Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic

by David B. Currie

Book Overview

David Currie was raised in a devout Christian family whose father was a fundamentalist preacher and both parents teachers at Moody Bible Institute. Currie's whole upbringing was immersed in the life of fundamentalist Protestantism - theology professors, seminary presidents and founders of evangelical mission agencies were frequent guests at his family dinner table. Currie received a degree from Trinity International University and studied in the Masters...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 089870569X
• ISBN13: 9780898705690
• Release Date: February 1996
• Publisher: Ignatius Press
• Length: 215 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Interesting Read

This was an interesting book for me to read. Coming from a Fundamentalist background myself and exploring the Catholic faith, I felt a connection to the writer throughout the book. His story helped me to reconcile some concerns, not all, that I have about Catholocism and did it in a way that wasn't condescending or too theoretical. It's a book I would recommend to individuals exploring the Catholic faith, especially those with a similar background.

A Remarkable Journey

David Currie was born into an evangelical family, was raised by parents who were both teachers at Moody Bible Institute, attended evangelical schools and married into another evangelical family. Early on in this book he writes of two experiences that clearly reveal the mindset he grew up with. It seems he had a crush on a girl but knew he could never date her because she was a Methodist and Methodists were too far away from his belief system to even allow him to date her. Also, as he walked home from school on the day that President Kennedy was killed, the sixth grader was sad not only because of the death but also because he was sure this Catholic president was in Hell. Clearly, David Currie had a long road to travel before he could end up a Catholic himself. The beauty of this book comes from Currie's extensive evangelical education. Because of this education, the author is able to explain evangelical theology in a very clear and easy to understand manner. Starting from that point he then looks at Catholic theology and compares and contrasts the two. Therefore this book is useful to a Catholic who wishes to further understand evangelical beliefs as well as an evangelical who wishes to study the Catholic Church. This book will also be of great help to the new Catholic or those thinking of converting or becoming reconciled according to this author. With the authors deep knowledge of evangelical as well as Protestant theology he is able to very deftly explain why he thinks the Catholic Church is the more Biblical. All of his points are very clear and well taken and more importantly, easy to grasp. I dare say that even cradle Catholics would learn a few things about their Church by reading this book. For anyone who is thinking of moving to the Catholic Church from a Protestant tradition this book is essential reading. Currie starts out from the Protestant perspective and then, taking the Bible and the writing of the Church fathers he moves over to the Catholic view. It is a step by step and very clear process and will do wonders at clearing up questions that any Protestant will have. For example, chapters three to five will go a long way in explaining the structure of the Church and it is accomplished in a way that any Protestant will understand. There are some subjects that are a little deeper than others are and the reader will often want to check the scripture cited by the author and this is not a book for someone without any Christian background at all. Furthermore, many evangelicals and fundamentalists may find this work offensive as it time and again questions the very basics of their faith. On the other hand, these same people may be challenged to think out the theology of their church. Maybe they will come away with a stronger faith than before and maybe they will see things the way Currie did. Either way, they will have learned something and that is always good. For Catholics, we can never learn all there is to know about the Church,

Well-Researched and Readable!

It is not easy being a minority in a predominantly Protestant country. I'm a cradle Catholic of 57, and I've never read a better book that explains Catholicsm so clearly. Born Fundamentalist-Born Again Catholic takes on the major issues of Authority, Salvation, Mary, and The Rapture among others. David Currie explains them in a lucid, well-researched, and scriptural manner. It took tremendous courage for David Currie to leave a fundamentalist Baptist background, with a minister father and many Baptist relatives and friends. He did it because he is a reader and a seeker-of-truth. He could not ignore the call of is heart.He never denigrates his former church or any of the people in it,writing with love of his own journey into the Catholic Church. He still regards his former Baptist congregation as brothers and sisters in Christ. Having attended a Baptist church for a year, I know how much courage this took. Catholics are regarded by fundamentalist Baptists as unsaved, little better than heathens. That much of this is ignorance does not make it any easier to go against the culture in which you have lived.I commend David and his family. The Church and the world are better off because of his decision.

Excellent writing, incredible research, miraculous results.

I have always considered myself a fairly devout Catholic, although my childhood religious education classes were never terribly informative. However, I probably would never have delved any deeper had I not met my boyfriend near the start of our freshman year of college. He was Protestant, raised non-denominationally, and his father had turned to Pentecostal Fundamentalism in the last several years. We discovered early on that religion was very important to both of us, and even prayed together. We attended each other's churches from time to time, but we both found it awkward and unsettling. Believe it or not, a Fundamentalist sermon on Jesus's bestowing special authority to Peter spurred my boyfriend's curiosity. He thought, "Hey, isn't that the rationale for the papacy?" He started thinking. Then he came to me-- and we began to research together. This book was a godsend-- literally, sent to us from God. He read it first, jaw dropping every few pages. He was absolutely convinced by the last page. I read it after he had already decided to become a Catholic. Even for me, who thought she knew a heck of a lot about Catholicism, this book was amazing. It brought up issues I had never known existed, and clarified so many beliefs. Sometimes college can be a time of spiritual turmoil and questioning; David Currie's book headed off anything like that for me. It is superbly researched, presented clearly, reads comprehensively, and is interesting. My boyfriend frequently remarks, "How come none of the Protestants ever talk about this? Why didn't anybody tell me this before?" When we attended Mass together, tears welled up in my eyes as my boyfriend stood next to me, missal open in front of him, singing his praise and then kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament. We have come to share something so dear and so important to us both. When we return to our university this fall, we will begin RCIA together, and he will receive his sacraments this Easter.By which time, I might add, we hope to officially anounce our engagement-- and we look forward to a lifetime of Catholic love and worship together. This is a powerful, wonderful book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is questioning the Catholic faith, especially those coming from a Protestant background. So many misconceptions are explained away, and cradle Catholics can also find information to wash away any doubt. To those who are traveling the difficult road of conversion, like my boyfriend, I would extend my hand in welcome to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church . . . and God bless.

The Quintessential Catholic Apologetic book

I read this book to see if it would be good for explaining my Catholic faith to my brother-in-law and others "bible" Christian friends. Only a short way into the book, I realized that this book was the greatest testimony to the Catholic faith that I had ever read. Its presentation from the perspective of a person not wanting to be Catholic and furthermore a Fundamentalist not wanting to be Catholic should dispell any doubt in those who read it that Catholicism is Christ's True Church. It is the quintessential book on proving the faith. Furthermore, I think it is the perfect Cathechism for the uninformed Catholic or the non-Catholic trying to discern what the Church actually teaches. I consider myself a very well read (theologically, historically, and biblically) Catholic who has heard all the arguments against the Chruch destroyed by countless authors and apologists. This book swept up any arguments that were left. It is the knockout punch. I think it would be impossible to not become Catholic after reading this book. I am a very devout Catholic, and even I felt like I had converted to the Catholic Church when I was finished. If you read no other book in your life, read the bible, and then read this book. Thank you, David Currie, for a treasure of a book. I would recommend this book as much as Augustine's City of God or Aquinas's Summa Theologica.

Explains Why Catholicism is Christ's True Church

I was raised a Presbyterian and became a born-again Christian in my early teens. I never quite felt at home in my newfound fundamentalist religious beliefs. Initially it was scientism and skepticism that kept me from committing myself 100 percent. However, as I grew older, I found Catholicism to be a solid rock that complimented my emerging conservative inclinations. However, I was still hung up on all the reasons why Catholicism is supposedly false - reasons drilled into my head throughout my teen years.But David Currie put all of those reasons to rest. I can now fully appreciate the Catholic faith as Christ's Church. In a world where change is promoted and glorified for its own sake, it is wondrous and glorious to belong to God's holy body that seeks to promote and affirm God's immutable and eternal Truth. I encourage open-minded fundamentalists and evangelicals to read this book and discover for themselves the order, beauty, and magnificence of the Catholic Church.