Fundamentals of the Faith: Essays in Christian Apologetics

by Peter Kreeft

Kreeft considers all the fundamental elements of Christianity and Catholicism, explaining, defending and showing their relevance to our life and the world's yearnings. Here is a book to help you understand your faith more fully and to explain it to others more winningly. Like every religion, this faith has three aspects, corresponding to the three parts of the soul and filling the innate needs of all three parts. Kreeft uses these three divisions as the basic outline for his Christian apologetics. First, every religion has some beliefs , whether expressed in creeds or not, something for the intellect to know. Second, every religion has some duty or deed, some practice of program, some moral or ethical code, something for the will to choose. Finally, every religion has some liturgy , some worship, some church, something for the body and the concrete imagination and the aesthetic sense to work at. Creed, Code and Cult; Words, Works and Worship, are a most useful way of outlining any religious faith, including the Catholic Faith of Christians. "These essays were written for Catholics by a Catholic. But I believe that nearly everything I say here will be found by the orthodox Biblical Protestant reader to be his faith as That solid and substantial core that C.S. Lewis called "mere Christianity"
�Peter Kreeft

Genres: Religion, Theology, Catholic, Faith, Christianity, Christian, Philosophy

300 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1988

About the author

Peter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.

Reviews

[Shep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that, being Protestant, I disagree with many of the things Kreeft says, I nonetheless found this book to be very valuable because a) it presented challenging arguments in favor of Roman Catholicism from a Roman Catholic perspective and b) it strengthened my ever growing appreciation for Roman Catholicism itself. In this book Kreeft not only gives a basis for theism in general but offers some compelling arguments for Roman Catholic theology - any Protestants who read this book will likely find many of their common preconceptions about Roman Catholicism dispelled or refuted. I found it valuable to see things from another perspective. Well written and pleasant. Recommended.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this during my benighted and uncompleted Catholic confirmation class, and I didn't manage to finish it before I quit to pursue a dilettante life of degenerate and loose morals. But I must say, ol' Catholic standby Kreeft made some very, very good arguments for Christianity . Were I still Christian and trying to persuade an intelligent person to convert, I would hand them this. The man can write. What creative ideas he managed to spin out of his crafty little mind to justify hell.

[Grant Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent primer on Christianity from a Catholic apologetic viewpoint. The chapters are brief but to the point. There are questionable doctrines for the more conservative orthodox, ie: anonymous Christianity, yet the content does not compromise the fundamentals of orthodox Christianity. Kreeft hopes Protestants and Catholics will reunite by Protestants admitting they are wrong and by Catholics admitting they have been wrong. A very good, but brief, introduction.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man is brilliant. Read the book.

[Kelly Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read teaching on how to defend the faith through Apologetics. I found that a lot of Kreeft’s teachings although written in 1988 definitely can be applied to the times we now live in, especially when he spoke on the New Paganism. We can see “The New Paganism theory,” being lived out right now in some of our churches. I must say I was expecting something different when he talked about comparative religions but Kreeft had great insight into the topic. Although I don’t necessarily agree everything Kreeft wrote, overall I was completely on board with his thoughts and direction for this book, even though he spoke from the Catholic viewpoint and I being of the Protestant denomination.

[Emma Schroer Ernst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot describe this book adequately. I sincerely think it may be the best book I’ve ever read.

[Jesse O'reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, though perhaps not on the same level as Mere Christianity and Orthodoxy, I'd perhaps better than those two books at systematically exploring arguments for the faith and what Christians believe. Although like many other Kreeft readers, I don't share his Catholic faith, he still provides many ideas to mull over.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I most definitely preferred Kreeft's other writings, specifically those on Socrates' philosophy. Though this book was difficult to fully grasp due to his lack of inclusivity when it came to Protestant belief, I can't deny the fact that I learned a significant amount of clarifying explanations of the Christian faith. Kreeft is an excellent writer of philosophy.

[Jay Risner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, really good.

[Erik]

Listed by Patrick Madrid in the Reading Plan of Search and Rescue in Phase 2 (Intermediate). ("lucid explanation of Catholic teaching compared with Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism")

[Andrew Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stuff, some iffy stuff. Depends on where you are at before you read it.

[Steve Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good and a lot of not so good.

[James Pike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful and good book! I especially found the essays on the Our Father to be very fruitful. While I don't know about this book being about the fundamentals of faith I do recommend it if you are looking to dip your toe into theological studies.

[Elizabeth Bevins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite Mere Christianity or Orthodoxy but still thought provoking. Kreeft delves more into Catholicism in this book than I expected but I found that interesting. It’s broken up into easy to read topic chapters and sections. It would be a good book group read.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Easy for the layperson to understand. Topics include fundamentals of Christian belief, Christian theology, Christian living and the Christian community.

[Lisa Cottingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an early, impactful book for my continuing study of who God is and how God acts - theology. I gave this book to Melody July 2025 after Olivia's shower.

[sch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oct 2023. First time, although I read the essay on Buddhism last year. Finished, good not great. Better as parts than as a whole. But I always learn from Kreeft, even when he is at his most aphoristic.

[Masa Pranjic · Rating 2 out of 5]

O Kreeftu sam cula sve naj, medjutim meni je ovaj nacin pisanja ostavio dojam srednjoskolske domace zadace gdje je "skolski" malo pokupio s neta pokoju informaciju i otprilike sklepao osnovne razlike. Mozda sam ocekivala previse jer sam o ovom autoru cula da je zbilja vrhunski. Ah, ocekivanja...
No, dat cu mu jos jednu priliku, jer, zasto ne...mozda smo se ovog puta sudarili nepripremljeni. "Making sense out of suffering" ce biti iduca, iako poslije Viktora Frankla na tu tematiku sumnjam da mu moze doci blizu i stoga cu ovog puta uci s ocekivanjem da ce biti bezveze. What could go wrong, its only my time that I'm wasting.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far I'd say great writing style, and great at making complex subjects simple (a true teacher's gifts). The section on miracles was a bit weak, though. I thought he should have done more with the resurrection (especially), and done less with contemporary Romanist 'miracles'.

As it went on, the Roman catholicism of the author was more evident and more objectionable. I actually could have enjoyed more Tridentine catholicism, but got much more in line with Vatican II. But there were brilliant moments, and some great thoughts in the section on the Lord's Prayer.

Liked it okay.