, I’m sure I made the right decision!

God bless,
David

 

[Rachel_1]

It’s embarrassing, isn’t it?

What, the slappy smiley or Catholics arguing w/ each other?
j/k
Everyone has an opinion and a lot don’t like change (Vatican II). While I agree with points on both sides of the argument I try to stay away from the arguing, bickering and stuff like that.

 

[Harri_Laaksonen]

Difficulty is nothing new to the convert. I took over 2 decades to make the decision to swim the TIber.

Please do not look for “anti-protestant” texts. Getting people to put up their “Anti-Catholic” walls is all too easy. Simply follow up on the teaching on the Sacraments and the Grace of God in Christ.

My own path lead through Seminary and several years of Lutheran ministry. I was never a Calvinist and perhaps that is one factor in my story.

We need to love people into the Kingdom of Christ and not “Scare Hell out of them”. The Calvinists keep trying that tack with people with any intention toward the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Grace and peace be with you.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Please do not look for “anti-protestant” texts. Getting people to put up their “Anti-Catholic” walls is all too easy. Simply follow up on the teaching on the Sacraments and the Grace of God in Christ.

That is good advice. In fact, if you read Scott Hahn, he CREDITS his former congregations for giving him such a love of the Lord. It’s part of the journey.

My own path lead through Seminary and several years of Lutheran ministry. I was never a Calvinist and perhaps that is one factor in my story.

Bless you, that must have been extra hard.

Grace and peace be with you.

And with your spirit!

 

[CDNowak]

Traditional Catholic forums is where Catholics duke it out . :slapfight:

lol, it helps to keep in mind that “iron sharpens iron” the disputes about little things force us to be clear about what we believe and why.

And another book suggestion for the OP, if you haven’t read it already, Catholicism for Dummies (But **not **the Idiot’s Guide to Catholicism)

 

[Miss_Linda]

This decision has been very difficult for me and one that has taken years, so it hasn’t been taken lightly. But I am now fully convinced without a doubt that the Catholic Faith is the full expression of biblical truth and I am ready to convert, [snip]

I just wanted to express my joy at your joining the Catholic faith. I am also a convert and it took several years to finally make that commitment. The books that have been recommended here are excellent, I read all of them during my conversion process and they helped me tremendously.

If you have not already done so, may I suggest that you also speak with your priest? He may have some additional materials to recommend to you.

May God truly bless you on your journey!

 

[qui_est_ce]

lol, it helps to keep in mind that “iron sharpens iron” the disputes about little things force us to be clear about what we believe and why.

That’s true, but it can get uncharitable. Sometimes the points have little to do with our faith, like did the Pope REALLY consecrate Russia? :hypno:

I really think the OP should use the Evangelization forum. It’s much friendlier and more informative.

 

[CDNowak]

That’s true, but it can get uncharitable. Sometimes the points have little to do with our faith, like did the Pope REALLY consecrate Russia? :hypno:

I really think the OP should use the Evangelization forum. It’s much friendlier and more informative.

No argument there.

 

[manualman]

The didache series by Midwest Theological Forum. Google it. Unreal good!

Originally intended for high school catechesis, but apparently by someone who didn’t get the memo about modern American high school students being apathetic and nearly illiterate! The books are concise, complete and clear. A sadly rare thing in modern catechetics.

 

[CDNowak]

The didache series by Midwest Theological Forum. Google it. Unreal good!

Originally intended for high school catechesis, but apparently by someone who didn’t get the memo about modern American high school students being apathetic and nearly illiterate! The books are concise, complete and clear. A sadly rare thing in modern catechetics.

hmmm, another Hahn (& co.) recommendation…

 

[Pilgrimbygrace]

Thank you all so much for all your suggestions.

I made my way to my local Catholic Bookstore and purchased the 1962 Daily Missal. So I’m trying to get a handle on that now.

But I’ve been watching Scott Hahn video’s and it’s been very helpful to me. I have several good book selections now and I’m really excited to get them here in the near future.

I’ll be seeing my priest this week and hopefully I’ll be able to start my formation classes in the next few months.

I’m not an “apologest” by nature, I do really like how Scott Hahn shares his faith and conversion; not showing negativity towards his Protestant background but simply viewing as a step in the journey.

Thank you again everyone.

Dave