MrsBat23, I actually do have the set of DVDs sitting on my desk next to me. I got the set by attending one of the training sessions they put on, and have watched the entire series multiple times. Why? I was asked by our parish priest to attend to find out if it would be something we could use in our parish.
Here is what I can say:
The
Truth Project is done very well (as most Evangelical multi-media things are). The subjects are covered in a classroom lecture format, but don’t get the wrong idea.
The lecturer, Del Tackett, is a very intelligent and likeable man with an impressive background. He presents in a way that is informative, entertaining, and natural.
Each of the topics covered in the series are relevant and build on the previous topic creating a complete
Christian worldview by the end.
The presentations are meant to be informative, persuasive, and thought provoking in order to stimulate a led discussion afterwards.
After running through the series a couple times, I was asked by my priest if I thought the parish should consider using it. Without hesitation I responded with -
NO.
The series wasn’t created to “attack” Catholics, it was created to address a civil war (Creedal vs PostModern) currently waging in the Protestant world. So while there is the occasional point that in a round-about way takes a jab at Catholicism, you really won’t find any overtly anti-Catholic material.
But for something to be Catholic, it needs to be more than just
not anti-Catholic. There is as much a danger in giving only half the story as there is in giving the wrong story. I’ll give you two examples:
- Catholics are allowed to believe that the Creation narrative in Genesis is literal or figurative. The series spends a lot of energy defending the literal interpretation. And not apart from the figurative, but over and against it.
- Catholics are allowed to believe that man’s body was created in one act by God or evolved over time into its current state (by God’s guidance of course). The message given in the series is that anyone who believes in evolution is somehow blind to God’s clear revelation on the subject.
There are many more, but this is already getting to long. But as you can see, only half of the story is often given, leaving the viewer with the impression that anyone holding the other is holding an unchristian view.
Again, the series does a great job at doing what it was meant for - evangelizing the lukewarm evangelical. It was not meant for a Catholic audience - to inform
or persuade.
I know that many Catholics today fall all over themselves when it comes to things like this, but they would do well to reconsider. I understand that there’s really nothing out there like this for Catholics, and that’s unfortunate. But after reviewing the series I have to say that this doesn’t fill the void.
So I guess as far as a Catholic attending a series with co-workers, I guess it’s going to depend on what you know, and what you’re looking to find.
Feel free to email me if you would like any more information.
Good luck!
