By Strange Ways: Theologians and Their Paths to the Catholic Church

by Jonathan Fuqua (Editor), Daniel Strudwick (Editor)

The only work that exclusively features the conversion stories of theologians, this book provides a unique vantage point on the intellectual challenges faced by those being drawn to the Catholic Church. The men and women featured here come from a variety of Agnosticism, Secularism, New Age thought, punk rock, and various stripes of Christianity. Their theological vocation had specially prompted them to question their own intellectual presuppositions once they encountered Catholicism, which only gained in credibility the more they studied it. Although it was the theological truth of the Catholic faith that initially captured the attention of these theologians, each of these essays tells a fully human story. They are not collections of arguments, but stories of grace. Among the ten converts are Scott Hahn , Lawrence Feingold , Melanie Barrett , Petroc Willey , and Jeff Morrow . Each story offers a fresh glimpse at God's work in the world.

262 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2022

Reviews

[sr Margaret Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Strange Ways Theologians and Their Paths to the Catholic Church is the type of book I would have chosen in a bookstore so getting a review copy is a plus. As manager of a Catholic bookstore this is a book I will always have in stock. I have read several books on the journeys people take in their search for the Church Jesus founded. This was the most intriguing and the most challenging. The challenge comes from engaging with genuine theologians who are well read. They quote from many Christian sources. Even after a Masters in Pastoral Ministry I have a limited knowledge of many non-Catholic editions referenced. I found it interesting that a few of the theologians in this book avoided certain Catholic authors, especially St John Henry Neuman, because his logic was both enticing and closed doors to all but the Catholic Church. He too had a lot to lose by entering the Catholic Church. It is also interesting to find that after reading the early Christian source documents detailing how the Liturgy took place and earliest proof of apostolic succession some of these theologians remained unmoved. They were surprised by what finally led them into the Church. If you enjoy the intellectual pursuit of knowledge you will want to read this book in one sitting. If you are a thinker this book will give you pause. I reread quite of few of the journey stories to savor the questions that were asked. Each question leads to an answer that leads to another query. God's enticing invitation to grow closer to God's divine life in Christ through the Spirit unfolds in each chapter of this book.

[Suzanne Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful stories

I always enjoy reading memoirs, but receive a particular delight from reading "coming into the faith" stories. Unlike the others I have read, these conversions are greatly in the intellectual sphere and somewhat more challenging for the ordinary, non-degree-holding reader than the usual biographies which may include references to the evolving ideas of the subject. Some of these theologians are more accessible than others, probably because they write for a popular audience, rather than the academy of scholars. But they all have the same thread of an unquenchable thirst and curiosity about Truth. Very rewarding.