Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on 'Romanism' by 'Bible Christians'

by Karl Keating

Book Overview

Karl Keating defends Catholicism from fundamentalist attacks and explains why fundamentalism has been so successful in converting Romanists. After showing the origins of fundamentalism, he examines representative anti-Catholic groups and presents their arguments in their own words. His rebuttals are clear, detailed, and charitable. Special emphasis is given to the scriptural basis for Catholic doctrines and beliefs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898701775
• ISBN13: 9780898701777
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: Ignatius Press
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

An outstanding book

I have never seen such a clear compare and contrast of Catholicism with Fundamentalism. All arguments are from a perspective of deep knowledge and research. No straw man arguments, only Iron man arguments.

This is not a five star book.

I am not sure why this is getting five stars from everyone. It's a book from the 1980s. The references are kinda dated and needs updating. It covered the majority of basic issues, but not all that I have encountered at work. It's a good book, but not outstanding.

Detailed and completely researched

This work is absolutely one of the best written that deals with this issue. It is extreemly well researched and documented and a must read no matter what your point of view is on this subject. If you want to address these issues in an informed and educated way then this work is key to the entire argument that exists between Bible Christians and Roman Catholics. I wish I had found this book years ago. I have read many of the works cited within this book on my own during my own spiritual journey and can say that each was fairly and accurately used. It is a "must read" for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Anyone who wishes to make an informed decision about Christianity can start their journey here.

Compliments from a Mormon

I don't know whether Mr. Keating or his fellow Catholics will welcome or much appreciate a commendation from a very committed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- I know his fundamentalist despisers won't -- but here goes anyway. There may in fact be some added value in a positive review from someone who is, on the whole, neutral between the claims of Protestantism and those of Rome.I think this is a fine book. It makes a good, solid case for Catholicism, but, not surprisingly, that isn't the aspect of it that interested me most.Mr. Keating is devastating in his critique of Protestant fundamentalist anti-Catholic propaganda, including Lorraine Boettner's dreadful book. I've had a great many dealings with the same kinds of people and literature -- sometimes with the very same individual specimens -- and he is precisely right in what he says about them. They are not to be trusted nor relied upon. I've found exactly the same methodological flaws in their work that he has -- to say nothing of the same tone and the same rather ungodly zeal to condemn others.I enjoyed this book very much, and have cited it approvingly in several things that I myself have written. I recommend it highly.

A standard reference work for Catholic apologetics

This book has quickly become the standard reference work for Catholics who want to defend their faith from Fundamentalist attacks. Keating, director of the apologetics group "Catholic Answers" and a lawyer by training, starts by examining fundamentalism, its beliefs, and its origins, and then delves into the leading anti-Catholic groups. He follows that up by presenting their arguments against Catholic teachings, in their own words, and then gives scholarly, well-researched rebuttals that are easy enough for Joe Six-Pack in the pew to grasp and remember to be called forth when he is challenged on his faith.While the examination of anti-Catholic groups is a bit dated (these groups understandably come and go under the shadow of night), their arguments are centuries-old and continue to challenge Catholics. Keating covers everything from distortions of history (the Inquisition, the Crusades) to purgatory to the Mass and Saints. Especially helpful are the appeals to the scriptural basis of the disputed doctrines. While not everything can be satisfactorily defended from Scripture alone, these rebuttals are important to defend against the charges of so-called Bible Christians. However, a few of the scriptural defenses are a bit of a stretch.The index and appendixes are especially helpful for quickly finding a topic under question. One problem with the age of this book is that it is not cross-referenced with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Perhaps a future edition will include such helpful references that will make this book even more valuable. The main problem with a book of this type is that, in the interest of brevity and memorization, it can sometimes overly simplify some complex doctrines. Some of the Church's doctrines took centuries of theological wrangling to formulate, and their presentation in the book may leave the Catholic reader with an insufficient understanding of the doctrine. Then, when a Fundamentalist comes up with a tougher challenge to the doctrine, the eager Catholic apologist may be caught flat-footed. Keating acknowledges that his book is not a complete treatment of Catholic teaching, and encourages anyone interested in the area of apologetics to do more study.Bottom Line: I heartily recommend Catholicism and Fundamentalism to all Catholics, as the first book to add to your Catholic library after the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Sometimes there's no better way to learn something than to learn how to defend it. That method seems to work for doctoral dissertations, and I think it works for learning the tenets of the Catholic faith.

Clear, concise and beautiful!

This book was one of the first books that lead me on my spiritual journey in Catholicism. Karl Keating explains with clear logic and and excellent use of scripture the fundamental beliefs of the Catholic faith. The book is very well documented and easy to read. I would not only recommend it to those who are outside the Church, but also those who wish to learn more about their faith.

Comprehensive, yet easy to read

This book was instrumental in affecting my conversion to Catholicism. I was raised as a fundamentalist.As much as fundamentalists proclaim emphasis on the Bible, I don't think most of them read it as much as they say they do. Growing up, I always believed in it, but rarely studied it.When I was 26 I began a comprehensive study of the Bible. My faith had become stale, and I thought that would re-invigorate it. But it resulted in my doubting of many fundamentalist doctrines I took for granted. What the auther explains on Pages 102-103 about fundamentalists converting to another branch of Christianity is exactly what happened to me.I joined the Methodist church immediately after leaving fundamentalism. I was well aware of anti-Catholic prejudice among some fundamentalists, having been exposed to it the first 26 years of my life. To a lesser extent, fundamentalists are also critical of mainline Protestant denominations, such as the one I had joined. And from my experience, I found out that their criticisms are totally untrue.Now, if fundamentalists' perceptions of mainline Protestants were unfounded, can they be trusted in their critique of the Catholic church? About the time I asked that question, Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating was published. I read it, and re-read some portions many times. There is a vast difference between actual Catholic beliefs and fundementalists' perception of Catholic beliefs.A few years later, I moved to another city, and went seeking a church. I attended quite a few, mostly Methodist churches, but I also visited Episcopal, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches. I wasn't content with any of them, it seemed, and there was no way I would consider joining one of the fundamentalist churches. Finally, I attended a Catholic mass. I was less apprehensive about it since I had some understanding of Catholic beliefs from reading Keating's book. As providence would have it, the parish I visited had just started an RCIA program, and I enrolled. What better way to learn about the Catholic faith? The more I learned, the more I realized that the Catholic church is more consistant with the Bible and the teachings of Christ than any other church I had been previously associated with. I was received into the Faith on the Easter Vigil in 1997. Had it not been for "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" I might still have reservations about Catholic beliefs, and I probably would never have ventured into mass on that fateful Sunday in 1996.