The Catholic Book Club discussion

Use this topic to make observations about what you're reading that aren't covered by another topic.

I read this book some time ago. It's certainly solid, but I didn't find it striking or memorable enough to want to reread...

In chapter 9, Archbishop Chaput speaks about the yearning for immortality here and now and says this:

Reports claiming that people will soon live to 150 or even 1,000 years old are more and more common. But in fact, the maximum human lifespan hasn't changed greatly in recorded history.

I have written about this in my blog. For instance, here https://populscience.blogspot.com/201... and here https://populscience.blogspot.com/202...

The second link goes to one of a series of four posts about the yearning for immortality and the different ways some people expect to achieve it.

I have a question about the Afterword: On friendship. Chaput says this:

His [Jesus'] friendship with Peter, the rock; John, the beloved; and James, the first leader of the Church in Jerusalem, is especially close. All three, and only these three, witness the Lord’s Transfiguration.

I have always understood that the James who witnessed the Transfiguration was James son of Zebedee, John's brother, not the first leader of the Church in Jerusalem, who is called "the brother of Jesus."

I know there are problems of identification with the many James mentioned in the New Testament: at lest four, some of which could have been the same person, but I had never heard of an identification of James son of Zebedee and James, the first leader of the Church in Jerusalem.

Is Chaput wrong here?

I have finished this book. This is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also think that he was in the Mount Tabor was the eldest Saint James the brother of Saint John. If surely they had said the other Saint James they would have said Alfeo Alpheus 🤔

Jill wrote: "I read this book some time ago. It's certainly solid, but I didn't find it striking or memorable enough to want to reread..."

I am disappointed in this book. I thought it would be more interesting. I have skimmed about half of it (after being bored from the start) and am not sure I'll continue reading it.

Jill wrote: "I read this book some time ago. It's certainly solid, but I didn't find it striking or memorable enough to want to reread..."

We have already read many books on these topics. I noticed in particular the references to "A time to die", which we read as a club at the beginning of the year.

I did enjoy his writing style: it is very clear and makes the reading enjoyable. I would recommend Archbishop Chaput's book to a youth group who is approaching this subject for the first time.