Is Catholicism just another self-help book?

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In short, I have a friend who is struggling with the question that I think we’ve all addressed at one point or another: “Is Catholicism just another self-help book?” especially in the context of differentiating it from other religions that promise similar “things” (for a lack of a more specific word).

I feel like there are a million ways to answer this and everyone must come to their own personal answer, but I’m looking for some help shedding some light on the subject since this question seems to be particularly paralyzing to one’s good faith life.

Super brief applicable background:
The friend *is a member of the Catholic Church *(not sure when if it was a conversion or baptized and then lapsed and reverted) and wants to believe in the Catholic faith even more.

The friend has noble intentions, is a very kind person, and is not confrontational/angry in any way. This friend is highly intellectual, a really smart and savvy person, but doesn’t have a lot of theological background/knowledge. I might be able to show some of your responses to my friend as well- be as charitable and helpful as possible, please! We both appreciate it 😃

Looking forward to your wisdom, and have a splendid day!
 
While I’m not Catholic or Christian for that matter here are my thoughts on Catholicism or Christianity being thought of as a “self-help book”.
Christians I think as rule are taught to believe that they can do nothing without Christ. Anything they do is because it is caused by him or allowed by him. No “self-help” there I would think.
Catholicism more so has other helpers as well. There is Mary and all the other saints. There are the souls in purgatory that I think are believed to help those of us still in this life.
There is the sacrament of reconciliation where one is helped by god through the priest and given guidance while those of us in other traditions or those of us that have none are left to help ourselves the best we can through learning from the myriad of information from all traditions. This is not to say that (some/all?) protestant denominations don’t have help from the ministers so those folks are not left without temporal help.
So I don’t believe Catholicism is a “self-help book”. Just my two cents as an outsider.
 
A self-help book doesn’t say anything about self-surrendering to the Lord and putting Him first in everything.

As Catholics our love for the Lord should cause us to “pray always”.

Our Lord Jesus Christ gives us the sacraments, that prayerfully received by us, aids us to grow in virtue.

A self-help book does not focus on the sufferings Jesus went through to show us His Way.

And, in the Mass, we can receive the Eucharist which is the risen body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Without Him we can do nothing.
 
The way I see it is, a religion is a set of beliefs on the nature of life, humans, the university, and existence itself and a religion also includes a way of life that is in accordance to those beliefs. I am not sure where anyone gets the idea that Catholicism is a self-help book. I have heard of health and wealth gospel type preachers, maybe that is where. And perhaps Catholics who try to devolve Catholicism to mere social justcie theory. But anyway, when looking at a religion, the point is to ask, “Is it true?” as opposed, “What’s in it for me?” because if you just look at what is just pleasing to you and not objectively, it defeats the point of picking a religion in the first place.

Again, I’m no expert, but, this is just my two cents. :twocents:
 
MCPFgrace said:
In short, I have a friend who is struggling with the question that I think we’ve all addressed at one point or another: “Is Catholicism just another self-help book?” especially in the context of differentiating it from other religions that promise similar “things” (for a lack of a more specific word).

I feel like there are a million ways to answer this and everyone must come to their own personal answer, but I’m looking for some help shedding some light on the subject since this question seems to be particularly paralyzing to one’s good faith life.

Super brief applicable background:
The friend *is a member of the Catholic Church *(not sure when if it was a conversion or baptized and then lapsed and reverted) and wants to believe in the Catholic faith even more.

The friend has noble intentions, is a very kind person, and is not confrontational/angry in any way. This friend is highly intellectual, a really smart and savvy person, but doesn’t have a lot of theological background/knowledge. I might be able to show some of your responses to my friend as well- be as charitable and helpful as possible, please! We both appreciate it 😃

Looking forward to your wisdom, and have a splendid day!
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We are the Army of God, supposed to sacrifice ourselves for His Greater Glory.

And we are on the brink of persecution.

I don’t think this is what “self-help books” are like. 😃
 
I’d agree with post #1, it’s not a self-help book if it’s with Christ.
We are not alone, for Christ is with us.
Along with that the Saints in Heaven assist us, us weary and lowly sinners.
Catholicism is not a self-help book because others help us already.
 
MCPFgrace said:
In short, I have a friend who is struggling with the question that I think we’ve all addressed at one point or another: “Is Catholicism just another self-help book?” especially in the context of differentiating it from other religions that promise similar “things” (for a lack of a more specific word).

I feel like there are a million ways to answer this and everyone must come to their own personal answer, but I’m looking for some help shedding some light on the subject since this question seems to be particularly paralyzing to one’s good faith life.

Super brief applicable background:
The friend *is a member of the Catholic Church *(not sure when if it was a conversion or baptized and then lapsed and reverted) and wants to believe in the Catholic faith even more.

The friend has noble intentions, is a very kind person, and is not confrontational/angry in any way. This friend is highly intellectual, a really smart and savvy person, but doesn’t have a lot of theological background/knowledge. I might be able to show some of your responses to my friend as well- be as charitable and helpful as possible, please! We both appreciate it 😃

Looking forward to your wisdom, and have a splendid day!
Click to expand...
I think your friend is completely right to look at it that way, and I think that’s an intelligent and valid way to begin exploring further. Catholicism can be thought of as a prism, where each person viewing the prism will see it in a different light according to their understanding. It requires a lively and living interaction with it in order to begin learning about it, and all sorts of different elements come into play, everything about you personally, and your life itself, becomes a way to learn. But Catholicism is perfection, and it’s far deeper than the deepest ocean. You can take it much further than simply being a self-help book. Learning isn’t possible beyond a certain level, though, without active participation, because the process of learning requires our giving ourselves over to it. Think of a child’s conception of God as an old man living in the clouds. It’s a beautiful, poetic image, but it’s one suited for a child. As the child grows her understanding deepens, and she has other conceptions and other insights. It’s the process of growing in Christ. Eventually the child is mature, and while her heart’s understanding may be in the same state as the childs, her mind’s understanding is different. What was once pictured in childlike terms is now apprehended as Ultimate Reality. It depends on the individual person and it depends on Grace. So I would say approach it like a self-help book, because it is that on one level, but be aware that in truth it’s actually life’s greatest adventure. So don’t be afraid to explore it as far as you can.
 
Well, first you have to believe that Jesus Christ is God.
Then, that He founded this Catholic Church.
There’s no self-help method that comes close to that.
 
Catholicism is only understood by those who are hungry for the truths about life and take the time to study it. It is mystical in nature and requires a detachment of sorts from ‘the world’ through all types of prayer and self sacrifice to become more revealed.

Self-help books are pathetic by comparison. They are one author’s opinion of what he/she thinks will help others. It’s one sided therapy that only costs $3.00 at a used book store.

Or, for the folks who love self- help books: Yes, it’s the original, best-selling self-help book of all time! And it’s free…err, wait no, it’ll cost you…
 
If it were a self help book then it would be the best one, since it leads to everlasting life. 😃
 
It’s probably the opposite of a self-help book, because you are supposed to love others and love God rather than focusing on yourself.
 
Exiled_Child said:
I think your friend is completely right to look at it that way, and I think that’s an intelligent and valid way to begin exploring further. Catholicism can be thought of as a prism, where each person viewing the prism will see it in a different light according to their understanding. It requires a lively and living interaction with it in order to begin learning about it, and all sorts of different elements come into play, everything about you personally, and your life itself, becomes a way to learn. But Catholicism is perfection, and it’s far deeper than the deepest ocean. You can take it much further than simply being a self-help book. Learning isn’t possible beyond a certain level, though, without active participation, because the process of learning requires our giving ourselves over to it. Think of a child’s conception of God as an old man living in the clouds. It’s a beautiful, poetic image, but it’s one suited for a child. As the child grows her understanding deepens, and she has other conceptions and other insights. It’s the process of growing in Christ. Eventually the child is mature, and while her heart’s understanding may be in the same state as the childs, her mind’s understanding is different. What was once pictured in childlike terms is now apprehended as Ultimate Reality. It depends on the individual person and it depends on Grace. So I would say approach it like a self-help book, because it is that on one level, but be aware that in truth it’s actually life’s greatest adventure. So don’t be afraid to explore it as far as you can.
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Yes. There is an element of ‘self help’ in Catholicism. It depends on what you are focused on. What you can’t say is that it can be reduced to nothing but a self help book. Yes,it can help you in many ways - have your sins forgiven, be brought into a right relationship with God, learn to be more loving and less selfish, etc. All of these things can be beneficial. However, Catholicism goes beyond the self, and even what I as an individual can do on my own, and is really encompassing God’s plan of salvation for mankind. And this involves the necessity of God’s grace active in our lives. This element of God’s grace is missing from self help books. Because in Catholicism we can’t do it on our own. We need God’s help in our lives. So it is more of a ‘God’s help’ book. As well as being part of the Body of Christ, which is much larger than the self. Catholicism is a life of grace and communion with God and his Body, the Church.
 
MCPFgrace said:
In short, I have a friend who is struggling with the question that I think we’ve all addressed at one point or another: “Is Catholicism just another self-help book?” especially in the context of differentiating it from other religions that promise similar “things” (for a lack of a more specific word).
Click to expand...
No Christian religion is a self-help book.

All of them are God-help books.

Since Jesus founded the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church is the first and most authentic edition of these God-help books. 👍
 
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