Once the introductions are over:
Elias, John
BOOKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH FOR ADULTS Once the introductions are over JOHN ELIAS When the book editor of Commonweal asked me to review some books on the Catholic faith and adult...
...Catechetics The most basic book in this category is Frank DeSiano's Presenting the Catholic Faith: A Modern Catechism for Inquirers (Paulist, 1986, $3.95, 153 pp...
...The author prefers to write about what theologians are saying rather than to offer his own interpretations...
...A number of bishops are on record favoring such a project...
...I write this review mainly for practitioners in the field of adult religious education: pastors, religious educators, adult educators, and catechists...
...The text combines short explanatory sections, questions and answers, scriptural quotations (unfortunately removed from the main text and placed in separate blocks), and additional information...
...The book is his attempt to give Catholic answers to Kant's three questions: "What can I know...
...This results in many forced interpretations of these passages...
...Each pamphlet is clearly written and contains helpful suggestions for discussion and sharing...
...The ques-tion-and-answer format is generally not used effectively...
...The latter books have the widest possible audience in mind and are specifically designed to be used for personal or group study and thus usually include such educational tools as discussion or reflection questions...
...Those interested in such a prospect might look at The Church's Confession of Faith: A Catholic Catechism for Adults (Ignatius Press, 1987, $14.95, 378 pp...
...The book is well written and offers many suggestions for pursuing issues further...
...His suggestions for accomplishing this include reading the Bible, attending liturgies, approaching study in a spirit of leisure and wonder, and keeping a journal...
...Unfortunately, I cannot recommend his Catholic Christianity: A Guide to the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Paulist, 1987, $6.95, 472 pp...
...While the author is careful to present the "official teaching of the church," he does not shy away from presenting the opinions of theological dissenters...
...This work was written largely by Walter Kasper under the aegis of the German bishops' conference...
...What should I do...
...The central theological focus is faith in its relationship to modern intellectual and cultural movements...
...While I do not believe that this book deserves or will get widespread use among North American pastors and adult educators (it is manifestly written for German Catholics), the book's concise presentation of church teaching and contemporary theology should be a challenge to American bishops, theologians, and religious educators who are interested in developing a national catechism for adults...
...From an educator's point of view, the most useful adult catechism is Looking at Our Faith: A Catechetical Approach to Adults (Sadlier, $18, 150 pp...
...The book deserves a wide use in the adult catechumenate and in renewal courses in the Catholic faith...
...Twenty-six topics are treated in no particular order...
...Thomas Rausch in The Roots of the Catholic Tradition (Glazier, 1986, $16.95,247 pp...
...Paulist 1975, $4.95, 303 pp...
...edited by Thomas Ivory...
...There are really two books here, one in ordinary print (for non-Catholics) and one in italics (for Catholics...
...The study edition includes many thoughtful questions and an extremely helpful glossary of terms...
...A lack of structure and depth characterize Matthew Kohmescher's Catholicism Today: A Survey of Catholic Belief and Practice (Paulist, 1980, $4.95, 209 pp...
...Lawrence Cunningham has adapted a basic college introductory course to Catholicism into a book for anyone interested instudying about Catholicism...
...for this purpose...
...The special feature of Cunningham's book is its attempt to introduce persons not only to learning but also to experiencing life in the Catholic church...
...Although the primary focus of the series is to initiate members into the Catholic faith, the materials are suitable for general adult education courses...
...Theology The major book in this area for the professional is of course Richard McBrien's Catholicism (Harper & Row, JOHN ELIAS is a professor in the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education of Fordham University in New York City...
...A national catechism Among religious educators today there is discussion of the advisability of a national catechism...
...The book, in an artificial manner, attempts to connect Catholic teachings with biblical roots, usually incidents in the Jewish Scriptures...
...Would that Reiser would continue his probes into other areas of Catholic doctrine...
...The book does not include the moral teachings of the church since the bishops decided to treat this in Part II of the catechism...
...This is not a book but rather a series of short pamphlets (eight pages in each) written by different authors on aspects of the Catholic faith...
...There is no treatment of the moral, spiritual, and liturgical life of the Catholic community...
...This work is comprehensive, well written, and accessible...
...It is suited for the first stage of the initiation process (the inquiry stage) into the Catholic church...
...The text is a joy to read and spiritually moving...
...The best small book on the Catholic faith, in my opinion, is Monika Hell-wig's Understanding Catholicism (Paulist, 1981, $4.95, 200 pp...
...Walter Kasper presents in book form a series of lectures he gave to priests and teachers of religion and catechetics...
...The non-Catholic inquirers get the better of the bargain since they are spared the author's doleful misgivings about many of the effects of the Second Vatican Council...
...They succeed admirably in relating doctrine to life and spirituality...
...Readers of this journal are no doubt familiar with the broad scope and thorough treatment which McBrien gives to many aspects of Catholic theology...
...In An Introduction to Christian Faith (Paulist, 1980, $4.95, 210 pp...
...Many difficult questions are given superficial treatment...
...The book is a mini-treatment of systematic theology, utilizing some of the best work in both Scripture studies and theology...
...These are theology books as such, written by professional theologians with a view to a theologically literate audience...
...Using biblical and historical sources he tells the story of the emergence of the Catholic tradition from its biblical foundations...
...I do not believe that brief surveys of belief and practices are best suited for either introducing persons to the faith or in renewing the faith of Catholics...
...The author clearly differentiates between the essential and the peripheral in Catholic teachings...
...Though the book might be a reference book for inquirers or for Catholics, it lacks depth, imagination, and detail...
...In The Catholic Faith: An Introduction (Paulist, 1987, $4.95, 184 pp...
...James Hanson's If I'm a Christian, Why Be a Catholic ? The Biblical Roots of Catholic Faith (Paulist, 1984, $5.95, 232 pp...
...A second group comprises those books which are designed for use in educating adults in the faith, either for initiating them into the Catholic faith or in renew-ing their knowledge of Catholic teachings...
...When one examines other catecheti-cally oriented adult catechisms, one realizes why Anthony Wilhelm's Christ Among Us: A Modern Presentation of the Catholic Faith for Adults (Harper & Row, 1985, $6.95, 433 pp...
...Nearly every theological issue is raised in succinct form in this helpful compendium...
...In clear but theologically rich language, the author explains both theology and spirituality as these apply to Jesus, soul, and resurrection...
...1981, $24.95, 1289 pp...
...Kathleen Fischer and Thomas Hart go further than Reiser in their engaging Christian Foundations: An Introduction to Faith in Our Times (Paulist, 1986, $9.95,222 pp...
...This program includes booklets for organizers, teachers, and participants...
...Richard Chilson set out to write a book designed primarily for use in initiating new members into the Catholic church...
...There came to my house three large cartons containing almost two dozen books...
...His book is readable, has a clear structure, is relatively comprehensive, and includes helpful discussion questions...
...While I am not sure what such a collaborative effort might produce, the process would be lively, especially if the recent consultative style of writing church documents in this country were followed.n this country were followed...
...The author shows an adequate knowledge of modern theological studies but little awareness of the best methods to present theology in a clear and effective manner...
...It has been quite an experience poring through these books and deciding what needs to be said in brief about each of them...
...BOOKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH FOR ADULTS Once the introductions are over JOHN ELIAS When the book editor of Commonweal asked me to review some books on the Catholic faith and adult catechisms that have been published in the past decade, I assented without knowing the enormity of the task before me...
...The authors are sensitive to the issues raised by feminist theologians about our God images...
...He also includes a number of thought experiments...
...A decidedly historical approach is found in Thomas Bokenkotter's Essential Catholicism: Dynamics of Faith and Belief (Doubleday, 1986, $9.95, 438 pp...
...focuses on the concept of tradition...
...Many aids for discussion, prayer, and future study are given...
...It is clear, comprehensive, and inspiring...
...In an effort to get everything at least mentioned in the text nothing is given an adequate treatment...
...The emphasis is on theological and sacramental dimensions of the tradition, with less attention on moral and spiritual aspects...
...I am happy to report that there were many excellent books contained in those cartons...
...The books by Bokenkotter and Hellwig might also be used with adults who have some theological background...
...This catechism, an extended treatise on the articles of the Nicene Creed, is rich in biblical, patristic, and conciliar references...
...The first group of books is of benefit mainly for continuing professional development as well as for reference...
...has serious weaknesses that make its use problematic...
...It is also difficult to recommend an earlier book by Chilson, An Introduction to the Faith of Catholics (Revised Edition...
...has sold close to two million copies in twenty years...
...which is available in a single volume study edition...
...They cover more topics, give many helps for study and reflection, and manifest a clear ecumenical vision of Christian faith...
...This is a simple and clear explanation of the chief aspects of Catholic life and belief for those who are seekers or inquirers...
...It does not shy away from controversial issues (which are treated in smaller print...
...The book is not comprehensive, being an introduction to systematic theology from a philosophical and biblical perspective...
...Though the European context of the book makes it less appealing to North American audiences, the rich biblical and philosophical sources are helpful for understanding the central concept of faith...
...William Reiser has taken seriously the adage "less is more" in his beautifully written An Unlikely Catechism: Some Challenges for the Creedless Catholic (Paulist, 1985, $6.95, 173 pp...
...The book also gives many helpful directions for those who wish to pursue particular topics at greater depth...
...It respects the maturity of adults...
...De-Siano has succeeded in producing a book that is accessible to all and should lead many to desire a more in-depth study of the Catholic faith...
...The publisher should have taken the author's suggestion of publishing two separate books or, better, should have dropped the sections for "aiding" the transitional Catholics...
...What may I hope for?'' This book also skillfully probes the spiritual meaning within the doctrines of the church...
...Though this book was unfortunately the subject of controversy a number of years ago, it still maintains its classic status among adult catechisms...
...The book treats the main elements of the Catholic tradition and shows how this tradition is open to new developments...
...The prices given are for paperback editions...
...The most helpful parts of the book are the questions at the end of each section...
...The basic framework of the book is excellent, but the book lacks soul and spirit...
Vol. 115 • October 1988 • No. 18
