Christian Book Stores

[Brother_John]

Oh, the whole WORLD is available on line

I was interested in what I could find in a store. Especially a Christian Bookstore.

Well, the trip to BAM was fantastic ! Four shelves of Catholic books, and another shelf of all shapes and sizes of Catholic Bibles…a block away from the so-called Christian Bookstore.

Titles from Hahn, Ratzinger, and even a St Jospeh’s Sunday Missal. Catholicism for Idiots, you name it.

Guess you gotta go to a secular bookstore if there isn’t a Catholic one nearby

 

[BennyBoy89]

Oh of course! I have found I can only go into a Catholic bookstore to find anything I need.

My DRE told me a story of a time she went into a Christian bookstore she had shopped in several times before and asked for a Catholic Bible because she saw none on the shelf. The store owner looked at her in disgust and said something to the effect that they didn’t carry such a thing and would not in the future. So when she left, she stopped at the entrance, took off her shoes, slammed them together directed at him, put them back on and walked away! Matthew 10:14!

Try to find a Catholic bookstore, a support the work they do!

 

[surfinpure]

I went to a well-known chain “Christian Book Store” where I live today, and was I in for a shock. I could not find the “Liturgy of the Hours”, and it wasn’t even in their computer!

So, for grins, I looked for a Douay-Rheims Bible, or even a St. Joseph’s Edition…NONE…I didn’t even ask them to look in their computer for these, and I left.

“Christian” bookstore? More like “Protestant/Non-Denominational” bookstore.

Have any of you had similar experiences?

Yes! Last fall I went into a big-name “Christian” bookstore and asked if they had the recent book by Pope Benedict. I’ll never forget the pained look on the saleswoman’s face, as if to say, “You sad person, you just don’t know.” They don’t carry any Catholic material at all. But I couldn’t help but notice books from the entire spectrum of Protestant theology – from Pentecostal to Calvinist!

 

[NetNuncio]

I can’t say that I understand the confusion here.

The “Christian Book Store” chain very clearly focuses totally on Protestant/Evangelical theology. They do not carry much, if any, Catholic material. Other Christian book stores that are not specifically Catholic carry varying amount of Catholic material.

Book/Gift stores that ARE specifically Catholic carry varying amounts of Protestant material. The Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office is very much a Catholic practice. So, don’t expect to find the Divine Office in stores that are geared towards Protestants. In the same way, don’t expect to find the Left Behind series in a Catholic Bookstore.

Moral of the story: If you want something Catholic, go to a Catholic store.

 

[surfinpure]

IrishAm,

I don’t appreciate my intention being presumed upon. It was as I described – to find a particular book. I gave the bookstore the benefit of the doubt for being truly “Non-denominational,” and went inside to ask. Can you not give us the benefit of the doubt, instead of judging motives?

 

[Brother_John]

The “Christian Book Store” chain very clearly focuses totally on Protestant/Evangelical theology. They do not carry much, if any, Catholic material. Other Christian book stores that are not specifically Catholic carry varying amount of Catholic material.

Book/Gift stores that ARE specifically Catholic carry varying amounts of Protestant material. The Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office is very much a Catholic practice. So, don’t expect to find the Divine Office in stores that are geared towards Protestants. In the same way, don’t expect to find the Left Behind series in a Catholic Bookstore.

Moral of the story: If you want something Catholic, go to a Catholic store.

I learned this, up close and personal today. Not finding Catholic books in a Christian book store was one thing. Discovering a veritable plethora of Catholic books a block away in a “general” book store made the Christian book store look rather silly, but that’s just my opinion.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

On one trip to a well known main stream Christian bookstore, the Catholicism information was in comparative religions with Buddhism and the varying forms of paganism.
The also carried Chick Tracts and some of the Chick comic books.

 

[puzzleannie]

it also depends on whether the store is a chain or independent (and these are disappearing fast). chain stores are usually owned in whole or part by a certain publisher of Christian books, and so books in the various imprints of that publishing house will comprise most of the stock in that store.

did visit a new Christian bookstore in town, and surprised to see a modest but unexpected line of gifts for 1st communion etc, but they were “generic” mostly, although they did have the kids with missal, rosary etc, veils, and a good selection of rosaries. they did not have a very extensive line of books at all, mostly the self help and “pop religion” variety (Chicken soup, romance novels, etc). what solid fare there was tended toward the evangelical, but a good Spanish selection. only about 1/4 the space was devoted to the books, 1/4 to music, 1/4 to video/DVD (actually both those sections were excellent and even had a couple of chant CDs), and 1/4 gifts. only 4 shelves of bibles, but they did have a couple of versions of NAB and RSV-CE, and GNT youth bibles for Catholics

in-laws just finally closed their 3rd attempt at a solid Catholic bookstore, just business reasons, an independent bookstore has little chance of longterm success in most markets.

 

[benedictgal]

it also depends on whether the store is a chain or independent (and these are disappearing fast). chain stores are usually owned in whole or part by a certain publisher of Christian books, and so books in the various imprints of that publishing house will comprise most of the stock in that store.

did visit a new Christian bookstore in town, and surprised to see a modest but unexpected line of gifts for 1st communion etc, but they were “generic” mostly, although they did have the kids with missal, rosary etc, veils, and a good selection of rosaries. they did not have a very extensive line of books at all, mostly the self help and “pop religion” variety (Chicken soup, romance novels, etc). what solid fare there was tended toward the evangelical, but a good Spanish selection. only about 1/4 the space was devoted to the books, 1/4 to music, 1/4 to video/DVD (actually both those sections were excellent and even had a couple of chant CDs), and 1/4 gifts. only 4 shelves of bibles, but they did have a couple of versions of NAB and RSV-CE, and GNT youth bibles for Catholics

in-laws just finally closed their 3rd attempt at a solid Catholic bookstore, just business reasons, an independent bookstore has little chance of longterm success in most markets.

Does that mean that the only Catholic bookstore in your area is the one at the Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan? It’s been quite a while since I’ve driven down there. I doubt, though, that the store would carry anything Protestant, not that I would expect it to do so.

The San Juan bookstore is nice and large. I was able to find a lot of neat things there.

I do feel bad for your in-laws. You are right about the struggle for an independent religious goods business. One very promising religious store (Catholic) bit the dust after almost two years.

 

[Brother_John]

How funny. I just got off the phone with my Dad. I told him the story of my adventures in book stores today. And his comment as to why the “big box” bookstore had Catholic Bibles and books, whereas the “Christian” bookstore didn’t…

“Well, the “big box” store aren’t bigots, they just wanna sell books”

Laughter comes from the strangest places.

 

[lak611]

I have actually found Catholic books on Christianbook.com. Their regular area does not have many, but they have a Religious Book Club catalog that has lots of Catholic material. They also have an academic catalog that has Catholic material.

I pretty much have to go online or to Borders for Catholic books or other Christian books anyway. Only one Catholic bookstore is left. The only Christian bookstore left is Family Christian. The independent family run Catholic and Protestant (who were Catholic friendly) bookstores have all gone out of business.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

I have to mention that my town’s “Religious Goods Store” bills itself as Catholic, and the majority (95%) of their products are Catholic.
But all attempts to obtain a Douay-Rheims or Latin Missal through them has been met with confusion or outright distaste for anything occurring before V2.

Did I mention their prominent display of books written by female Episcopalian preachers extolling the virtues of female ordinations?

 

[graceandglory]

“Christian” bookstore? More like “Protestant/Non-Denominational” bookstore.

Have any of you had similar experiences?

Faithful PROTEST-ant book stores will never carry anything Catholic.

Back when I was protestant, (the longer I’m Catholic, the more I realize how protestant I was, even though I never called myself one back then),
I started getting interested in Church History. I went into a beautiful, large, classy, protestant bookstore/coffee shop; actually owned and operated by my mega-Church. I bought the best looking book of Church History I could find. According to that book the “Church” started only 500 years ago. The oldest thing in the book was Martin Luther.:banghead:

 

[graceandglory]

Yes! Last fall I went into a big-name “Christian” bookstore and asked if they had the recent book by Pope Benedict. I’ll never forget the pained look on the saleswoman’s face, as if to say, "You sad person, you just don’t know."

No, sadly, THEY don’t know. :nope:

Hey, I know protestant bookstores. I spent 20 years on that diet.
It’s like eating puffed rice, compared to meat and potatoes.

---

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.*** Psalm 34:8

 

[surfinpure]

No, sadly, THEY don’t know. :nope:

Hey, I know protestant bookstores. I spent 20 years on that diet.
It’s like eating puffed rice, compared to meat and potatoes.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8

My husband and I feel the exact same way. When we converted and began to weed out our voluminous collection of Protestant books, we realized that most of the ones that were not heretical in teaching (Max Lucado comes to mind) were only about two inches deep as compared to the vast oceans of Catholic writing.

One exception I will make to this rule is the man in my signature. His books I could never put down. But then again, he was very nearly Catholic himself.

 

[benedictgal]

I have to mention that my town’s “Religious Goods Store” bills itself as Catholic, and the majority (95%) of their products are Catholic.
But all attempts to obtain a Douay-Rheims or Latin Missal through them has been met with confusion or outright distaste for anything occurring before V2.

Did I mention their prominent display of books written by female Episcopalian preachers extolling the virtues of female ordinations?

That’s scary. Makes me doubt that the bookstore is Catholic. It may have the name, but that’s about it.

 

[graceandglory]

My husband and I feel the exact same way. When we converted and began to weed out our voluminous collection of Protestant books, we realized that most of the ones that were not heretical in teaching (Max Lucado comes to mind) were only about two inches deep as compared to the vast oceans of Catholic writing.

Another thing you have to keep in mind, is that so much of what the protestant book store is selling is really “pop psychology” marketed to a Christian audience.

If you were to take any of those books, thin out the funny stories and psychology, you would have very little left over to actually call Christian. Really, think about it. The major TBN type televangelists are no different than Tony Robbins, John Gray, Steven Covey, Harville Hendrix, or James Redfield.

And they make millions selling books in protestant book stores.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

If you’re shopping for Catholic materials online, go to Adoremus Books. They have the same free shipping deal that Amazon does (if you order $25 or more) and they are a Catholic company. I’d much rather give my money to a Catholic company than one who will sell anything by any author to make a buck.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I went to a well-known chain “Christian Book Store” where I live today, and was I in for a shock. I could not find the “Liturgy of the Hours”, and it wasn’t even in their computer!

So, for grins, I looked for a Douay-Rheims Bible, or even a St. Joseph’s Edition…NONE…I didn’t even ask them to look in their computer for these, and I left.

“Christian” bookstore? More like “Protestant/Non-Denominational” bookstore.

Have any of you had similar experiences?

Yes, of course, I live in the south. They are called “Christian book stores” not “Catholic book stores” Remember for many Protestants and non-Denominationalists Catholics are not Christians. I will now and them drop in some of the local ones here and ask for their Catholic section. Just for fun. I can sometimes enter into a discussion of the Catholic v/s Christian issue.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Try Barnes and Noble a friend told me that they have catholic literature. I order on line and through amazon check first to see if a used one is available .
I have been looking for a saints book still, and I saw one at Waldens books and was surprised, and it is still there so when i get the money I will buy it.

The B&N here has about 20% of the Christian section is Catholic material. Also Borders has a good mixture of Catholic material in their Christian section.