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How to Defend the Faith Without Raising Your Voice: Civil Responses to Catholic Hot Button Issues
It is about winning friends, not arguments. It is about shedding light, not heat. It's about reframing the argument so hearts can be opened and minds can be inspired.
How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice is a new sort of apologetics. It is for those moments when you are thrust into the spotlight as the token Catholic whether the spotlight is simply at the office water cooler or whether it is front and center at the in-laws Thanksgiving celebration. How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice gives Catholics a fresh way of explaining the Church's teaching on contentious issues humanly, compellingly, and succinctly.
But this book does not pretend to suggest it is as simple as memorizing a speech. Every conversation is different. Every day's news cycle will bring new arguments and new challenges. Instead, it is a book about what the issues really are and where the criticisms are coming from so you can understand and communicate effectively.
It is the fruit of a group of speakers and experts brought together by a single to make sure that Catholics and the Church were represented properly in the media when Pope Benedict came to visit the UK in 2010. Their original and thoughtful approach helped make that visit a triumph and now it can be expanded for a much broader use.
Whether read in groups or alone, studied in schools or parishes, How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice offers the same thorough briefings on hot topics and the same top tips for effective communication which helped make the project such a success.
How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice is a new sort of apologetics. It is for those moments when you are thrust into the spotlight as the token Catholic whether the spotlight is simply at the office water cooler or whether it is front and center at the in-laws Thanksgiving celebration. How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice gives Catholics a fresh way of explaining the Church's teaching on contentious issues humanly, compellingly, and succinctly.
But this book does not pretend to suggest it is as simple as memorizing a speech. Every conversation is different. Every day's news cycle will bring new arguments and new challenges. Instead, it is a book about what the issues really are and where the criticisms are coming from so you can understand and communicate effectively.
It is the fruit of a group of speakers and experts brought together by a single to make sure that Catholics and the Church were represented properly in the media when Pope Benedict came to visit the UK in 2010. Their original and thoughtful approach helped make that visit a triumph and now it can be expanded for a much broader use.
Whether read in groups or alone, studied in schools or parishes, How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice offers the same thorough briefings on hot topics and the same top tips for effective communication which helped make the project such a success.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
86 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Austen Ivereigh
29 books22 followersAusten Ivereigh is a British writer, journalist, and commentator on religious and political affairs who holds a PhD from Oxford University. His work appears regularly in the Jesuit magazine America and in many other periodicals. He is well known on British media, especially on the BBC, Sky, ITV and Al-Jazeera, as a Catholic commentator.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 10, 2012
Although the book is short and to the point, it took me a long time to work my way through it. I set it aside in favor of four or five other books that happened to come my way by God's providence.
I feel that I have benefited and will benefit from the advice to affirm all that can be affirmed in an antagonist's position before striving to clarify how it differs from that of the Church. I am self-centered, irascible, sarcastic, and domineering in discussion, none of which serves the Lord or His people very well. I hope I can take to heart Ivereigh's insight that by winning the debate we can lose souls. It is not arguments that change people's minds, but the Lord.
I feel that I have benefited and will benefit from the advice to affirm all that can be affirmed in an antagonist's position before striving to clarify how it differs from that of the Church. I am self-centered, irascible, sarcastic, and domineering in discussion, none of which serves the Lord or His people very well. I hope I can take to heart Ivereigh's insight that by winning the debate we can lose souls. It is not arguments that change people's minds, but the Lord.
December 24, 2012
This book was given to me by Our Sunday Visitor in exchange for an honest review. How to Defend the Faith Without Raising Your Voice is a brief study in Apologetics. Although, there are many subtopics under the umbrella of Apologetics, this book focuses on civil issues including politics, homosexuality, euthanasia, and abortion to name a few. Each of these topics and the many more in this book are all considered hot-button political topics, but the Catholic Church remains steadfast in her views.
Each chapter starts off with common questions or objections people have, such as "Why does the Church oppose allowing people to choose the time of their own death?" or "Why should the Church be allowed to discriminate against gay people when the law forbids it?" The author then takes the emotion out of this argument and explains why the Church teaches what it teaches. While Mr. Ivereigh is very thorough in his explanations, the summaries at the end of each chapter are my favorite parts of the book. Perhaps, that is just my preference for succinct answers though.
Overall, this book is an invaluable resource that deserves a spot on your shelf. You might still raise your voice, as these topics always can cause an emotional response, but this book will provide you better ammunition. Therefore, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. And might I also add that I think this book is an essential gift for the high school graduate. Your new "adult" will encounter a lot of liberal professors and peers in college and will need to know how to defend themselves against others and even self-doubt that could creep into their minds. Make sure to get a copy for them and yourselves.
Each chapter starts off with common questions or objections people have, such as "Why does the Church oppose allowing people to choose the time of their own death?" or "Why should the Church be allowed to discriminate against gay people when the law forbids it?" The author then takes the emotion out of this argument and explains why the Church teaches what it teaches. While Mr. Ivereigh is very thorough in his explanations, the summaries at the end of each chapter are my favorite parts of the book. Perhaps, that is just my preference for succinct answers though.
Overall, this book is an invaluable resource that deserves a spot on your shelf. You might still raise your voice, as these topics always can cause an emotional response, but this book will provide you better ammunition. Therefore, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. And might I also add that I think this book is an essential gift for the high school graduate. Your new "adult" will encounter a lot of liberal professors and peers in college and will need to know how to defend themselves against others and even self-doubt that could creep into their minds. Make sure to get a copy for them and yourselves.
May 6, 2018
Impresionante trabajo intelectual de tintes sociales, académicos, culturales, que tiene alcances universales.
Verdaderamente me ha impresionado la investigación y la claridad con la que los autores la presentan, con un sentido de búsqueda de la verdad y pedagogía.
El formato es sencillo, se comentan las preguntas desafiantes, se desarrolla el tema, se obtiene el sentido o valor positivo que hay detrás de los juicios y desafíos para finalmente hacer pensar al lector en una reformulación de las respuestas que se deben de dar, tomando en cuenta el diálogo, la escucha atenta, la congruencia, la compasión, la preparación y el testimonio; después de todo esto se cierran los capítulos o temas con una síntesis de los puntos clave.
Un libro maravilloso con información fundamental, donde lo autores no tienen miedo de atender y decir las cosas por su nombre.
Verdaderamente me ha impresionado la investigación y la claridad con la que los autores la presentan, con un sentido de búsqueda de la verdad y pedagogía.
El formato es sencillo, se comentan las preguntas desafiantes, se desarrolla el tema, se obtiene el sentido o valor positivo que hay detrás de los juicios y desafíos para finalmente hacer pensar al lector en una reformulación de las respuestas que se deben de dar, tomando en cuenta el diálogo, la escucha atenta, la congruencia, la compasión, la preparación y el testimonio; después de todo esto se cierran los capítulos o temas con una síntesis de los puntos clave.
Un libro maravilloso con información fundamental, donde lo autores no tienen miedo de atender y decir las cosas por su nombre.
July 10, 2013
This is a book that every Catholic should read.
The reason I say that becomes abundantly apparent in the subhead: Civil Responses to Catholic Hot-Button Issues.
Or perhaps you are a Catholic who does not feel called to defend the faith but is one of the crowd waiting, wanting, a good explanation for whatever issue has been raised.
Either way, this book is here to help.
The introduction lays out the vital need for good, civil communication that sheds light but not heat. This is followed by nine chapters that discuss challenging questions which seem to get on everyone's nerves, such as the Church speaking up about politics, assisted suicide, clerical sex abuse, or defending the unborn. Austen Ivereigh discusses the overall context for each issue, the positive intention behind challenging questions, the Church's historical and current positions, and more. This is all with the goal of helping us be more knowledgable and know how to reframe issues so that there is a chance of being a positive voice for the Church.
Above all Ivereigh reminds us that where there is no trust, there can be no understanding or true conversation. To that end, he ends with ten points which should frame our mindset. These are the points that have stuck with me the most. I can't tell you the number of times in simply dealing with difficult situations daily that I have remembered to "shed light, not heat" and to "look for the positive intention behind the criticism." This doesn't mean not speaking up for the truth, but it does remind us that the goal is not always "to win."
I mentioned above that I thought every Catholic should read this book. I would go farther and venture to say that if you are curious about how the Church can justify a position you don't agree with, then this book is for you. That is how impressed I was by Ivereigh's even-handed, civil discussion of the positive motives of both sides of conversations on contentious issues. You may not wind up agreeing with the Church, but you will definitely see that there is a reasonable, logical context for her position.
I am very grateful to The Catholic Company for my review copy of this book. This is my honest opinion, no matter what the source of the book. You know how it is. That's how I roll.
=======
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papalYear of Faith.
The reason I say that becomes abundantly apparent in the subhead: Civil Responses to Catholic Hot-Button Issues.
We know how it feels, finding yourself suddenly appointed the spokesman for the Catholic Church while you're standing at a photocopier, swigging a drink at the bar, or when a group of folks suddenly freezes, and all eyes fix on you.Yes, we've all been there.
"You're a Catholic, aren't you?" someone says.
"Um, yes," you confess, looking nervously at what now seems to resemble a lynch mob.
The pope has been reported as saying something totally outrageous. Or the issue of AIDS and condoms has come up. Or the discussion has urned to gay marriage. And here you are, called on to defend the Catholic Church by virtue of your baptism, feeling as equipped for that task as Daniel in the den of lions.
Or perhaps you are a Catholic who does not feel called to defend the faith but is one of the crowd waiting, wanting, a good explanation for whatever issue has been raised.
Either way, this book is here to help.
The introduction lays out the vital need for good, civil communication that sheds light but not heat. This is followed by nine chapters that discuss challenging questions which seem to get on everyone's nerves, such as the Church speaking up about politics, assisted suicide, clerical sex abuse, or defending the unborn. Austen Ivereigh discusses the overall context for each issue, the positive intention behind challenging questions, the Church's historical and current positions, and more. This is all with the goal of helping us be more knowledgable and know how to reframe issues so that there is a chance of being a positive voice for the Church.
Why the Church Opposes EuthanasiaThe above excerpt is not the whole argument or rationale by any means. However, it was so well put for what I knew instinctively but had never had to articulate. It is one of the reasons I may wind up reading and rereading this book ... not only to absorb the points for the sake of discussion but for my own soul's sake.
In common with a long-standing tradition of western civilization, the Church believes that dying naturally is a vital part of life's journey, in many ways the most meaningful part. Dying can be described as a process of healing. Important things happen on that journey, and suffering and pain are often a part of it. As Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo ... said: "Compassion isn't to say, 'Here's a pill.' It's to show people the ways we can assist you, up until the time the Lord calls you."
Dying, then, is a highly meaningful gradual process of renunciation and surrender. Although some die swifty and painlessly, very often the pattern of dying involves great suffering, because (and this is true of old age in general) it involves letting go of those thing which in our lives we believe make us worthwhile and lovable: our looks, intelligence, abilities, and capabilities. This is what the great Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung called "necessary suffering," the suffering endured by the ego, which protests at having to change and surrender. The idea that this kind of suffering is part of growth is not a uniquely "religious" view, although Christianity -- with the Cross and the Resurrection at its heart -- has perhaps a richer theological understanding than most secular outlooks.
Above all Ivereigh reminds us that where there is no trust, there can be no understanding or true conversation. To that end, he ends with ten points which should frame our mindset. These are the points that have stuck with me the most. I can't tell you the number of times in simply dealing with difficult situations daily that I have remembered to "shed light, not heat" and to "look for the positive intention behind the criticism." This doesn't mean not speaking up for the truth, but it does remind us that the goal is not always "to win."
I mentioned above that I thought every Catholic should read this book. I would go farther and venture to say that if you are curious about how the Church can justify a position you don't agree with, then this book is for you. That is how impressed I was by Ivereigh's even-handed, civil discussion of the positive motives of both sides of conversations on contentious issues. You may not wind up agreeing with the Church, but you will definitely see that there is a reasonable, logical context for her position.
I am very grateful to The Catholic Company for my review copy of this book. This is my honest opinion, no matter what the source of the book. You know how it is. That's how I roll.
=======
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papalYear of Faith.
January 27, 2013
Good explanations of why the church teaches what it does. Not only will it help you defend the faith, it can strengthen yours.
April 25, 2017
As I mentioned in my review of the first edition, this is a book every Catholic should read.
You can read my general praise at the review link. I'll take this space to say why the revised edition is necessary. In three short years, debate in the public square has shifted in a way that has often bewildered me. How to Defend the Faith explains that whereas questioners and critics used to be those outside of Christian faith, they are now often secularized Christians. They hold to basic principles that originated with Christian teachings but are so divorced from those teachings that they can't see the connection any more. That leaves a Catholic on shifting ground if one tries to anchor explanations of hot button issues in a Christian understanding. We're having discussions with people who aren't interpreting things with a common framework.
How to Defend the Faith helps understand the shifted frame from which critiques originate and how to reframe our responses so that we are all on the same page. Your questioner may not agree with you (and winning isn't the point - explanation is), but they will at least have a better understanding of the Church's attitudes toward contentious issues in the public square.
You can read my general praise at the review link. I'll take this space to say why the revised edition is necessary. In three short years, debate in the public square has shifted in a way that has often bewildered me. How to Defend the Faith explains that whereas questioners and critics used to be those outside of Christian faith, they are now often secularized Christians. They hold to basic principles that originated with Christian teachings but are so divorced from those teachings that they can't see the connection any more. That leaves a Catholic on shifting ground if one tries to anchor explanations of hot button issues in a Christian understanding. We're having discussions with people who aren't interpreting things with a common framework.
How to Defend the Faith helps understand the shifted frame from which critiques originate and how to reframe our responses so that we are all on the same page. Your questioner may not agree with you (and winning isn't the point - explanation is), but they will at least have a better understanding of the Church's attitudes toward contentious issues in the public square.
December 26, 2024
Libro muy recomendable. Aborda los principales temas polémicos relacionados con la Iglesia con argumentos sólidos y algo periodísticos. Por ponerle un "pero", la edición del 2018 comienza a pedir una actualización en algún capítulo, más relacionada con casos actuales que con la argumentación, que es sólida.
March 21, 2022
This book is a little out of date, but its 10 points of how to have discussions on hot topics are excellent.
July 28, 2013
A Spin Doctor's Dream Come True!
Following in the tradition of Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking) and The Yes Men comes a pocket-sized user's manual that would make Joseph Goebbels proud! Starting from the assumption that all Catholic teachings are true and that the ends justify any means used, Austen teaches believers to be polite while ignoring social ills and profound suffering that are the direct result of archaic and obsolete religious dogma! Here's just a sample:
- The Church has a DUTY to speak out on political issues (p. 15). The incidental fact of its tax-exempt status is merely a convenient benefit of calling itself "Christian" in an extremely right-wing nation, such as the United States. Think of it as paternalistic representation without taxation for your own good.
Also, please gloss over Luke 20:25 which states "And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's." Also outdated is Romans 13:1-4:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
- Bishops are not trying to influence individual voters, but rather the entire political process (p.21). Therefore we are not violating the unilateral wall espoused by Jefferson and Madison when they founded the nation and established the First Amendment.
- Birth control is evil because God said so (p.31-32). Women are nothing more than living incubators. Biology bears this out. Just look at the brilliant design of the female form. That is precisely why abortion must not be permitted (p93-94).
- By being required to give gay couples equal treatment, the Church is being oppressed through the Dictatorship of Relativism (p51-54). Who cares if no secular charities are required to follow similar laws?
- It is possible to choose to continue to suffer until a natural death, not not possible to freely choose a pain-free demise (p66-69). Please ignore the voices of reason and science (including those within the palliative care community) who assert that even the best care cannot relieve all suffering to the patient's satisfaction. Also, please pay no heed to Samson's murder-suicide pact (that was war) and Jesus' committing suicide by cop.
- We must NEVER spread the feeling that life is never worth preserving. Ivereigh is absolutely correct here. This is why we will also fight to make it illegal to refuse heart transplants, live-saving medication and surgery, and painful chemotherapy treatments.
- Smother the faithful and secular critics who moan about child rape among the church by pointing out the steps taken (in the past few decades) to end a systemic problem that has lasted since the Church's founding and is a direct result of the Puritanical requirements of celibacy (p72-74).
In a postmodern world where faith is being rapidly displaced by science, reason and empiricism, I am eternally grateful to Austen for his work in keeping oppressive regimes in place. Disguising bigotry with a honeyed forked tongue, he makes himself appear respectable and reasonable. Well done!
Following in the tradition of Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking) and The Yes Men comes a pocket-sized user's manual that would make Joseph Goebbels proud! Starting from the assumption that all Catholic teachings are true and that the ends justify any means used, Austen teaches believers to be polite while ignoring social ills and profound suffering that are the direct result of archaic and obsolete religious dogma! Here's just a sample:
- The Church has a DUTY to speak out on political issues (p. 15). The incidental fact of its tax-exempt status is merely a convenient benefit of calling itself "Christian" in an extremely right-wing nation, such as the United States. Think of it as paternalistic representation without taxation for your own good.
Also, please gloss over Luke 20:25 which states "And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's." Also outdated is Romans 13:1-4:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
- Bishops are not trying to influence individual voters, but rather the entire political process (p.21). Therefore we are not violating the unilateral wall espoused by Jefferson and Madison when they founded the nation and established the First Amendment.
- Birth control is evil because God said so (p.31-32). Women are nothing more than living incubators. Biology bears this out. Just look at the brilliant design of the female form. That is precisely why abortion must not be permitted (p93-94).
- By being required to give gay couples equal treatment, the Church is being oppressed through the Dictatorship of Relativism (p51-54). Who cares if no secular charities are required to follow similar laws?
- It is possible to choose to continue to suffer until a natural death, not not possible to freely choose a pain-free demise (p66-69). Please ignore the voices of reason and science (including those within the palliative care community) who assert that even the best care cannot relieve all suffering to the patient's satisfaction. Also, please pay no heed to Samson's murder-suicide pact (that was war) and Jesus' committing suicide by cop.
- We must NEVER spread the feeling that life is never worth preserving. Ivereigh is absolutely correct here. This is why we will also fight to make it illegal to refuse heart transplants, live-saving medication and surgery, and painful chemotherapy treatments.
- Smother the faithful and secular critics who moan about child rape among the church by pointing out the steps taken (in the past few decades) to end a systemic problem that has lasted since the Church's founding and is a direct result of the Puritanical requirements of celibacy (p72-74).
In a postmodern world where faith is being rapidly displaced by science, reason and empiricism, I am eternally grateful to Austen for his work in keeping oppressive regimes in place. Disguising bigotry with a honeyed forked tongue, he makes himself appear respectable and reasonable. Well done!
October 10, 2025
O autor apresenta de forma clara e fundamentada na doutrina os argumentos para responder/discutir vários temas considerados “difíceis” no actual ambiente cultural dominante.
Em alguns pontos são apresentados números que podiam ser fundamentados com referência directa e detalhada às fontes.
Em alguns pontos são apresentados números que podiam ser fundamentados com referência directa e detalhada às fontes.
June 5, 2013
As Catholics, we are often called on to defend our faith, and for that reason, many Catholics love studying apologetics. How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice: Civil Responses to Catholic Hot Button Issues takes apologetics in a whole new direction.
In their description of the book, the publisher, Our Sunday Visitor, puts it best:
It is about winning friends, not arguments. It is about shedding light, not heat. It’s about reframing the argument so hearts can be opened and minds can be inspired.
Debating over religion rarely ever works. Most of the time, it only serves to leave wider gaps between the faiths. This book takes a new angle on apologetics by “reframing” the questions of many non-Catholics. Instead of simply quoting Scripture and Catechism references, the book attempts to look at the topics from a non-Catholic point-of-view. It helps us to better defend the faith by better understanding the position of the other person.
So, what’s covered in this magical little book? Well, it is not the basic “why be Catholic” type of issues. It is not focused on the Eucharist, papal infallibility, or praying to saints. Instead, it focuses on many of the social and political issues of today, such as:
*Homosexuality
*Religious Freedom
*Assisted Suicide
*Pro-Life Issues
*Women in the Church
*And More…
Many non-Catholics claim that the Church is out-of-touch with society, but Austen Ivereigh does a fantastic job of showing just how relevant Church teaching is to our world today. He will equip you with the basic knowledge you need to defend the Catholic faith in social and public settings. And if you’ve ever wondered about the reasons behind the Church’s stance on these issues, you will find the answers you need.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to live out their faith beyond the pew. Being a good Catholic is easy within the four walls of your local parish; it is much more difficult when you step out the doors and into society.
In their description of the book, the publisher, Our Sunday Visitor, puts it best:
It is about winning friends, not arguments. It is about shedding light, not heat. It’s about reframing the argument so hearts can be opened and minds can be inspired.
Debating over religion rarely ever works. Most of the time, it only serves to leave wider gaps between the faiths. This book takes a new angle on apologetics by “reframing” the questions of many non-Catholics. Instead of simply quoting Scripture and Catechism references, the book attempts to look at the topics from a non-Catholic point-of-view. It helps us to better defend the faith by better understanding the position of the other person.
So, what’s covered in this magical little book? Well, it is not the basic “why be Catholic” type of issues. It is not focused on the Eucharist, papal infallibility, or praying to saints. Instead, it focuses on many of the social and political issues of today, such as:
*Homosexuality
*Religious Freedom
*Assisted Suicide
*Pro-Life Issues
*Women in the Church
*And More…
Many non-Catholics claim that the Church is out-of-touch with society, but Austen Ivereigh does a fantastic job of showing just how relevant Church teaching is to our world today. He will equip you with the basic knowledge you need to defend the Catholic faith in social and public settings. And if you’ve ever wondered about the reasons behind the Church’s stance on these issues, you will find the answers you need.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to live out their faith beyond the pew. Being a good Catholic is easy within the four walls of your local parish; it is much more difficult when you step out the doors and into society.
July 15, 2012
I have read many fine Catholic Apologetic books over the years, but I have to say “How to Defend the Faith Without Raising Your Voice: Civil Responses to Catholic Hot Button Issues” is the BEST! Dr. Austen Ivereigh, along with the Our Sunday Visitor Editor in Chief John Norton, have compiled the “must have” text for any and all Catholics who desire to respond to the call for the New Evangelization. More than answers to just about any issue that could come forward in a discussion about the Catholic Church and the faith we profess, their work encourages us to respond with reason based on the fundamentals of Catholic Social Teaching and decorum befitting virtue driven discourse. Once again, this is a MUST HAVE.My interview with Austen Ivereigh
December 30, 2012
This book explains the WHY behind the Catholic church's stance on a variety of controversial life issues.
February 6, 2014
Enjoyed the structure the author used. Final chapter pulled it together well. Ultimately real evangelization comes down to opening your heart to others about how you have experienced Jesus.
January 22, 2013
Really helps make 'apologetics' make sense!
December 15, 2024
This is so poorly written, I was left flabbergasted. EVIDENCE IS EVIDENCE AND IT MUST BE FACTUAL. Your claim does not have to be provable, but to support it, the evidence itself must be. There is no works cited, barely any use of the bible as evidence, no provable statements. Some of the statements in here are scientifically inaccurate, but hey, some Cardinal from the last 10 years said something on it and his word is law, right? Whatever the Pope or Bishop said is A CLAIM. YOU HAVE TO BACK IT UP. Absolutely terrible read filled with logical fallacies.
August 28, 2021
I appreciated Ivereigh's practical advice on examining ourselves, our motives before advocating for the Faith. I have often found myself referring to the principles as new issues arrise in the public square. When discussing sensitive issues, I find it helpful to find shared positive intentions, to acknowledge hard questions with clarified vocabulary, to respectfully articulate the existing frame of the debate, then reframe the debate with the hope and wisdom of Faith.
April 12, 2024
The last chapter, with step-by-step reminders of how to communicate as a fo!lower of Christ, is worth the price
of the book. A blog post or magazine article would have been sufficient space to get the point across, though. Written to help British Catholics counter anti-Catholic outbursts that followed the Pope's visit to the country, its advice holds up well a decade later.
of the book. A blog post or magazine article would have been sufficient space to get the point across, though. Written to help British Catholics counter anti-Catholic outbursts that followed the Pope's visit to the country, its advice holds up well a decade later.
March 31, 2018
Hace un análisis del estado del arte: pasado y presente. Trata los temas con mucho rigor, me ha sorprendido. Un gran libro de consulta donde conocer cuál es la situación real en algunas materias. Creo que es libro que hay que leer.
September 9, 2020
Great info on truths and understanding of the Catholic faith. So often, people feel misled due to lack of understanding. This gives insight and explanations of why the Catholic Church believes and teaches what it does.
July 15, 2018
Pensé que el contenido era de otro tipo, pero lo que viene ahí es muy interesante!!
October 29, 2018
De obligada lectura para los católicos que no queremos sentirnos atacados.
May 7, 2022
Es un manual reflexivo, sobre el abordaje sensible y empático frente a otras posturas confesionales, sobre temas álgidos.
February 26, 2024
Esta muy bueno, lo único malo es que muchos de los datos son de España, pero los argumentos ayudan
February 28, 2024
I wish it would have been organized differently; short, concise explanations and bullet lists with responses. Reading through paragraphs of explanations muddied the waters
October 9, 2019
A Spin Doctor's Dream Come True!
Following in the tradition of Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking) and The Yes Men comes a pocket-sized user's manual that would make Joseph Goebbels proud! Starting from the assumption that all Catholic teachings are true and that the ends justify any means used, Austen teaches believers to be polite while ignoring social ills and profound suffering that are the direct result of archaic and obsolete religious dogma! Here's just a sample:
- The Church has a DUTY to speak out on political issues (p. 15). The incidental fact of its tax-exempt status is merely a convenient benefit of calling itself "Christian" in an extremely right-wing nation, such as the United States. Think of it as paternalistic representation without taxation for your own good.
Also, please gloss over Luke 20:25 which states "And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's." Also outdated is Romans 13:1-4:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
- Bishops are not trying to influence individual voters, but rather the entire political process (p.21). Therefore we are not violating the unilateral wall espoused by Jefferson and Madison when they founded the nation and established the First Amendment.
- Birth control is evil because God said so (p.31-32). Women are nothing more than living incubators. Biology bears this out. Just look at the brilliant design of the female form. That is precisely why abortion must not be permitted (p93-94).
- By being required to give gay couples equal treatment, the Church is being oppressed through the Dictatorship of Relativism (p51-54). Who cares if no secular charities are required to follow similar laws?
- It is possible to choose to continue to suffer until a natural death, not not possible to freely choose a pain-free demise (p66-69). Please ignore the voices of reason and science (including those within the palliative care community) who assert that even the best care cannot relieve all suffering to the patient's satisfaction. Also, please pay no heed to Samson's murder-suicide pact (that was war) and Jesus' committing suicide by cop.
- We must NEVER spread the feeling that life is never worth preserving. Ivereigh is absolutely correct here. This is why we will also fight to make it illegal to refuse heart transplants, live-saving medication and surgery, and painful chemotherapy treatments.
- Smother the faithful and secular critics who moan about child rape among the church by pointing out the steps taken (in the past few decades) to end a systemic problem that has lasted since the Church's founding and is a direct result of the Puritanical requirements of celibacy (p72-74).
In a postmodern world where faith is being rapidly displaced by science, reason and empiricism, I am eternally grateful to Austen for his work in keeping oppressive regimes in place. Disguising bigotry with a honeyed forked tongue, he makes himself appear respectable and reasonable. Well done!
Following in the tradition of Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking) and The Yes Men comes a pocket-sized user's manual that would make Joseph Goebbels proud! Starting from the assumption that all Catholic teachings are true and that the ends justify any means used, Austen teaches believers to be polite while ignoring social ills and profound suffering that are the direct result of archaic and obsolete religious dogma! Here's just a sample:
- The Church has a DUTY to speak out on political issues (p. 15). The incidental fact of its tax-exempt status is merely a convenient benefit of calling itself "Christian" in an extremely right-wing nation, such as the United States. Think of it as paternalistic representation without taxation for your own good.
Also, please gloss over Luke 20:25 which states "And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's." Also outdated is Romans 13:1-4:
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
- Bishops are not trying to influence individual voters, but rather the entire political process (p.21). Therefore we are not violating the unilateral wall espoused by Jefferson and Madison when they founded the nation and established the First Amendment.
- Birth control is evil because God said so (p.31-32). Women are nothing more than living incubators. Biology bears this out. Just look at the brilliant design of the female form. That is precisely why abortion must not be permitted (p93-94).
- By being required to give gay couples equal treatment, the Church is being oppressed through the Dictatorship of Relativism (p51-54). Who cares if no secular charities are required to follow similar laws?
- It is possible to choose to continue to suffer until a natural death, not not possible to freely choose a pain-free demise (p66-69). Please ignore the voices of reason and science (including those within the palliative care community) who assert that even the best care cannot relieve all suffering to the patient's satisfaction. Also, please pay no heed to Samson's murder-suicide pact (that was war) and Jesus' committing suicide by cop.
- We must NEVER spread the feeling that life is never worth preserving. Ivereigh is absolutely correct here. This is why we will also fight to make it illegal to refuse heart transplants, live-saving medication and surgery, and painful chemotherapy treatments.
- Smother the faithful and secular critics who moan about child rape among the church by pointing out the steps taken (in the past few decades) to end a systemic problem that has lasted since the Church's founding and is a direct result of the Puritanical requirements of celibacy (p72-74).
In a postmodern world where faith is being rapidly displaced by science, reason and empiricism, I am eternally grateful to Austen for his work in keeping oppressive regimes in place. Disguising bigotry with a honeyed forked tongue, he makes himself appear respectable and reasonable. Well done!
January 17, 2015
The only reason I'm not giving this book five stars is because of the limitations, which are not a fault of the book or of its author, but of this reviewer.
I am a Canadian, and How to Defend the Faith is primarilly an American way of addressing the social issues that critics bring to the Church. Not a problem, unless one isn't an American citizen.
Of course, it makes sense that hot-button issues such as abortion, euthanasia, AIDS care, women and the Church, gay-rights, clerical sex abuse, etc, should be addressed with some recourse to contemporary and current legislation. Admitedly, the principles behind the arguments and the counter-arguments should be universally applicable, but sometimes the issue can only be addressed in its cultural/legislative context.
Having said that, this is an important book for all Catholics (and non-Catholics who want to know how Catholics will respond to their criticisms). The last couple of pages also explain how we can all discuss these hot-button issues without losing our tempers - something that doesn't help anyone on either side of the debate.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the Catholic Church's position on many/most social issues. The book is at times technical, in the sense that Ivereigh knows his Catechism and both Canon and legislative law. This may rile some readers who find it unfair that a defender of the faith relies on the Catholic Catechism, but since the issues criticise the Catholic Church's perceived position on these topics, it is the author's prerogative to explain the Church's actual position - which has often been misunderstood in the first place.
I am a Canadian, and How to Defend the Faith is primarilly an American way of addressing the social issues that critics bring to the Church. Not a problem, unless one isn't an American citizen.
Of course, it makes sense that hot-button issues such as abortion, euthanasia, AIDS care, women and the Church, gay-rights, clerical sex abuse, etc, should be addressed with some recourse to contemporary and current legislation. Admitedly, the principles behind the arguments and the counter-arguments should be universally applicable, but sometimes the issue can only be addressed in its cultural/legislative context.
Having said that, this is an important book for all Catholics (and non-Catholics who want to know how Catholics will respond to their criticisms). The last couple of pages also explain how we can all discuss these hot-button issues without losing our tempers - something that doesn't help anyone on either side of the debate.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the Catholic Church's position on many/most social issues. The book is at times technical, in the sense that Ivereigh knows his Catechism and both Canon and legislative law. This may rile some readers who find it unfair that a defender of the faith relies on the Catholic Catechism, but since the issues criticise the Catholic Church's perceived position on these topics, it is the author's prerogative to explain the Church's actual position - which has often been misunderstood in the first place.
September 13, 2014
How To Defend the Faith Without Raising Your Voice is a worthwhile read for all Catholics. It addresses nine different, relevant issues in separate chapters. Each chapter begins with the questions commonly asked of the Church, followed by a description of the issue and explanation for the belief. It is commendable that much of the apologetic approach the issues from an anthropological and social perspective, rather than a theological one. Reason, unaided by faith, can tell you why abortion and assisted suicide are wrong. The chapter concludes with how the 'questioner' perceives the issue, and how the Catholic could reframe the issue to explain why this is the Catholic position.
However the book has one major flaw. The author repeatedly cites various sources - books, speeches, studies - in support of his claims. But the book is more unsourced than a Wikipedia article. Ivereigh tells you where he's getting the quotes from in the text itself, but there are no footnotes making the citation more specific. It's very strange to encounter this in a book as well-written as this one.
However the book has one major flaw. The author repeatedly cites various sources - books, speeches, studies - in support of his claims. But the book is more unsourced than a Wikipedia article. Ivereigh tells you where he's getting the quotes from in the text itself, but there are no footnotes making the citation more specific. It's very strange to encounter this in a book as well-written as this one.
November 22, 2016
Wow! It took me a month to read this...I just realized. It was a heavy book for me, but I acknowledge it is probably a dumbed down version of what it could be. At times I found myself lost in the language, but appreciated that they boiled it down at the end of every chapter. I hope I can remember any of the points I was given when it comes time, but am thankful I chose to purchase the book instead of loan so I can go back at will.
April 21, 2025
Adorei.
O método do livro é muito interessante e eficaz.
Acho que cumpre verdadeiramente o seu propósito de dar ferramentas aos católicos para sustentarem a sua fé. É um livro muito interessante para qualquer tipo de pessoa.
Está claro e bem escrito.
É curioso que a minha parte preferida foi o capítulo escrito por Pedro Gil, um exclusivo da edição em português.
Recomendo a qualquer tipo de pessoa que procure respostas sobre a Igreja
O método do livro é muito interessante e eficaz.
Acho que cumpre verdadeiramente o seu propósito de dar ferramentas aos católicos para sustentarem a sua fé. É um livro muito interessante para qualquer tipo de pessoa.
Está claro e bem escrito.
É curioso que a minha parte preferida foi o capítulo escrito por Pedro Gil, um exclusivo da edição em português.
Recomendo a qualquer tipo de pessoa que procure respostas sobre a Igreja
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews