Reading recommendations for the complete novice

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shazirah

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My brother recently confided in me that he’s planning to be baptized in the Greek Orthodox church this year. Given that we come from an actively religious Muslim family, it’s going to go over like a lead balloon when he telIs everyone else, but he’s my baby brother so I want to be able to give what support I can and at least understand what he’s talking about. I know a small amount about general Christian belief and a very tiny amount about Catholicism in general, so I was wondering if you guys could recommend some reading material. I visited an Orthodox church near me and felt really uncomfortable there, so I think asking a priest to answer my questions is out for the moment.
 
For Christianity in general, The Case for Christ by Strobel is a great starting place, along with Mere Christianity by CS Lewis.
For Catholicism, Rome Sweet Home by Hahn is good, although it’s written by a Roman Catholic as opposed to an Eastern Orthodox, so there may be some small discrepancies in less significant matters.
 
Are you Arabic? The Eastern Catholic church I am with still uses Syriac/Arabic in their hymns and liturgy. We have a Muslim convert in our parish. Our priest will gladly talk to you. Seek a Maronite Catholic parish, sadly few and far between in the US. Our patriarch is in Lebanon.
 
I’m ethnically Syrian, so a Syriac church would be a lot better. I think it’s just the Greek Church and the Serbian/Ethiopian Church near me, although maybe the Serbian one would be a better choice come to think of it. It didn’t click for me that they might be mostly the same but with different languages.
 
Perhaps it’s obvious, but just thought I would mention: try getting a New Testament and reading (first) the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

God bless you for asking, and for trying to understand better what you brother is up to!
 
Perhaps Chesterton’s “Orthodoxy”? That was a fun read and is usually a recommended book on Christianity. In terms of a more formal presentation, Pope Benedict XVI’s “Introduction to Christianity” might be better.

Not a reading recommendation, but I would highly encourage watching some videos of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. He begins by talking about topics in everyday life and ties it together in the end with Christian thought so you will be able to see Christian thought in action. His videos on Nice People, How to Think, and Politeness are some of my favorites. Actually, now that I think of it, some of these episodes have been put into a book called, “Life is Worth Living”. Check that out as well.
 
I know about Chesterton ,have his books,but share what is this book “orthodoxy” exactly about.
 
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I would start with two books:

Frank Sheed “Theology For Beginners” and “To Know Christ Jesus”
 
Do you want recommendations for generic Christian, Catholic or Eastern Orthodox beliefs?

If Eastern Orthodox, 2 popular introductory books often recommended by the Orthodox are both written by Bishop Kallistos Ware:

The Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Way

God bless!
 
@Kts1816 – is it my photo you like? 😀 It’s an icon of St. Lucy.
 
Yes i know just meant the avatar…i was impressed by your inteterest in Easthern Orthodoxy
 
Thanks! I’ve read the four gospels, but I think it was from a protestant Bible. Is there a difference in the translation between protestant and Catholic versions or between Roman Catholic and Orthodox version?
 
I know that you have asked this on a Catholic forum, so you have gotten mainly Catholic book recommendations, but why don’t you ask your brother for whatever books he has read? Obviously I would think it better to read Orthodox books, and not Catholic books from the 20th century if you want to understand your brother’s faith. A book that was used for teaching for many centuries was “The Lives of Sts. Barlaam and Ioasaph” by St. John of Damascus, an eighth century Saint. It is a very lively account of these very holy Saints. You can get it for free on kindle. Other intro books on the Orthodox Church are good as well, “Entering the Orthodox Church” and “Orthodox Dogmatic Theology” I think explain the faith clearly and with the continuity of the Fathers of the Church.

https://www.amazon.com/Barlaam-Ioas...516721136&sr=8-5&keywords=barlaam+and+ioasaph
 
Nicene Creed:
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and (through) the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

In short: we believe the Jews received the Old Covenant, and that Christ established the New Covenant, making Jews and Gentiles one. We do not believe the Scriptures are errant, as Muslims do. We believe they are accurate.
On account of the Jews having the Old Covenant and Christ establishing the New, we have Old and New Testament. Jesus came, suffered, and died for us.
We believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Muslims do not have the teachings of Jesus Christ, as they say the records are messed up. We believe in His Teachings.
We also believe that the Word is Jesus Christ (as do Muslims), but we also believe that God has His Word. We believe Jesus is the begotten Son of the Father, and the third Person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit, who is a Person and not an it.
We obviously don’t think Mohammed is the “light” or any such things, but that he is a false prophet.
Naturally we reject the Qur’an and the Hadith as genuine revelation.
We believe Jesus established the Catholic Church, His Mystical Body, and that we are protected from error by the Holy Spirit.
We do not believe in 3 Gods, but in 1 God, who is 3 Persons in one Being.

The Orthodox and Catholic has much in common. Orthodox reject the part in the creed posted above in [ ] and do not follow the Bishop of Rome as holding certain authority we say he has as head of the Church. We all believe that Mary is the Theotokos, mother of God, not merely mother of Christ.
 
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