Catholics Read Tim Lahaye, Other?

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Hello,

I am new to the Catholic Faith.

Recently, I received a book by Tim Lahaye as a present. Due to differences in belief should Catholics read books by Tim Lahaye?

Also, what kind of discernment, or rather should we not read books that do not agree with the Catholic Faith? What about books like, The Da Vinci Code, Holy Blood Holy Grail, other “gospels” (Mary, Thomas, Phillip)?

Is their a website that recommends books on faith as well as fiction books, as I enjoy both emmensely.

Thank You in advance for your consideration.
 
LaHaye’s beliefs are not compatible with the truth as set forth in Catholic doctrine. Stumbler’s links are a very good start. Best to avoid that which can lead you away from the truth.

Also, see Carl Olsen’s book “Will Catholics Be Left Behind”.
 
If you want good Catholic end-times theology in novel form, go for Fr. Elijah by Michael O’Brien.
 
You are not forbidden from reading it. You could read it with the purpose of knowing what enemies of our church believe.

I would not however recommend it to others.

the other poster is right, O’Brien is a popular Catholic novelist and orthodox.

I frequently read what our enemies write about us, just to know what they are up to.

I need to know the fundamentalist mindset in case I am ever called to give witness against the flaws in it.
 
The Barrister:
If you want good Catholic end-times theology in novel form, go for Fr. Elijah by Michael O’Brien.
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I would also add The Last Fisherman: A Novel of the Last Pope, the Antichrist and the End of the Age by Randy England.

I would say that if you want to, go ahead and read any and/or all of the Left Behind series but do so a pure fiction.
 
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ByzCath:
I would also add The Last Fisherman: A Novel of the Last Pope, the Antichrist and the End of the Age by Randy England.

I would say that if you want to, go ahead and read any and/or all of the Left Behind series but do so a pure fiction.
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I would also agree. However, when reading works like this, and The DaVinci Code, for example, I would check them against other books/websites that explain their errors, and where they depart from Catholic doctrine
 
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thankyou:
Due to differences in belief should Catholics read books by Tim Lahaye?

Also, what kind of discernment, or rather should we not read books that do not agree with the Catholic Faith? What about books like, The Da Vinci Code, Holy Blood Holy Grail, other “gospels” (Mary, Thomas, Phillip)?
Click to expand...
There is nothing which forbids you from reading these books. Having said that (and I speak as someone who has read all the materials you mentioned except HBHG), there is no reason to read and expose your self to what is both bad theology and bad fiction. The only possible exception is to to so in order to refute the often anti-Catholic content of these books. LaHayes *non-fiction * is especially notable in this regard (the “Left Behind” books are a little more subtle)… If this is your aim, make sure you arm yourself with the truth. Carl Olsen, who wrote the aforementioned books, has an excellent website that will help you do just that:

carl-olson.com/
 
I heard Tim LaHaye on a non-Catholic radio station making very direct “Anti-Catholic” remarks. I guess he has gotten so “hyped” on the popularity of his books that he can start to offend. Too bad too. He won’t get anymore of my money. As for the book you received, I’d dontate it to the local Library (unread).
 
it just depends on why you want to read them. If you aren’t strong in your faith, don’t read them, they may lead you astray, or confuse your beliefs. But it would be great to read them so you could talk to your protestant friends about them and how they are flawed biblically. (the rapture is not biblically sound)
 
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thankyou:
Hello,

I am new to the Catholic Faith.

Recently, I received a book by Tim Lahaye as a present. Due to differences in belief should Catholics read books by Tim Lahaye?

Also, what kind of discernment, or rather should we not read books that do not agree with the Catholic Faith? What about books like, The Da Vinci Code, Holy Blood Holy Grail, other “gospels” (Mary, Thomas, Phillip)?

Is their a website that recommends books on faith as well as fiction books, as I enjoy both emmensely.

Thank You in advance for your consideration.
Click to expand...
Don’t tempt yourself, especially being new to the faith, into reading books that distort the truth and call it truth. I remember reading some very good tracks on this very subject in the Catholic.com website. Try looking for them. Good luck and God bless.
 
Several posters have said that “there’s nothing forbidding you to read these books.”

I would add, “except good judgment.” LaHaye seems to be of the belief that the Catholic Church is very, very bad, and this belief is bound to come across in countless subtle ways in his writing. There’s no reason to expose oneself to this when you can get an equally edifying, and not anti-Catholic, read from O’Brien or many others.
 
For Ficion, I’ve heard that Junia by Giesler is a good book. It looks like it’s meant to be read by a teenage girl, but grown men give it rave reviews. 🙂

Here is a list of some fiction books that you might want to check out:
Eclipse of the Sun
Fr. Elijah
by Michael O’Brien

The Miracle of the Bells
Allessandro Manzoni

The Betrothed
Flannery O’Conner (great author)

The Sparrow
Doria Russell

A Cry of Stone
Evelyn Waugh

There are certain publishers that are known for their Catholic orthodoxy that you can trust
Catholic Answers (of course 😉 )
Our Sunday Visitor
Ignatius Press
The Neumann Press
Franciscan University Press
TAN Books and Publishers, Inc.
C.R. Publications, Inc.

When you order online, look for Catholic stores that have a mission statement that says something like “Faithful to the Magisterium”
Be wary of: St. Anthony Messenger Press, they have some good books but they mix in heterodox books so it’s best to read read reviews on certain books they carry first.
 
After reading this discussion I went out last night and bought Father Elijah…WOW!! What a book, thanks for the recomendation…

Now after I finish this what book of his should I get next? Is this book part of a series?

Great author , great book!! Thanks guys!
 
He has five fiction novels out and they form a sort of loose series. Visit here for more info:

amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0898706904/103-4463386-7930218?v=glance

He also has at least one non-fiction book out warning about New Age themes in childrens literature called “A Landscape With Dragons.”

amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898706785/qid=1099681327/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-4463386-7930218

Finally, he had a very thought provoking article in Envoy Magazine a few years ago called “Three Views of the Future”

envoymagazine.com/backissues/1.6-2.1/nov97_feb98_coverstory.html
 
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