Apologetics for beginners

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irishmac said:
Catholics Answers store has a really great, really easy resource: Beginning Apologetics by San Juan Catholic Seminars. There is a complete set for, like, $50. The first book encompasses the defense of the Faith real well, and each subsequent book tackles everything from Mormons and JWs to Atheists and Agnostics. I recommend this resource to anyone looking to start learning apologetics.
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This is probably the best suggestion that I know of Mickey, but I wouldn’t get the whole set because she is unlikely to need it and some of that stuff can be kinda tedious and dry. I have all of them already, so my recommendations are as follows.

Definitely get her BA # 1 because it’s general and will set her up to deal with most everything she’ll encounter. After that, #s 3, 6, 7, & 8 in that order. Get her a good highlighter too…she’ll wanna use it.

The other handy thing is copies of John Martiginoni’s CDs. Those are both fun and informative.
Pax tecum,
 
Mickey said:
Well, perhaps this will help. My mother-in-law is 75 years old and is a cradle Roman Catholic.
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A protestant recently hit her with the question, “why do Catholics pray to Mary and saints instead of directly to Jesus”? **She was not sure how to answer and now she wants to learn apologetics! **:)That is SO cool! 👍
 
NotWorthy said:
I’ve always heard that “Catholicism for Dummies” is a good and well-thought out book, although I’ve never read it.
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I have the book “Catholicism for Dummies” it GREAT!!!
It’s easy to ready. It has a index where you can look up just certain topics. It’s REALLY, REALLY GOOD… it has helped me.

I even loan it to a Non-Catholic friend of mine who read it. She just read the parts she wanted by looking at the index…she siad I don’t agree with everything…but I understand it better!!!
 
Also can she watch EWTN…

They have a NEW Series: CRASH COURSE IN CATHOLICISM
The hosts of the show: Fr. Ken Brighenti and Fr. Trigilio are the same priest that wrote “Catholicism for Dummies”.

I have watch several of the “CRASH COURSE IN CATHOLICISM” shows…they are helpful and done in the same easy to understand simple language of the book.

You will have to check the program guide to see when CRASH COURSE IN CATHOLICISM is on. Then of course there is Father Caropi and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This program is good too. Times for Father Caropi is on the program guide too.
 
An earlier post mentioned the Madrid books. But I want to add that the three book series of Suprised by Truth would be a great beginners course.

Each story is short, and tells how that particular person overcame an “obstacle” to understanding Catholicism. In essence, each story is an apologetics presentation.

.
 
MrS said:
An earlier post mentioned the Madrid books. But I want to add that the three book series of Suprised by Truth would be a great beginners course.

Each story is short, and tells how that particular person overcame an “obstacle” to understanding Catholicism. In essence, each story is an apologetics presentation.

.
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I second that, although I’ve only read the first two. Out of those two I prefered the first one. How is the third? I also have color coded tabs on my first one so that if I need a reference to a certain topic I can just flip to that tab.

Speaking of tabs, I have some Topics Tabs for my Bible that were put out by the Norbertine Fathers of Orange. I have found them to come in pretty handy as well.
 
RCCDefender said:
I second that, although I’ve only read the first two. Out of those two I prefered the first one. How is the third? I also have color coded tabs on my first one so that if I need a reference to a certain topic I can just flip to that tab.

Speaking of tabs, I have some Topics Tabs for my Bible that were put out by the Norbertine Fathers of Orange. I have found them to come in pretty handy as well.
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that is a great idea!!!

the third is almost as good as the first… and has the story of Patty Bonds in it (sister of James White).
 
Just a quick note on what I’ve read;

I would definitally advocate staying away from Understanding Catholicism (it’s either a ‘dummies’ book or a 'Idiot’s Guide to" book) But it was the first book I read. It was sort of what I needed to hear at that point, but it’s not very orthodox from what I remember.

I’ve read Patrick Madrid’s and while it was good, I’ve heard better arguments for what he was arguing here online.
 
Rawb said:
Just a quick note on what I’ve read;

I would definitally advocate staying away from Understanding Catholicism (it’s either a ‘dummies’ book or a 'Idiot’s Guide to" book) But it was the first book I read. It was sort of what I needed to hear at that point, but it’s not very orthodox from what I remember.

I’ve read Patrick Madrid’s and while it was good, I’ve heard better arguments for what he was arguing here online.
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No NOT the Idoit Book… It has errors in it!!!
 
RyanL said:
:rotfl::rotfl:

Misspelled “idiot”…now that’s funny! 😉

God Bless,
RyanL
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Hehe 😃
Seriously though the book: "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism” has errors in it!!!

Example:
The book states: Catholics genuflect to show respect for the altar. This statement is not true.

The truth: we genuflect to show respect for the Eucharist, when it is present. Otherwise, we bow slightly to show respect for an empty altar.

Second: “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism” Does NOT have an “imprimatur” or “Nihil Obstat”.

So do not get: “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism”!

Now the book “Catholicism for Dummies” is a good book and it does have an “imprimatur” and a “Nihil Obstat”

In my opinion if you are going to spend money on a book, spend it on something that would be true!
 
Mickey said:
My mother-in-law has requested an easy to read book with easy to understand answers for defending the Catholic faith. Can anyone recommend a good book on apologetics for people just starting out?

Thanks in advance!
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Hi Mickey!

I would just like to second the recommendation of Church Militant and others who suggested John Martignoni’s cd’s. They are very straightforward to understand, and enjoyable to listen to. In addition, his biblechristiansociety.com website also offers 2 minute apologetics which you can be easily printed out and offer quick, concise answers to many of the common Protestant objections to the Church. “Apologetics 101-14” deals directly with prayer to Our Lady and the saints.

Kudos to your grandmother! What a joy to hear of her interest in apologetics. Praised be Jesus Christ!
 
mtr01 said:
Hi Mickey!

I would just like to second the recommendation of Church Militant and others who suggested John Martignoni’s cd’s. They are very straightforward to understand, and enjoyable to listen to. In addition, his biblechristiansociety.com website also offers 2 minute apologetics which you can be easily printed out and offer quick, concise answers to many of the common Protestant objections to the Church. “Apologetics 101-14” deals directly with prayer to Our Lady and the saints.

Kudos to your grandmother! What a joy to hear of her interest in apologetics. Praised be Jesus Christ!
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Thank mtr. And thanks to all for the great resources that have been suggested! 👍
 
Mommyof02green said:
Hehe 😃
Seriously though the book: "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism” has errors in it!!!

Example:
The book states: Catholics genuflect to show respect for the altar. This statement is not true.

The truth: we genuflect to show respect for the Eucharist, when it is present. Otherwise, we bow slightly to show respect for an empty altar.

Second: “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism” Does NOT have an “imprimatur” or “Nihil Obstat”.

So do not get: “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism”!

Now the book “Catholicism for Dummies” is a good book and it does have an “imprimatur” and a “Nihil Obstat”

In my opinion if you are going to spend money on a book, spend it on something that would be true!
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You don’t even have to get as technical as that. I can remember the author writing about a particular church in New Mexico that had Mother Nature or something in the place of the crucifix. That was put forth as an example of how great the church was for accepting people. It also verged (or may have come out and said it)on recommending women ordination and at one point referred to Mary as “The Feminine Face of God”.

I definitally don’t suggest it (wanted to make sure that was understood!)
 
Mickey said:
Well, perhaps this will help. My mother-in-law is 75 years old and is a cradle Roman Catholic. A protestant recently hit her with the question, “why do Catholics pray to Mary and saints instead of directly to Jesus”? She was not sure how to answer and now she wants to learn apologetics! 🙂
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the little pamphlet Pillar of Fire Pillar of Truth on the CA homepage will give her brief answers with catechism references to these common questions, a great starting place in having an answer ready tothese people. the next little book to get would be Where is that in the Bible by Patrick Madrid, so she can show her questioners just that.
 
As for the typical protestant objections to Mary:

The reason we pray asking her to help us is the same reason we ask our friends to pray for us. Protestant pray for each other all the time. That being the case, why shouldn’t they ask Mary also to pray for them? Do they think they are superior to Mary in their ability to have their prayers answered?

Our own powers to intercede have to be less than Mary’s!
 
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