Catholicism & Reason: The Creed & Apologetics

by Edward J. Hayes

The most readable apologetics book on the market today, Catholicism and Reason offers a systematic presentation of Catholic beliefs that will prepare the reader to be a knowledgeable and articulate defender of the Catholic Faith. The book focuses on such topics as the existence of God, the historical reliability of the Gospels, the humanity and divinity of Christ, proofs for the resurrection, the founding of the Catholic Church on Peter, and the signs or marks that point to the Church of Jesus Christ today. Also discussed are infallibility, ecumenism, the Blessed Trinity, original and actual sin, grace and the virtues, heaven, hell, and purgatory, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Genres: Religion, Catholic

279 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catholicism and Reason is part of the four volume "Catholicism" series published in the 1990s as an American augmentation to the newly published "Cathechism of the Catholic Church." This volume is devoted to apologetics, or the reasoned defense of Catholic doctrine against challenges made by non-Catholics. This books is actually quite well written and is, for the most part, easily readable. The authors try to keep theological terminology out of the discussion and they try to use anecdotes and explanations that are understandable to the modern American.

While this book is written as an introduction to apologetics, the breadth of the subject matter and the length of the book itself requires it to give very little time to each topic of the faith. Because of this, I would find it to be very odd that someone who really objects to Church teaching should be persuaded by the arguments made in this book. The serious Catholic of course should go far more in depth on each topic than what is available in this volume. However, such an effort is not only worthwhile but absolutely necessary, given the downright hostility to Catholic doctrine that is evident in our culture today, in the media, in the schools and in popular discussion in general. Having said this, "Catholicism and Reason" is a good launching pad for this endeavor. This is especially true for teaching teenagers and Catholics whose understanding of the faith is basic. Knowledgeable Catholics will find the material in the book very basic and not very enlightening.

If you are looking for a very basic book on Catholic apologetics, I would highly recommend "Catholicism and Reason."

[JoAnne Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hayes does a good job of summarizing the principal teachings contained in the Catechism, and adds some good illustrations but, for my time, I prefer the language and the complete cross referencing of the original.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Catholicism and Reason: The Creed and Apologetics (Paperback)
by Edward J. Hayes
learning about catholic religion and ideology

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok for middle school or high school apologetics classes.