So I'm in the middle of researching Christianity because reasons. I'm currently reading the Bible from cover-to-cover as the obvious starting point, but is there a high quality apologetics starter pack?
The wiki has some recommendations for things like church fathers and ancient primary source philosophy material, but I'm looking for scholarly arguments for the veracity and truth of Christianity.
I already have some material arguing for the historicity of the resurrection to read over winter break. Namely "The Resurrection of the Son of God" by NT Wright and a book by Habermas and Licona defending the historicity of the resurrection whose name I forgot.
Any help appreciated.
>>7464702
A MAP OF LIFE, by F J Sheed,
(short book, upper 6th onwards)
Truly attractive, showing that with faith reason is not suspended but the opposite. One discovers the joy of applying reason to the foundation of one's faith and, perhaps for the first time, of thinking through the content of the faith and its consequences in everyday life. A great read for anyone, but especially the younger (late teens to twenty-something, third level students etc.). And all the more so if you're tending to distance yourself from your Faith because it seems all feelings and sentiment, built on feelings and sentiment, and expressed in non-sensical rites and formulae. While focused on reasons for believing in general, it does draw out in a lucid, if introductory way, how the Christian and Catholic Faith does not contradict reason but finds sure foundations in reason. (From a
review in the Amazon-UK website)
Available at Angelus Press, USA.
THEOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS, by F J Sheed,
ISBN 7220 7288 0
(short book, university onwards)
This book expounds the Church’s main dogmas as simply and as compellingly as accuracy allows. Beginning with the reasons why the ordinary man, woman or teenager should study theology at all, it goes through the key doctrines: Spirit, Mystery, God’s infinity and man’s creation from nothing; the Trinity, man’s fall, the Incarnation and Redemption; the Church and Our Lady, its first members; grace the sacraments, the next life and the end of the world. An excellent and necessary read.
Available at Angelus Press, USA.
THEOLOGY AND SANITY, by F J Sheed, (1945)
ISBN 0-7220-7820-X
(350 pages, late university, post-grad.)
Brilliant synthesis of the Catholic conception and understanding of life. This book is a development of Sheed’s Theology for Beginners. The author portrays in a wonderfully simple and in places humorous style the essential and irrefutable reasonableness of the Catholic Faith. He also shows how the Catholic should view and understand his life and life in general, in the light of the truths he believes.
The book is a masterpiece of logic, clarity, simplicity and common sense, a great classic for the modern world.
>>7464702
THE BELIEF OF CATHOLICS, by Ronald Knox (1939)
(short book, lower 6th onwards)
A succinct, precise and unpretentious presentation of the belief of Catholics. In his gentle, quiet and unassuming style, Knox calmly exposes the essential truths of the faith in answer to the most common objections. It is as if the book were specifically written for self.
TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST, by F J Sheed
(400 pages, 6th form onwards)
A study on the Gospels. Ultimately, the knowledge of the faith is the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The greater our knowledge of Christ, therefore, the deeper our faith. As the Gospels can seem a little dry to read, this book is most useful.
Available at Angelus Press, USA.
THE MOTHER, by Cardinal Mindszenty
(short book, for 6th formers onwards)
A beautiful, poetical description of the treasures of Motherhood. A very difficult book to find!
THE SOCIAL RIGHTS OF CHRIST THE KING, by Denis Fahey. D.D.
(short book, university onwards)
Written under Pius XI, in the light of his encyclical Quas Primas on the kingship of Christ over civil society, this book is a simple and clear exposition of this essential doctrine, which since Vatican II and the advent of Religious Liberty, is denied. It is a necessary read, since there can be no true understanding of the concept of Civil Society without reference to the Kingship of Our Lord. Secular society, though so common, is an aberration.
NEWMAN AGAINST THE LIBERALS
ISBN: 0 85172 720 4
(600 pages, from 6th form onwards)
Michael Davis here presents a selection of Newman’s parochial sermons before he became a Catholic. Newman was an acclaimed preacher, and it was in particular the preaching contained in this volume that gave the impetus to the Oxford Movement he foundered, without realising it! With his amazing insight and understanding of human nature, using his profound knowledge of the Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church, Newman presents the beliefs of Catholic doctrine with clarity, precision and exactitude, but in a manner applicable by all to daily life. Newman deplored and fought against the liberal faction in the Anglican Church of his day. In many ways, his Church of England is comparable to the present state of the Catholic Church of Rome, imbued as it is with liberalism and a love of secularism. Written in pure English style, with his usual mastery of language, Newman smashes one by one the misconceptions and errors of those favourable to the new ideas. Yet the tone is not
polemic. Newman writes to convert rather than refute. His love of the truth and piety for Our Lord shows through ever page. A profoundly learned, uplifting, fervent and refreshing exposition of the truths necessary for salvation put forth in a quiet but forceful manner. A wonderful read!
This book is a compilation of sermons. It thereby has the advantage of being able to be read on and off. One doesnot feel obliged to plough through it in one go.
>>7464702
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST, by Thomas a Kempis
No comment is needed here. This small book of piety and learning presents the essence of Christian aesthetical and mystical teaching. Every Catholic should be familiar with its counsels.
THEY HAVE UNCROWNED HIM, by Archbishop Lefebvre
(University onwards)
A compilation of conferences given to seminarians, on the errors of Vatican II and the Conciliar Church. His Lordship revised his work in order to edit it as a single book. In the light of the great modern encyclicals of those popes prior to Vatican II, his Lordship demonstrates in detail
the fundamental disagreement of the Conciliar theories, in particular that of Religious Liberty, with the constant magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church. His exposition is clear and irrefutable, and most apt to any youngster who wishes to explain to a friend his or her reasons for refusing the Conciliar Church.
Available at Angelus Press, along with many other titles of the Archbishop.
THE SEVEN SWEET BLESSINGS OF CHRIST, by Gerald Vann, OP
ISBN: 0-918477-55-7
(for all, 6th formers and adults)
Formerly titled Divine Pity, Gerald Vann presents and theological work on the relation between the seven sacraments, the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost and the eight beatitudes. In a studious manner, closely following St Thomas Aquinas, he describes the growth of the spiritual life as the fruit grace and the consequence of the reception of the sacraments, etc.
The value of this book lies not only in the detailed study the author makes of the spiritual life, but also in the simplicity with which he sets out the path to sanctity. One often thinks that sanctity is impossible. Youngsters are tempted to think avoidance of serious sin is sufficient to be a good Catholic. This book shows how sanctity is attainable, and that by the ordinary means Christ has left to the Church (sacraments and gifts) and the practise of the beatitudes. An uplifting and consoling read.
Available at Angelus Press.
SOCIETY AND SANITY, by F J Sheed
(University)
Companion to Theology and Sanity, this book sets out Christian principles on topics such as marriage, family and state. The book is one of the clearest explanations of how society should be, written in Sheed’s easygoing and wonderfully clear style.
>>7464702
MERE CHRISTIANITY, by C S Lewis
(6th form onwards)
A short and fascinating read. Lewis, a fervent Christian, though not a Catholic, describes in street-corner language the rectitude and the eminent sensibleness and obviousness of the Christian conception of life. Starting from nothing, he proves the existence of God, the Natural Law, the Moral Law, etc. all the way to the advent of Christ and Christian teaching. Lewis then expounds elements of that teaching, showing its beauty and what should be our delight in seeking to make its practise our own. Of all the books on the list, this ranks amongst the first for its usefulness. Caveat the chapter on the virtues of faith, hope and charity…Lewis understands them as moral virtues whereas they are theological. Also he falls into error concerning the divorce and remarriage of non-Christians, something he thinks allowable with State approval, whereas Natural Law forbids divorce and remarriage to all men, Christian and unchristian.
Available new
THE PROBLEM OF PAIN, by C S Lewis
(6th form onwards)
Another very interesting short book by Lewis. In it he explains the why of pain, resorting to the answers one mayfind in Christian teaching. The chapter on Divine Goodness is among the most beautiful ever written on God.
Available new
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, by C S Lewis
(upper 6th form onwards)
A well-known Lewis classic. The author imagines a correspondence between a senior demon, Screwtape, and a minor demon, Wormwood. The correspondence shows to the reader all the most ordinary ways in which a soul may be enticed to follow the way of self, as opposed to the way of God. Very enlightening, educative as well as amusing.
Available new
THE RELIGION OF THE PLAIN MAN, by R H Benson (1906)
(120 pages, 6th form onwards)
A quiet, learned yet simply put defence of the Catholic Faith written by the converted son, become priest, of aformer Archbishop of Canterbury! Ideal apologetics for Protestant friends.
LIBERALISM AND CATHOLICISM, by Fr A. Roussel
(130 pages, 2nd year University onwards)
This book traces the development of Catholic liberalism and its progressive infiltration into the Catholic Church. It was written in 1926, and shows that the causes of the present liberal trends of thought can be found as far back as
the French Revolution. The book is highly useful for its studies of the relationship between Church and State, and on the clear proof it offers that liberalism (in any form: political, economic…) invariably leads to despotism.
Available at Angelus Press, USA.
>>7464702
Papal Encyclicals for the Modern Age
Nota Bene: Papal encyclicals, to those who are unfamiliar with their style, can appear dry and laborious to read. However, perseverance will win the day. The beauty of these documents lies in the fact that they offer to the reader a profound yet succinct analysis of the points of doctrines they discuss. The clarity and exactitude of expression and the rigorous logic behind their reasoning makes them perfect study pieces through which one can learn the Church’s teaching on the most essential subjects of modern times.
HUMANI GENERIS, on evolution, by Pius XII
(University onwards)
LIBERTAS, on the definition of liberty, by Leo XIII
(University onwards)
A masterpiece!
MORTALIUM ANIMOS, on ecumenism, by Pius XI
(6th form onwards)
Damning evidence that the current trend of ecumenism is radically opposed to Church practise, not merely forhistorical reasons, but on principle.
QUANTA CURA AND SYLLABUS, on the errors of the modern world, by Pius IX
(University onwards)
PASCENDI DOMINI GREGIS, on Modernism, by Pius X
(University onwards)
A brilliant analysis of what the modernist mind is, how it works and why it is wrong.
MEDIATOR DEI, on the liturgy, by Pius XII
(University onwards)
Pius XII refutes the theories behind the liturgical changes of the past 35 years, some 20 years before they happened!
CASTI CONNUBII, on marriage, by Pius XI
(Upper 6th onwards)
IMMORTALE DEI, on the constitution of Christian States, by Leo XIII
(Upper 6th onwards)
QUAS PRIMAS, on the social kingship of Christ, by Pius XI
(University onwards)
All
>>7464702
None of the above is original work, it is taken from here.
http://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/index.php?topic=3526.0
I have used it as a guide in my own investigation of theology and have found it very helpful. I hope you will too!
I apologize, too, if you were not looking for a Catholic perspective, but as a Catholic I can hardly offer anything else (not to mention you're wrong to look outside Catholicism for religious truth, but that's another story).
>>7464702
If that's not overwhelming, here's one more thing I screen capped a few days ago.
>>7464702
Okay, one more thing. If you're not already committed to the edition of the Bible you have, I highly recommend the Didache Bible. It has heavy, excellent commentary (which is pretty much necessary if you want to read the Bible and get anything out of it), and uses the RSV-2CE translation, which is probably the best modern translation. See here:
http://www.ignatius.com/Products/DBIB-H/the-didache-bible-with-commentaries-based-on-the-catechism-of-the-catholic-church.aspx
>>7464773
Well, if there are no high quality apologetics books, then so be it.
>>7464774
Orthodoxy is an excellent theological tradition in its own right, and you won't find much which contradicts Catholic theology. A few major areas of disagreement (mostly about the pope) and different emphases, but otherwise a very fruitful path. Good luck! Sorry I can't be more helpful in giving you specifically Orthodox work.
