Rome Sweet Home vs. Born Fundamental, Born Again Catholic

[Boxerdog]

I have a friend who grew up in a fundamental Baptist Church, but is interested in the Catholic Faith. I have read David Currie’s book, but I have yet to read Scott Hahns , “Rome Sweet Home”. I was wondering how these books compare and which is considered a better conversion story?

this may be like apples to Oranges, but I highly value everyones opinion here on CA.

If you are a former protestant who is now Catholic and one or both of these books helped you , please post your experiance.

 

[RCCDefender]

I didn’t read Rome Sweet Home but I did listen to Scott Hahn’s conversion story on tape when I was considering the Church. It was very helpful. I read David Currie’s book in the past year or so, but then again I’ve read so many conversion stories that now everything seems to repeat itself.

I’ll tell you, the first book I read before I even seriously was considering the Church was Why Do Catholics Do That? by Kevin Orlin Johnson. I followed that up with Pat Madrid’s Suprised By Truth (the first one - he didn’t have any others yet). I consider that my One-Two-Punch from the Church on why I really needed to convert. I think it was a good order to read those books in as well, since Johnson’s book really opened my mind and heart to more readily accept the truth of the Church and Madrid’s book really hit home why Protestantism could not be right.

I grew up Southern Baptist. What really got me looking into the Church was the claim at my Baptist church that Catholics were basically pagan. Do you know what has prompted your friend’s interest?? There may be some clues there that will help you decide what s/he needs as far as info on the Church goes.

God Bless!

 

[quasimodo]

I have a friend who grew up in a fundamental Baptist Church, but is interested in the Catholic Faith. I have read David Currie’s book, but I have yet to read Scott Hahns , “Rome Sweet Home”. I was wondering how these books compare and which is considered a better conversion story?

this may be like apples to Oranges, but I highly value everyones opinion here on CA.

If you are a former protestant who is now Catholic and one or both of these books helped you , please post your experiance.

comment from the cradle side of the house … they both helped me.

They come from different backgrounds so their stories are different. Both are excellent. You can’t argue with the impact Scott Hahn has had. Having said that, I think David Currie’s book is the best of the genre, especially if you are talking about a person of the more fundamentalist pursuasion. Currie discusses more topics that would hold a Baptist back and in a little more detail. Currie is the very model of charity - he wrote the book to explain his decision to his father.

Also good is the first of the Surprised by Truth books.

 

[djrakowski]

I have a friend who grew up in a fundamental Baptist Church, but is interested in the Catholic Faith. I have read David Currie’s book, but I have yet to read Scott Hahns , “Rome Sweet Home”. I was wondering how these books compare and which is considered a better conversion story?

…

If you are a former protestant who is now Catholic and one or both of these books helped you , please post your experiance.

I’ve read both, and found Currie’s book to be far more helpful in working through the theological issues that were preventing me from converting.

 

[SueKrum]

I have read “rome sweet home” and have not read currie’s book. What I will say is that Hahn’s book os VERY intelectual! if you friend is a biblical scholar, than this would be the way to go. however, if she is like most of us (simple) from what I’ve heard, Currie’s book may be more up her ally.

Hahn has like 50 degrees in theology (well, maybe not that many, but he talkes like someone who does). some of his stuff may be over her head if she isn’t a thalogen. I think Hahn’s book is better for pastors of protestant churches who are interested in the Catholic church.

 

[ladylinguist]

I haven’t read Home Sweet Rome, but I’m in the middle of Currie’s book and it’s very well-written so far. My big thing was looking for books that have good evidence and arguments, and Currie does very well. I’d also have to agree with the poster who recommended Suprised by Truth. That’s a pretty good one, as well, and has several different stories coming from different angles (some emphasizing the theological arguments, some dealing more with the conversion on an emotional level, etc.)

 

[RCCDefender]

That EWTN show I mentioned in my PM is called Crash Course in Catholicism. It comes on at 5:30 on Sun, 10:30 on Fri, and 4:30AM on Sat Eastern times. I’ve never watched it, so I don’t know if it is the kind of show where you need to start at the beginning to understand it or if you can jump in in the middle and be okay. Also, EWTN does a lot of repeats through the week, so my guess is the Friday night episode is repeated on Saturday and Sunday. Maybe someone here has seen it and can tell you more about it. Hope this helps!

 

[RonRule]

I read both of these early on in my journey.

While Hahn has some great theological credentials, Rome Sweet Home is much lighter on theology and apologetics than Born Fundamentalist.

My wife, who has yet to join me on this journey, put down RSH after a couple chapters, frustrated that Hahn “changed his mind too quickly” and called the book “stupid”. I think RSH is better for cradle catholics or protestants who already have a somewhat favorable view of Catholicism.

Hope this helps.

 

[Shellie]

Well, they both helped me, but Born Fundamental, Born Again Catholic is the one I sent to my in-laws to help them understand. They aren’t Baptist, but Nazarene. It still relates on accurately in a gentle way.

Of course, now someone’s sent her an anti-Catholic polemic by Contender Ministries and she’s still crying her way through our phone calls … sigh.

I recommend BF, BAC first.

 

[Melissa]

Another one that I found immensely helpful was Stephen Ray’s Crossing the Tiber. I find something in Scott Hahn’s style personally off-putting, but it’s clearly not the case for a lot of other people.

 

[Milliardo]

I have a friend who grew up in a fundamental Baptist Church, but is interested in the Catholic Faith. I have read David Currie’s book, but I have yet to read Scott Hahns , “Rome Sweet Home”. I was wondering how these books compare and which is considered a better conversion story?

Both are good; they compliment each other. I recommend these two books for anyone who wants to start his journey towards the Church.

 

[djrakowski]

Another one that I found immensely helpful was Stephen Ray’s Crossing the Tiber. I find something in Scott Hahn’s style personally off-putting, but it’s clearly not the case for a lot of other people.

I have the same reaction to Hahn’s writing. My impression is that his writings are meandering - that is, they don’t draw a straight line from point A to point B.

 

[PhilVaz]

RonRule << While Hahn has some great theological credentials, Rome Sweet Home is much lighter on theology and apologetics than Born Fundamentalist. >>

I agree with this assessment. Hahn is light on theology in this book. Currie goes into more detail. But the best book in terms of defending Catholic doctrine with Scripture (and biblical arguments with commentary from Protestants, the Fathers, theologians, etc) is Dave Armstrong’s Biblical Defense of Catholicism. Kind of Currie’s book times 2.

I predicted Armstrong’s book would supplant Keating’s Catholicism and Fundamentalism. I don’t think this has happened yet, but people need to continue to get the word out about Armstrong’s books.

Phil P

 

[quasimodo]

Another one that I found immensely helpful was Stephen Ray’s Crossing the Tiber. I find something in Scott Hahn’s style personally off-putting, but it’s clearly not the case for a lot of other people.

We love Steve Ray and his work, but for my taste Crossing the Tiber was like a large collection of footnotes with a small book attached. That is great for some people though.

 

[djrakowski]

We love Steve Ray and his work, but for my taste Crossing the Tiber was like a large collection of footnotes with a small book attached. That is great for some people though.

Ah, so it isn’t any different than Upon this Rock? I couldn’t read it for that reason.

 

[tundramom]

another good recommendation from me

My Life On The Rock by Jeff Cavins. It helped me immensely!

 

[Seagirt]

I have the same reaction to Hahn’s writing. My impression is that his writings are meandering - that is, they don’t draw a straight line from point A to point B.

CURRIE’S book is clearer and more helpful for theological seekers. Almost anything posted on the Journey Home website can be helpful to those seeking the faith, or with questions on Protestantism v Catholicism. Also try " Evangelical is Not Enough: Worship of God in Liturgy " by Thomas Howard. Mike Cumbie’s CD’s are helpful also---- www.mikecumbie.org > as is ENVOY magazine.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I have a friend who grew up in a fundamental Baptist Church, but is interested in the Catholic Faith. I have read David Currie’s book, but I have yet to read Scott Hahns , “Rome Sweet Home”. I was wondering how these books compare and which is considered a better conversion story?

this may be like apples to Oranges, but I highly value everyones opinion here on CA.

If you are a former protestant who is now Catholic and one or both of these books helped you , please post your experiance.

The difference is mainly that Hahn came from the Presbyterian church and Currie came from the Baptist church. I didn’t read all of Hahn’s book because I was visiting a friend (who owned the book) for the weekend and had to go home. At the time I was NOT open to becoming Catholic so I didn’t feel compelled to finish it.

Currie’s book is GREAT for Baptists. He nails down the typical Baptist objections - I was reading it and constantly thinking “I thought that way, too!” - and then gives the Catholic responses to each.

Another good one is “By What Authority?” by Mark Shea.

 

[Cat]

I’m predicting that the first Catholic conversion book they read, they will write on every page their objections, Bible verses that “contradict” what the Catholic Church teaches, and lots of exclamation marks meaning 'Harumph!"

They will go over all these with you, and you will feel like a a failure.

Don’t let it stop you! That’s just what Protestants do, especially evangelicals. Just keep giving them books. Evangelicals also love books!

My suggestion is to recommend books based on the background of the Protestant:

David Currie’s book is for fundamentalists, which makes it very valuable. This is a tough group, because they practice “exclusivity;” i.e., they don’t mix outside of their church. If you have a fundamentalist friend, you’re doing good if you’re a Catholic and you’re their friend!

Scott Hahn’s book is for Calvinists (Reformed and Presbyterian).

Stephen Ray’s book is for Baptists. There are lots of different kinds of Baptists, but they still share some common beliefs and practices.

I think THE best book for evangelicals is Evangelical Is Not Enough by David Howard. Make sure to mention that his sister is Elisabeth Elliot, who is a veritable paragon to evangelicals. EINO is beautifully written and will appeal to those raised in evangelical traditions.

IF you are trying to reach a Mainliner, especially someone from the “liberal” denominations like United Church of Christ, Congregationalists, Episcopals, Methodists, even Unitarians (which are a cult, but are very feminist), the best book is The Catholic Mystique by Jennifer Ferrara. I couldn’t put this book down, and we gave it to our daughter to answer the jibes that her “feminist” Christian friends keeps throwing at her about Catholicism. (e.g., Why does the Catholic Church subjugate women to child-bearing roles only? Why doesn’t the Catholic Church ordain women priests? etc.)

If you’re going after Word of Faith people–another REALLY tough group, try CDs by Michael Cumbie. I don’t think he has any books, but his CDs are wonderful. My other daughter and her fiance have listened to his stuff, and have expressed a desire to become Catholic.

There are also some neat conversion stories from various ethnic speakers and writers, but for the life of me, I can’t remember their names.

And there’s Rosalind Moss for your Jewish friends! She’s cool. She’s also a good one for evangelicals, as she converted to evangelical Protestantism before becoming Catholic.

I think it’s neat that the Lord has provided converts from so many sects of Protestantism!

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I think THE best book for evangelicals is Evangelical Is Not Enough by David Howard. Make sure to mention that his sister is Elisabeth Elliot, who is a veritable paragon to evangelicals. EINO is beautifully written and will appeal to those raised in evangelical traditions.

It’s actually Thomas Howard, not David. It is a great book, though! It was this book and one called “Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail” by Robert Webber (I believe he has also become RC since then, but I’m not sure…) that started my journey to Rome. My copy of EINE includes the epilogue where he says that he’s now RC. I remember reading that at the time (when the RCC was NOT an option for me, heh heh) and thinking, “Oh, that poor, misguided man! Whatever made him decide to do that”