Book Recommendation for Doubting Thomas(ina!)

JackieMom · Oct 30, 2012

So, I have lots of nagging doubts about Catholicism. I am a cradle Catholic, but it seems so legalistic and formulaic to me, that I have a hard time imagining that the Catholic Church is exactly what God wants for us. (I just read a thread on indulgences, which I wish I hadn’t because it added like, gasoline, to my fire of incredulity. I mean - for real? Do people really believe that God has all these arcane and complicated rituals you can do to minimize your eternal punishment??)

If you could recommend one book for me to help bolster my faith that the Catholic Church is not just a made-up set of miserable rules created to keep people in line, what would it be? The criteria are that it cannot be too long or overly complex (I’ve got three kids), and it needs to be based in logic, fact with proof of the Church’s validity shown.

I’d love to read such a book, but there are SO many - I’m not sure where to start. It’s not so much that I don’t think there is a God, period - but that it’s hard for me to imagine that the creator of the universe has instituted all of these bizarre rules and rituals and will damn us to hell if we don’t obey them.

Della · Oct 30, 2012

Indulgences do not minimize eternal punishment. If you find yourself in hell, there’s no way out. Indulgences minimize ones purgatory which is the threshold of heaven. All who are in purgatory will go to heaven. The rules are meant to maximize the graces we receive from God–they are a gift, not a burden. Asking people to attend Mass, go to confession and meet whatever requirement comes with the indulgence is easy for anyone to do.

This is your perception of the Church, but not what the Church is. There are no books correcting faulty perceptions, rather there are books that explain how and why Christ established his Church–it was out of love for us, so that we wouldn’t make the kind of mistakes that will result in frustration here on earth and perhaps, eternal misery.

The Church follows the Ten Commandments, which Christ confirmed and which everyone is expected to follow. One of them tells us we must keep holy the Sabbath day. That has not been canceled, rather the Church transferred the obligation to Sunday, which is why we are to attend Mass every Sunday–it’s God’s law. Why did he enact his laws? For our benefit, not his. We are fallen creatures who easily excuse ourselves from doing what we’re supposed to do and will make excuses for every sort of wrong we commit. God knows this, so he gave us his law so we would know what he expects of us. If we human beings can’t keep 10 simple rules, then indeed the Church isn’t for anyone.

latingirl · Oct 30, 2012

Scott Hahn’s “Reasons to Believe” opened up my mind and did wonders for me as a fallen away Protestant with many questions about Catholicism. It brings core Catholic beliefs such as papal infallibility and Marian beliefs into touch with their Scriptural roots and provides arguments for God’s existence from logic. I’m not sure if it will help you but I thought to at least suggest it. if nothing else, it’s a great read!

Vouthon · Oct 30, 2012

Dear Jackie

Peace be with your spirit!

I am very pleased to meet a “Doubting Thomas(ina)” (love that btw

) such as yourself. Saint Thomas yearned for a direct experience with the risen Christ, rather than simply being “told” that he had risen from the dead. I think that we all have a bit of him in us somewhere.

If I could suggest one book then it would be, “Into the Silent Land” by Martin Laird. It is a handbook by an American priest teaching one how to become a Contemplative in the Catholic mystical tradition. Its very short but also very informative. Buy it off Amazon: amazon.com/Into-Silent-Land-Practice-Contemplation/dp/0232526400/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351630973&sr=1-3&keywords=into+the+silent+land+martin+laird

I highly encourage you to buy a copy off of Amazon. You will not be dissapointed. Its a gentle step-by-step journey along the mystical path with such companions as Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart etc.

I would like to suggest 3 other books that you might want to acquire:

A 1911 book on Catholic mysticism by Evelyn Underhill. Presents a full description of each stage of a (possible) mystic path from the Catholic perspective, It can be read online here: sacred-texts.com/myst/myst/index.htm

I would skip the Mystic Fact section and start reading the Mystic Way. She litters the book with hundreds of quotations from a whole variety of Catholic mystics. It will open up this “dimension” of the Catholic Faith for you, so that you can then go deeper yourself and read more books.

Messenger of the Heart: The Book of Angelus Silesius - a series of selections from the poetry of a Catholic mystic positioned side-by-side with selections from Eastern thinkers. Buy it here off of Amazon: amazon.com/Messenger-Heart-Silesius-observations-Spiritual/dp/0941532704/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351630655&sr=1-1&keywords=messenger+of+the+heart
Another book I would recommend is one that is not well known. Its called “The Little Book of Truth” by the 14th century Catholic mystic Blessed Henry Suso. Its a philosophical and mystical treatise framed as a fictional discussion between the author and Truth Himself, that is God. Its rather deep but short and also very meaningful. You’d have to read it to get what I mean. It usually can be found as part of a broader volume called, “The Exemplar”. I would buy the Exemplar, skip straight to the Little Book of Truth and afterwards read the Life of the Servant. You can buy it off Amazon: amazon.com/Henry-Suso-Exemplar-Classics-Spirituality/dp/0809129868

Good luck!

Catherine_S · Oct 30, 2012

Here’s what many* converts*** to the Catholic Church have to say in** terms**
of Catholicism. Some after many years of membership in many different
denominations or groups of christianity. Some from other religions or no
religion at all! Very insightful and their stories may be of help to you,
jackiemom.
The Journey Home Tapes…
http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=-6892289&T1=

Catherine_S · Oct 30, 2012

Here’s what many* converts** to the Catholic Church have to say in** terms of Catholicism, JackieMom. *
*Some after many years of membership in many different **denominations or groups of christianity. *
*Some from other religions or from no religion at all! ***Very insightful and their stories may be of help to *you. **
A little doubting, prayer, and searching can be a very good thing *as it very often leads one to renewed growth
and deeper faith, JackieMom.
The Journey Home Tapes…
http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=-6892289&T1=

JackieMom · Oct 30, 2012

Viola_Incognita · Oct 30, 2012

Two books I like:

Catholicism for Dummies by Fr. John Trigillio and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti

and

Dear Grace: Answers and Questions About the Faith by Grace D. MacKinnon

May God bless you in your search for Him.

suissemissed · Oct 30, 2012

My answer might seem to be an unusual one: Start studying the tradition of the Christian East. Byzantine Catholics (and their Orthodox counterparts) have a much less legalistic approach to the Faith. It’s the same Faith, but just looked at through different glasses, so to speak

october_baby · Oct 30, 2012

My experience is a little different then yours, I have an aunt whose agnostic and its an uphill
battle. She seems open to suggestion, but unwilling to do anything about it. I would say try one prayer a day. And see where it leads you.

Peter_Plato · Oct 30, 2012

Have you seen the Catholicism series by Fr. Robert Barron? It may be just what you need.

If you have no access to it, try the wordonfire.org website where Fr. Barron has some great resources especially video clips from the series and “faith clips.”

Series clips:
wordonfire.org/WOF-TV/Catholicism-Project-new.aspx

Faith clips:
wordonfire.org/WOF-TV/Faith-Clips-new.aspx

A good book to put the Catholic faith into an historical perspective and explain where many of the traditional rituals come from is “Walking with God” by Jeff Cavins and Tim Gray. Very readable and entertaining.

pablope · Oct 30, 2012

I would recommend to start there…the 4 marks of the Church…by scott hahn…short and online…zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~vgg/rc/aplgtc/hahn/m3/Mod3.html

And this one…The Splendor of the Church…I would say, nothing compares…zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~vgg/rc/aplgtc/hahn/m1/splndr.html

Vouthon · Oct 31, 2012

I agree with that

The Latin tradition is scholastic and one could say (not being unfair) “legalistic” at least in the sense that Roman legal terms and the mindset is more prominent in Western theology. Not necessarily a bad thing but some people don’t like this expression and prefer the East.

Tinaphpc · Oct 31, 2012

This is exactly what I want to know .

tafan · Oct 31, 2012

I would absolutely recommend “The Beliefs of Catholics” by Fr Ronald Knox. It is immensely readable and does a great job of showing how much of our faith we as Catholics accept without the authority of the Church. I cannot recommend it enough. I used to thing Mere Christianity was the best Christian apologetics book until I finally took the time to read this one. It is the best. It is not as well known as Mere Christianity because it is written from a specifically Catholic viewpoint.

ignatiusinsight.com/features/review_knox_beliefcatholics.asp

There are other excellent recommendations, but this one has already stood the test of time.
It presents a compelling case for the following statements, without relying on any authority of the Church:

i.) The existence of God.
(ii.) The fact that he has made a revelation to the world in Jesus Christ.
(iii.) The Life (in its broad outlines), the Death, and the Resurrection of
Jesus Christ.
(iv.) The fact that our Lord founded a Church.
(v.) The fact that he bequeathed to that Church his own teaching office,
with the guarantee (naturally) that it should not err in teaching.
(vi.) The consequent intellectual duty of believing what the Church
believes.

It then goes through many aspects of Catholocism which you seem to be having trouble with, and addresses them in detail.

Della · Oct 31, 2012

JackieMom:
I’m sorry - yes, I do know that they supposedly minimize purgatory time. I do see how sinners would find it a relief that they could undo some of the time they’ve “earned” - but the concept seems a little far-fetched. To me - God is a scientist. Look at all the amazing creations in the world - look at the perfection of so many species of plants and animals! Look at how chemistry, physics and mathematics works. It seems incongruous to me that the same God who created those magnificent, brilliant things also allows…indulgences. I very well may be wrong but that’s what I think.

Della:
Of course, God is more than a scientist–he is love, true, beauty, joy, etc. He’s a person who loves us not someone who thinks only in terms of the wonders of creation. He’s personal and engaging. We, as he knows very well, are fallen creatures in need of every aid/help we can get, living or “dead”. As to that, Jesus told us that the dead are not dead but alive to God, so we pray for the dead and we gain indulgences for them and for ourselves. Indulgences are not onerous or difficult but rather simple and faith building for those who avail themselves of them. This is one of those things best understood when practiced, just as playing an instrument or rearing a child or eating or sleeping. Anything can appear troublesome if not accepted for what it is and what is indended to do, yes?

JackieMom:
I feel like the Ten Commandments might have been a jumping-off point for the Catechism, but clearly the Catechism is longer than 10 lines. I am 100% on-board with the Ten Commandments! I am just not sure I am 100% on-board with the millions of things the Church asks us to believe and do that are very far-flung from the TCs (the indulgence example above being one of them - do I really need to believe that certain little rituals are veritable “get out of jail free” tokens? And that we can do these things for people who are already dead?

Della:
Yes, the 10 Commandments are indeed the jumping-off point for the CCC. What the CCC attempts to do is expound on them so we know what each one means. It can be overwhelming as a whole, but most of us don’t need all of it at once, but rather only when a situation arises in which we need the Church’s guidance on a particular topic. Especially in our day we have so many voices telling us so many different things, we need to know what the Church says about them. It’s meant to help us not hinder us. Indeed, no one who lives by the teachings of Christ’s Church finds it burdensome but rather freeing because we have a sure guide in matters of faith and morals. Christ founded the Church for that very reason–that and the sacramental life he also established in it. Once again it’s a matter of practicing it not merely assenting to it.

sweetpetunia · Nov 8, 2012

I’m a little late to the game, but this is such a fascinating topic, I had to jump in

As another (occasionally doubting) “Thomasina” (haha, love it!), I’d have to say yes, I can believe in indulgences. What helps me is understanding what the Church teaches about merit, as the indulgences are based on the concept of merit. Essentially, sin creates a debt that needs to be paid. The problem is, in sinning, we totally snookered ourselves, because sin morally “bankrupted” us, so to speak, as it created a debt that we are incapable of paying. This is because, in the strictest sense, we are unable to merit anything. Everything good we have comes from God, and He owes us nothing. Therefore, only Christ can merit.

By His passion, Christ paid the debt, and created a supernatural treasury or overabundance of grace, which He freely allows us to draw upon. He freely chooses (i.e., through no obligation on his own part) to allow us to participate and gain merit through Himself. By doing so, He freely obligates himself in commutative justice, so that we may gain true merit. This is an actual merit (condign merit) based in commutative justice. His obligation comes from His promise

So, to answer your question, do people really believe that God has all these arcane and complicated rituals you can do to minimize your eternal punishment? I would say, yes, but first I would switch the word “minimize your eternal punishment” with “help atone for our debt”. I might quibble with “arcane” and perhaps even “complicated” as well…but that’s another story. The reason you can’t apply the word “eternal” is because indulgences only apply to the temporal portion of our debt, not the eternal.

Do I think this is a rational belief and logical outcome? Yes, I do, for we even see this in the natural world among rational creatures. The best example I can think of would be to imagine, if you will, a ten year old kid who vandalizes a neighbor’s house. Say he purposely breaks a neighbor’s window for whatever reason—to appear “cool”, to be “initiated” in a club, he wants to steal something inside-- whatever. Basically, he created a “debt”, and since has no income, he has no way of repaying his debt. Only his parents can pay the debt for him. But say these parents think it would be good for him to participate in paying back the debt in some way. It allows him to take ownership in his debt, whilst respecting his free will, and perhaps he might even learn something from it. So what do they do? They take a funny little ritual and assign a seemingly arbitrary value to it, based on a social construct (viz, money) in order to help him “pay back the debt.” In other words, they are saying, “Son, if you unload that dishwasher for me (ritual) that is 25 cents (value) toward the debt you created.” Indulgences work exactly like that. The parents did not “owe” him that 25 cents to pay back the debt, but now since they promised him that, they are obligated by their promise. Their son is now participating in “merit”, even though they were the ones who paid the price. It is the exact same way with us. We can participate in “merit” through indulgenced acts/acts of devotion, penance, or charity, These good works are simply the “currency” with which God allows us to “help” pay back the temporal part of our debt.

If you want more information on merit, here is a relevant spot from the Catechism, see especially articles 2006-2011: vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm If you have the time/want something more intellectually “meaty” I would suggest the Summa Theologica, Tertia Pars, basically all the articles in questions 49 and 50. I hope this helps! God bless you

sweetpetunia · Nov 8, 2012

Oh, I almost forgot a book recommendation

You might have to keep looking until you find the one (or many ones!) that work for you. Probably the best option might be to research each individual question or doubt that you have, as there is probably not one all-inclusive book (although I bet the Summa would come close!) For starters, though, I think you might like Kreeft. I haven’t read this one in particular, amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/089870202X/theofficiapet-20 , but it looks like it might be a good one.

Book Recommendation for Doubting Thomas(ina!)

JackieMom

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Della

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