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Controversies: High Level Catholic Apologetics - Newman, Belloc, Knox, Lunn, Thurston

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Best-selling Catholic apologist and author Karl Keating presents writings from five of his favorite apologists who give a clear and forceful exposition of Catholic truth. These five well-known British writers of the 20th century had strong convictions, were not afraid of controversy, and defended the truth with vigor and charity. The five apologists are John Henry Newman, Hilaire Belloc, Herbert Thurston, Arnold Lunn and Ronald Knox. Each of their pieces were directed at one person, with the public invited to look over the writer’s shoulder. Each selection includes prefatory material from Keating that sets the stage and introduces the characters, along with 337 footnotes. These great writers employ what Keating calls "high-level apologetics" — plenty of erudition, accessibility, and wit. Unlike today, when many find reasoned controversy unfashionable, and a desire for the truth giving way to indifferentism, these writers display a passion for the truth, sophisticated arguments, clarity of thought and vivid personalities.

278 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

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About the author

Karl Keating

32 books43 followers
Karl Keating (b. 1950), a prominent Catholic apologist and author, is the founder and president of Catholic Answers, a lay apostolate of Catholic apologetics and evangelization.

He received his undergraduate degree in Applied Math at UCSD in 1972 and went on to get a J.D. at the University of San Diego. He worked as an attorney practicing civil law in the early 1980s.

Leaving Mass one Sunday, he found anti-Catholic tracts on the windshields of the cars in the church parking lot. He wrote his own tract in reply and distributed copies of it at the Fundamentalist church responsible for the anti-Catholic tract. That was the start of what has become the country’s largest lay-run apologetics and evangelization organization.

Catholic Answers was incorporated in 1982, and in 1988 Karl left the practice of law and went into apostolic work full time. That year marked the publication of his Catholicism and Fundamentalism, the first book to deal extensively with challenges posed by “Bible Christians.” Other books followed: What Catholics Really Believe, Nothing But the Truth, The Usual Suspects, and Controversies. He is at work on several more titles.

For nine years Karl served as the editor of This Rock. He has been a columnist for the National Catholic Register and the Canadian Catholic Review and has written for many other publications. Each Tuesday he answers questions on “Catholic Answers Live.” His avocations include backpacking (his favorite locales are the High Sierra and the Grand Canyon) and flying.

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111 reviews
March 3, 2025
People used to at least talk about things. Now I just murmur to myself and get mad when I should be happy.
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