Experienced converts from Fundamentalism

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Hope this is the correct place for this question. I currently have a Fundamentalist friend who is attempting to enlighten (convert) me. I told him I would be glad to read what he had to provide if he would read one of my books in exchange. He grew up Catholic and then left the Church regarding a disagreement with the Church’s teaching on divorce. He believes he’s an informed anti-Catholic due to his prior experience.

He’s bringing me a book that is to detail the syncretism/misguided beliefs of the Catholic Church which I look forward to reading. I was thinking of giving him either By What Authority? by Mark Shea or Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid.

Is there a book that was more inspirational or conducive as a first book for someone who is not interested in becoming Catholic but would make a good non-confrontational impression. Any experience, advice?

Also, any good books to help with some Mormon evangelists? I’ve seen some great articles here just looking for a more comprehensive book, if any.

Thank you!
 
I am a convert from Fundamentalism to the Church, so I’ll give this a try. The first book I recommend is Keating’s Catholicism and Fundamentalism. In my opinion, there is no way a Fundamentalist will be able to justify attacks against the Church after reading that book.

There is one misstep in the book, the one in which Keating says Fundamentalists see salvation as covering one’s sins as with a cloak. All the Fundamentalists I have ever known viewed asking God for forgiveness in prayer as washing sins away. Otherwise, it was totally dead-on. It started me on my trip across the Tiber while I was in my late 30’s and with a totally Fundamentalist family.

I have met quite a few former Catholics since my conversion. Without exception, I have found they either did not understand fully certain doctrines or that they left for lifestyle reasons, divorce, for example. I have never heard one quote authentic Church teachings as a reason for leaving. They have quoted things that were almost right, but their understanding was off the mark just enough to lead them away from the Church.

As for the LDS, I suggest “Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon” or the Isaiah Bennett books. “The Mormon Murders” is good too, but it is a crime story that shows some uncomfortable facts for the LDS.
 
DAK said:
Hope this is the correct place for this question. I currently have a Fundamentalist friend who is attempting to enlighten (convert) me. I told him I would be glad to read what he had to provide if he would read one of my books in exchange. He grew up Catholic and then left the Church regarding a disagreement with the Church’s teaching on divorce. He believes he’s an informed anti-Catholic due to his prior experience.

He’s bringing me a book that is to detail the syncretism/misguided beliefs of the Catholic Church which I look forward to reading. I was thinking of giving him either By What Authority? by Mark Shea or Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid.

Is there a book that was more inspirational or conducive as a first book for someone who is not interested in becoming Catholic but would make a good non-confrontational impression. Any experience, advice?

Also, any good books to help with some Mormon evangelists? I’ve seen some great articles here just looking for a more comprehensive book, if any.

Thank you!
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I’ve got a couple of thin books (almost magazines in their appearance) entitled “Catholic Answers to ‘Bible’ Christians” by Paul Stenhouse MSC, PhD (Volumes 1 & 2). I’ve found them handy at times, although I have heard on the grapevine the book by Keating is better, but I’ve never read it.
 
I attend an independent baptist (anti-Catholic church). The pastor and several of the leaders are former Catholics and those are the most vehemently against the Church. Long story as to why I’m still there. I’ve been looking across the Tiber now for about 12 years. My wife, former Catholic is also anti and that is a major reason I’ve not crossed that river yet.
They really believe they have the corner on salvation and that Catholics are going to Hell. They are very patriotic and have the flag prominently displayed in the front of the church but there is no Cross. Our pastor in one of his “sermons” said he loved America and if we didn’t feel the same way, he’d help us pack our bags. My wife, who is Italian took exception to this. It’s not that foreigners shouldn’t appreciate America, but we go to Church to hear of another Kingdom, not this earthly one.
Just my $.02.
 
You would be suprised. There have been debates in the classes that I have been a part of on whether a flag belongs in a church or not. Since my conversion I would say no it does not. My church does have a Vatican Flag inside. But in the protestant church I came from we had the American flag and the Christian flag right up in promenant places in the church, and while I used to think that was cool, I for a long time have thought that it sent out the wrong message. (That perhaps we were worshiping the USA instead of God.)
 
Here is a thorough (and inexpensive) one: “Biblical Fundamentalism, What Every Catholic Should Know” by Ronald Witherup S.S. Clear, concise, non-confrontational, imprimatur, and Nihil Obstat.
 
twiggymoo said:
I attend an independent baptist (anti-Catholic church). The pastor and several of the leaders are former Catholics and those are the most vehemently against the Church. Long story as to why I’m still there. I’ve been looking across the Tiber now for about 12 years. My wife, former Catholic is also anti and that is a major reason I’ve not crossed that river yet.
They really believe they have the corner on salvation and that Catholics are going to Hell. They are very patriotic and have the flag prominently displayed in the front of the church but there is no Cross. Our pastor in one of his “sermons” said he loved America and if we didn’t feel the same way, he’d help us pack our bags. My wife, who is Italian took exception to this. It’s not that foreigners shouldn’t appreciate America, but we go to Church to hear of another Kingdom, not this earthly one.
Just my $.02.
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There’s usually no convert like someone who used to be on the other side. This is pretty much universal. For a start people don’t make the decision to convert lightly. And when they do they often become more dedicated than those who grew up in their new “system”. It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about religion, politics, football, unions, capitalism, communism or whatever.

My wife’s Baptist and both the current pastor and his predecessor were, as far as I know, brought up in the Catholic Church.

I’ve gone the other way, from Protestantism to the Catholic Church. As far as I’m concerned, the Catholic Church is “closest” to the truth.

In the case of some American hardliners, I sometimes wonder if their theology is Christianity or Patriotism.
 
DAK said:
Is there a book that was more inspirational or conducive as a first book for someone who is not interested in becoming Catholic but would make a good non-confrontational impression. Any experience, advice?

!
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I would recomment *Born Fundamentalist Born Again Catholic *by David Currie. It covers everything from Authority, The Bible, The Eucharist to the Rapture.
 
I would not give Keating’s book to anyone who is not firmly Catholic. He is very condescending and at times nasty toward what he deems fundamentalist.
 
Darian said:
I would not give Keating’s book to anyone who is not firmly Catholic. He is very condescending and at times nasty toward what he deems fundamentalist.
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Thank you all for the amazing amount of quick replies! I will investigate all of them.

I would agree that I’m not going to give him Keating’s book as although it is chock full of valid information, considering where my friend is at currently, I think it would not achieve the objective, and possibly turn the situation hostile. I want to gently and charitably engage and reintroduce him to the Church and look forward to reading the several suggestions here.
 
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