How much do you know about Catholicism?

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How much do you know about our faith? Do you feel you can readily defend it to those who might attack it?

A couple of lenten seasons ago, I felt God’s pull to learn more about my beliefs. I knew cradle Catholic stuff, mass on Sunday - when to kneel, when to stand, prayer recitation, and our core beliefs. But what I realized is my true lack of knowledge on WHY we do what we do during the mass (what each part means, where it has originated, etc.) and major details of Catholicism I absolutely should know, but don’t. I have since started a journey to educate myself (the best I can with what little time I have) so when I do come upon someone who asks me a challenging question, I can say more than, “because we do.”

Do you feel satisfied with where you’re at? If you are educated, do you mind sharing details of your journey, including books that have helped you to learn more?
 
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Trinitatem:
How much do you know about our faith? Do you feel you can readily defend it to those who might attack it?

A couple of lenten seasons ago, I felt God’s pull to learn more about my beliefs. I knew cradle Catholic stuff, mass on Sunday - when to kneel, when to stand, prayer recitation, and our core beliefs. But what I realized is my true lack of knowledge on WHY we do what we do during the mass (what each part means, where it has originated, etc.) and major details of Catholicism I absolutely should know, but don’t. I have since started a journey to educate myself (the best I can with what little time I have) so when I do come upon someone who asks me a challenging question, I can say more than, “because we do.”

Do you feel satisfied with where you’re at? If you are educated, do you mind sharing details of your journey, including books that have helped you to learn more?
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Hello Trini,

I know the feeling, as I am still hungry to know more about my faith. My spiritual awakening was also during a lenten season several years ago. Like you, I was looking to devour whatever information I could find. Books, websites, Catholic Bible Study, listening to debate libraries (ewtn has a good one bringyou.to/apologetics/audio.htm. ). You can listen to topics, debates, the Journey Home series. Also, Robert Sungenis has a series on catholicintl.com/products/ewtn-nbfa.html that has been helpful. Take plenty of notes, then follow up with referencing your bible from your notes. Don’t be afraid, as I was about writing notes, highlighting and cross-referencing your Bible. As for books, I suggest going to your local Catholic bookstore and looking for a book for beginning apologetics. This will assist you in giving biblical answers to the most common objects to Catholicism. I have begun to read St. Augustine’s “City of God”. I am sure others on this site will be able to really help you with more book ideas. Just taking part and reading the posts right here will help you as well.

As for your question of being satisfied…the answe for me is no. I pray that I will never be satisfied and the desire to learn more, for the sake of leading souls back to God, does not fade. God bless your journey, and Peace be with you.

David
 
The internet played a big part in my education of Catholicism, but you have to wade through a lot of junk to get at it. The people at Catholic Culture can be a big help with their website ratings. And all the articles in their library can fairly well be trusted. Many good articles can also be found at catholiceducation.org

As for books, try Catholic Christianity by Peter Kreeft. (I recommend anything by Kreeft. A list of his books can be found here peterkreeft.com/books.htm) For church history, most of the good books are multi-volume, for example those of H. Daniel-Rops or Jaroslav Pelikan. A short-but-good popular church history is Triumph by Crocker, since it is designed as rebuttal to anti-Catholic polemic.
 
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Trinitatem:
How much do you know about our faith? Do you feel you can readily defend it to those who might attack it?

A couple of lenten seasons ago, I felt God’s pull to learn more about my beliefs. I knew cradle Catholic stuff, mass on Sunday - when to kneel, when to stand, prayer recitation, and our core beliefs. But what I realized is my true lack of knowledge on WHY we do what we do during the mass (what each part means, where it has originated, etc.) and major details of Catholicism I absolutely should know, but don’t. I have since started a journey to educate myself (the best I can with what little time I have) so when I do come upon someone who asks me a challenging question, I can say more than, “because we do.”

Do you feel satisfied with where you’re at? If you are educated, do you mind sharing details of your journey, including books that have helped you to learn more?
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Since I am a convert I had to leran a lot before I became catholic.

I have never stopped reading, and learning, and I never will! To be catholic is to have made oneself buissy for the reat of life, and that is good!

:blessyou:

G.G.
 
My education in the Catholic Faith began while I was out of the Church. I was born and raised in the Church and left in my adolescence; not for another religion, but because I basically adopted modernist and humanist views. I was invited by a Protestant co-worker to a Bible study and when asked if I was a Christian, I identified myself as a Catholic (not because I still considered myself to be Catholic but because he was a friend and I didn’t know what his reaction would be if I said no). I am now convinced that the Holy Spirit made me give that answer because I was immediately inundated with questions and challenges.

To be fair, my co-workers (all various brands of Protestant) were in no way beligerent, but the most frequent answer I had to give when asked a question was “You know I’m not quite sure, let me look it up and I’ll get back to you.” The books I found most helpful were “The Catholic Catechism” by Fr. John Hardon and “The Faith of the Early Fathers” edited by Fr. Jurgens. Because I was dealing with Protestants, I also quickly obtained “The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent” and “The Catechism of the Council of Trent.” Other books like Karl Keatings “Catholicism and Fundamentalism” and Karl Adam’s “The Spirit of Catholicism” were very helpful as well. There is also a good trilogy called “Radio Replies” but I cannot remember the names of the two priests who compiled it. Anyway, that was nearly twelve years ago and I have still got a lot to learn.

One thing I found particularly helpful was a Protestant book called “Roman Catholicism: Evangelical Protestants Analyze What Divides and Unites Us” edited by John H. Armstrong (not to be confused with Lorainne Boetner’s (sp?) “Roman Catholicism”) I took this book one chapter at a time to see if I could refute the claims. With study, I found it quite easy to do. I also learned that I needed a lot more spiritual development. I had intended to write my own book to respond to that one but found that I was experiencing “uncharitible” feelings when working on the project and that it sometimes showed in the writing. I abandoned the project after 4 chapters. 😃 I did, however compile a good deal into it and I frequently extract things from it in composing messages to Protestants.
 
I read the Catechism of the Catholic Church frequently to keep the teachings fresh in my mind (and strengthen my remembering of them as well.)

I also the Bible :bible1: frequently to keep it in my mind as well.

Two books that I constantly reread, benefiting from everytime I open them up. 👍
 
Something I have noticed about Catholicism; It is oh so simple, yet there is an infinite amout to learn. Like Heaven maybe 🙂
 
I am a convert (raised by athiests who attended UU services) of over 25 years but I still spent the most of that time in darkness. Its only in the last 8 years or so that the scales have fallen from my eyes, so to speak.

I received an advertisement for a subscription to Envoy magazine which opened up a whole new world for me. Since then, I have subscribed to practically everything, read as much as I can get my hands on, talked with people much more advanced that I am, etc. I look for every opportunity to grow in the knowledge of my faith as well as my faith itself.

I have always had a love of God above all things and it is just in the past few years that I am learning to live as he wants me to, in the way that I may know Him best. It is for his glory that I try to know more.

My next project in reading the great Catholic thinkers like Chesterton and Belloc. I have just started The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich. So far, so good. Any suggestions?

Also, I try to read the Bible nearly every day. I also have a good knowledge of the Baltimore Catechism. I use it to teach not only my children but also my husband and myself as well.

HTH,
 
I started studying apologetics almost 20 years ago when I made my “re-version” to the Faith, got challenged, heard about Catholic Answers, and it was off to the races! I’d also recommend all the books and resources mentioned above. What has worked for me is that, when I am questioned or challenged about something, right away I try to learn as much about it as I can. I might not have known the answer that time, but I’ll be better prepared the next time it comes up. Thus, there are times you’ll have to be humble and say, with the previous poster, “I don’t know, but I find out and get back with you.” It is always helpful to actually speak and articulate what you have learned to a live person, even if they are sympathetic to your view and you are “preaching to the choir.” It just helps to say it. My long-suffering wife has been afflicted in this way for several years! 🙂

Finally, if you deal primarily with fundamentalists or hostile evangelicals, you MUST be a student of the Scriptures–read them everyday, even if only a few verses. Get familiar with the over-all sweep of the Bible and become as conversant as you can in it. In addition, do some formal studies. I’d recommend Scott Hahn’s book, A Father Who Keeps His Promises, the “Our Father’s Plan” series by Jeff Cavins, the Scripture studies on www.catholicexchange.com and any of the audio Bible studies you will find from St. Joseph’s Communications at www.saintjoe.com (Steve Ray rocks, BTW! Check out his Footprints of God video series).

The important thing is just to read the Scriptures for understanding everyday. Memorizing verses is helpful, but not necessary. If you can narrow it down to the book and chapter, that is close enough. If you highlight your Bible well (and don’t be afraid to do this, but don’t get carried away), you will get close enough to find it, plus any supporting verses you put in the margin.

This should get you started. 😉
 
Gratias Grace:
Since I am a convert I had to leran a lot before I became catholic.

I have never stopped reading, and learning, and I never will! To be catholic is to have made oneself buissy for the reat of life, and that is good!

G.G.
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G. G.-

Your conversion puts you at an advantage that many of us “cradle Catholics” don’t have. I would also guess that being from another faith gives you something to contrast Catholicism against, making details easier to absorb. Some of us were very poorly catechised (spelling?) and/or maybe just downright lazy about learning our faith. We find ourselves at mid-life playing catch-up.

Tip-of -the-hat to all Converts!!! Your stories are so inspiring.
 
Well, I’m a convert, but it was a long time ago that I did all that study, and it was the prospect/possibility of being challenged by my neighbours, who are Christadelphians (a not-fully-Christian sect, a bit like the JWs) that brought me to this website to get some ideas as to how I might get better informed to meet fundamentalist challenges in particular. I’ve since bought 2 of Karl Keating’s books (the classic “Fundamentalism and Catholicism” and “The Usual Suspects”) and I’ve printed off the articles that appear each day on the website. This is only a beginning, but it’s made me realise that I am really not as well informed as I thought. The problem is that many fundamentalists are so darned articulate and can fire scriptural bullets at you, that you HAVE to be able to be able to refute them from scripture. I’ve only ever used scripture as soul food, not as weapons, and I hate the way some do that, but …we’ve got to have the answers.
This website has been very useful as a starting point.
A Te numquam separari permittas - never let me be separated from You
 
It IS amazing how much there is to read out there.

I keep an apt here in ABQ for part of the year, and it has rapidly filled up with books of all types, but mostly theology and apologetics. I especially enjoyed all the Keating and Hahn stuff, but coming from the other side so to speak, I always weighed it against Scripture. After a few months of this, the thought occurred to me that weighing thoughts against my own perceptions of Scripture didn’t make sense, so I ended up with a few catechisms, in order to learn Church teachings. This in turn lead to more books, commentaries, etc.

Anybody have any spare boxes? When I leave here, I don’t know what I’m going to do with all of these… 😛
 
I don’t know how far along you are, but I am just starting out. As a stay at home mom , and working at two part time jobs, in addition to running a household, I have very little time these days -

I have some tapes that I listen to while I’m on the treadmill, and they are fantastic. The author speaks in laymen’s terms and he uses the bible to support Catholic tradition and beliefs. Well worth listening to.

Go to www.biblechristiansociety.com and order the tapes. I’d be interested to hear what you think of them

🙂
 
I’ve been studying since my reversion more than 25 years ago, and my answer must still be “not enough” and “not as much as I would like to know”. That’s why I joined this forum, why I am taking two classes on theology and church history while teaching 21 credits, and why I constantly search for new orthodox sites.

When will I know enough? Maybe by the time I die.

John
 
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