1 comments about Our Catholic Faith: Living What We Believe.

1. My daughter needed this book for school. I came in a timely fashion and great condition. Price unbeatable.

5 comments about Plato: Republic.

1. This is my absolute favorite non religious text.
   
   "The Republic" should be required reading for all students in western society before high school graduation. To understand western society and all things or anything political past the days of barbarians and cave persons this book is the foundation. This book teaches the structure of western civilization, organization of government and definitively answers the question as to why borders must be respected, governments must be organized, the rule of law must be respected and why we must have a strong military force if we wish to live above the standards of barbarians. Without these standards and rules a civilized existence would be impossible because there would be no protection from those w/o a moral code.



2. This review is of ISBN-10: 0-87220-136-8, Plato * Republic, translated by G.M.A. Grube and revised by C.D.C. Reeve.
   
   I somehow made it through high school and college learning about Plato and Socrates without reading any full-length works. That's changing this spring as I'm taking a discussion-based class on Plato's Republic. This text was recommended by our instructor, and I can see why. The translation is not cumbersome by striving for sheer literalness, but instead seeks to capture the flavor of the discussions Socrates had with others that Plato as a youth observed.
   
   Footnotes are provided to explain the occasional word that has a different classical than contemporary meaning -- and yet you can read each of the 10 books (chapters) that comprise this volume first without attending to the footnotes, then re-reading the books along with their footnotes.
   
   After having seen what gifted vs. pedestrian translations can do to the vigor and beauty of classic works (Beowulf, the Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey come to mind), I can understand why Grube's translation is highly regarded. According to the scholar who performed the revision, no such work was called for until 20 years after publication (I am guessing to introduce more current English idiom and turn of phrase). The person who conducted the revision was encouraged to do so by the translator's family, which speaks to continuity.
   
   Given its impact on Western philosophy and thought, the book may at first seem slender to you. Keep in mind that much of it is in the form of dialog -- presented for the most part without space-consuming "I said"s and "he said"s (clarity is kept by paragraph indents. The brief italicized introductions help ensure ready comprehension without spoonfeeding any philosophy.
   
   The index and bibliography also are clear, well-presented and helpful. Note that the latter is toward the front of the book.
   
   I applaud the price point; however, I think purchasers would have been better served by paying a buck more for better-quality paper stock. This is a book that cries out to be kept on one's bookshelf well past the completion of a particular class or a once-over reading. Unfortunately, the paper stock already suffers from read-through, even before being subjected to the pencil/pen jottings that many readers will be compelled to make. Those of you who use a highlighter, I'd advise to try with caution because the paper seems pretty absorbent.



3. Most people know this book by title, not by content. I must admit reading this book is not for the faint at heart. Rhetorics will be thrown in your face as if it is common language and some sense of historical background on the Greeks may help as well.
   
   But this shouldn't hold you back from reading this classic piece, all 450 pages of it. It is not so much the result of all thinking, but the process of thinking itself which makes this a great book. Known as one of the greatest Greek philosiphers of all-time you can get a taste of his way of thinking and the time he was living in.
   
   If you have any interest in history and philosophy you'll love this book.



4. Grube is the most accurate and faithful translator of Plato. Unlike most other translators, in particular the horrendous Allan Bloom, Grube was both a first rate Greek scholar and had no ax to grind. You are always in good hands with one of his translations.



5. Of course, Plato's work is nothing short of timeless. However, I recently found a hard-paperback version of this book that I would have liked to have more than this flimsy paperback format.

5 comments about Catholicism for Dummies.

1. Easy to use and a wealth of information. A great reference for the Inquiry phase of the RCIA.



2. Thanks, this filled in a lot of holes I created while I was "away" from my Church



3. This book was recommended by my church for reading during RCIA courses. I have read this book & it's great! I was able to be interactive during RCIA due to studying this book, it's a great intro prior to reading the CCC or any other books on Mass etc. It will give you an informative scope on all areas of the church. It gives you just enough information to make you aware of the history of the church and the practices of Catholicism. It prompts you to want to study further reading materials. It's definitely a great book to have in your library rather you are a cradle Catholic or just wanting to understand the faith. It's worth the buy.



4. I picked this book up, expecting it not to contain very much of use. Imagine my surprise when I discovered how "meaty" this work is! As a Director of Religious Education for my parish, I am now recommending this to inquirers who are considering joining the Catholic Church. Co-author Rev. John Trigilio has a television program on the Catechism on EWTN, so he's known to be orthodox. I highly recommend this work for both those who are already Catholic, and those who are curious about the Catholic Church and her teachings.



5. New Catholics and converts often struggle with the catechism but this book is an easy read for everyone. Even life long Catholics could benefit and come to know their faith better through reading this book.

5 comments about Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

1. The book came suggested by Amazon.com while I was searching another title and I am glad it did! This was an excellent recommendation. The book is organized by a serious of questions and serves as an benefical reference while reading other books on Catholicm or by itself. I am pleased to have purchased the item.



2. This is an excellent source of material for RCIA leaders and members. It is easy to use and very informative.



3. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (904 pages) tells you how the clock works before it tells you the time. This book just tells you the time. If you want to know more about a question, then you can go to the big Catechism.



4. This is a wonderful and informative publication. I have never been able to bring myself to tackle the actual Catechism because of its enormous size, so this little book is great for me. I am a CCD teacher and I find this book to be a wonderful reference as I prepare for classes. My parents have also borrowed it and really liked it. It really has a simple way of explaining the fundamentals of the Catholic faith.



5. If you're wondering whether or not the Pope is still Roman Catholic, you won't after reading this. I found it very handy, well referenced (lots of notes back to the Catechism itself) and clear to read. It is a reasonably short exposition of the key doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, and presents itself well.
   
   I offer this from the perspective of a catholic-minded Lutheran, who has been flipping through the CCC since it was published in the 1990's. While there is a risk that the Compendium will reduce reference to the Catechism, it does help clarify conversations between communions.

3 comments about Understanding Catholic Christianity.

1. When I was in my ninth grade year we were required to read this book. Reading it helped me to understand more about my Catholic faith. It helped me threw my early teenage years and the start of a new school by presenting stories and quotes from other people. I highly reccomend that you buy/ read this book!



2. As a student at a Catholic school I've had to read this for my religion class. I am not a Catholic and I found that this book gave me a good understanding of the Catholic faith, hence the title of the book, but I also found that it focused a lot on developing and understanding you (me) an individual and that its purpose was not to try to convert me to the Catholic religion.



3. First of all, this book is NOT on the recommended list of formation books that has been put out by the US Bishops even though it is widely used by many catholic schools. Even though its doctrine is sound, its approach to teaching our faith may be confusing to teens. It has a "we understand what it is like to be a teen" mentality. My teen is using it at school and is constantly uncomfortable by the insinuations in the book that a teen should be having a crisis in their faith at this age. This book presents the catholic faith as "just another suggestion."

5 comments about Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light.

1. Saint John of the Cross initiated the term 'Dark Night of the Soul.' It essentially refers to an arrid period in our spiritual journey - one whereby we feel somewhat abandoned by God. God is always there however; we just feel as though He has left us to our own devices.
   
   Many of the great saints and mystics experienced this dark night and Blessed Mother Teresa was no exception. She has been unfairly criticized by many, especially some media sources. They paint a picture of someone who actually did not believe but simply went through the motions - a kind of faith facade. Nothing could be further from the truth. Read this book and see for yourself what she really experienced and how she managed to overcome her anxieties. The Lord Whom she loved and served saw her through it all until the end.
   
   One has to ask themselves logically why a woman of her age and length of service to humanity years would even go into the areas she did. What drives someone to leave a relatively comfortable life and embark into areas totally foreign to them being subject to all manner of inconvenience and potential dangers? Why would anyone ever 'volunteer' for such work as Mother Teresa chose picking up and carrying maggot-infested people from the gutters and taking them to a shelter, albeit a warehouse she was able to obtain, and clean the maggots from them, give them food and drink, comfort and assurance so they could die with dignity?
   
   Critics abound everywhere and do so from the comfort of their air-conditioned dwellings sipping a latte' and knowing that their next meal is in their grasp. They shower with imported soaps, get facials and manicures...yet, they are able to criticize an elderly Nun who is out in the world remaining free of its attractions so as to see in all men and women the Christ she so loved and served. Dark night's incidentally are actually a sign that God has favored someone. It is a test of sorts and in my judgment and that of millions of others, Blessed Mother Teresa passed that test with flying colors.
   
   Read this book and see for yourself the strength and character that was Mother Teresa.



2. This book was picked up on a whim, it was on sale and I, frankly, had never read a book on Mother Teresa. The movie "Madre Teresa" is dynamic and full of hope, but it looked more at the movement than the "pencil in the hand of God" as she called herself. After about one chapter I was hooked. This is a book of sharp contrasts--Mother Teresa knows God is there, she sees His hand, she knows His love, but He seems so silent to her. It was hard to read at times as we walked with her through the "Dark Soul of the Night" (taken from her own letters and the reading by St John of the Cross). You almost wanted to reach into the book and tell her "God is there!" but then you are awakened to the very fact that many of us live the same walk with God. God's silence is so loud, yet we know He is there, even in the darkest corners of our life.
   
   The amazing parts were her "spunk." While she took every answer as a "Yes" or "No" from God, she was not one to let others decide the answer without her sending volumes of letters explaining her rationale for every project, every idea...she almost pestered her superiors, but pester is not the right word. She exhibited passion--a trait not as evident today.
   
   The one thing that I walked away with comes very late in the book and it will really change your life. It deals with a passage she hears read during a sermon or presentation from Psalm 68.21 (or Psalm 69.20 in the Protestant version). Read it in the NRSV...it is a powerful essay in one verse on the state of (or lack of) caring in our world. Her answer to all the sisters (and to the reader) is "Be The One." Be the one for the hurting, be the one who stands in the gap (Ezekiel), be the one for the poor man (Eccl.) and more.
   
   As Mother Teresa reaches the end of her life the book quietly winds down to one simple story at the end. It takes place in a simple village and a simple home (I won't spoil it) but it sums up the entire book and it gives the reader a challenge for a changed life to be lived among the poorest of the poor. Every page is rich in detail. It is amazing so many people ignored her admonition to burn her letters and they kept all the correspondence...which now gives us a legacy. As a non-Catholic myself, I had heard so much rumor of her faith being more Hindu than Christian, more secular than sacred. This book sets the story straight as it takes the very words from the very letters she wrote and she received. An amazing book to have our kids read, too.



3. A Walk Through LifeCome be my light is a great book on how she battled through her darkness and helped many people in all corners of the world. This book has been translated from her original writings and gives you a good insight into Mother Teresa.



4. I was inspired, not scandalized, that Mother Teresa underwent a protracted dark night of the soul. The book may not have the impact it now has on those who knew her media image in another decade or so; one reason the book surprised me so much was that it presented a hidden and totally different portrait from her public persona.



5. First it is important to realize what this book is. It is a compilation of Mother Theresa's correspondence and advice she was given by her closest personal confidants.It was compiled as part of the process of declaring her a saint. We don't know much about what was happening in her world at the time the letters were written. For that we would need to read an autobiography of which there are a number of good ones.There are chronological gaps.
   
   This book is carefully compiled and referenced. It gives a very different perspective of Mother Theresa. The previously available works are authorized biographies and teachings.It is an excellent compilation of the process of spiritual growth.
   
   She truly was a Bodhisattva one who remained in the world to further others spiritual progress and relieve suffering. Through these letters one can can appreciate the depth of her humility, the immensity of her persistence in the face of her person crisis of faith and external obstacles. It is long and not light reading, but reaches to a depth no other work has.
   
   I would recommend this for the serious spiritual student or scholar. It may be too deep and repetitive for the casual reader.

5 comments about Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith.

1. This book is ok if you are either not a Catholic and curious, or a Catholic who is absolutely clueless about why we believe what we do. I bought this book thinking it would help me in the field of apologetics (should I come across a protestant who attacks Catholic doctrine: perpetual virginity, the Eucharist, etc). What I found, about fifty pages in, was that this was really an intro (and a watered-down intro at that) into the beliefs of the Church. One would be much better off with Karl Keating's "Catholicism and Fundamentalism." Or, if you are really hardcore, either Henry Denzinger's "The Sources of Catholic Dogma," or Jurgens' "The Faith of the Early Fathers" in three volumes. Both Denzinger and Jurgens provide excellent, the best I've come across so far, historical content, while Keating will teach you how to argue what you believe (mostly by presenting Protestant arguments and defeating them with the Catholic). This combination of books will prove very helpful for the Catholic who wishes to defend his faith against vicious anti-Catholic Protestanism--not attack the latter. You may also wish to supplement this with "The New Jerome Biblical Commentary" by Raymond Brown et al.
   
   All that being said, if you have never read anything at all about why Catholics believe what they do, this is NOT BAD. However, you can do better.



2. Dr. Hahn has not just "done it again" as this book far exceeds what he's done in the past. As aptly summarized by other reviewers, the book is partitioned into three sections, each forming an eloquently persuasive apologetic appropriate for different groups: first, for unbelievers; second, for non-Catholic Christians; third, for Catholics themselves - though each of the book's sections has broad appeal and would prove beneficial to anyone reading them.
   
   For instance, in one of the most surprising and impressive passages of the first part of the book, Hahn makes readily understandable the traditional proof for God's existence from motion (sic!). Though Aquinas calls this proof "the most evident," lately, various factors militate to render it "most obscure." Using the metaphor of a train with no engine, Hahn deftly shows that, no matter how long - no matter how many cars are added, the train will not move unless there is a "first mover" (namely, the engine or, with regard to motion in the universe, God).
   
   I highly recommend this book for just about anyone - even high schoolers can benefit from it. It is useful for personal enrichment, for a course (in secondary or post-secondary school) on faith and reason, for an intro to Catholicism course, for parish adult-education programs, to give as a gift to friends and family members, and so on.
   
   This is, by far, one of Dr. Hahn's best works - and that's saying much, since his other books are full of profound insights and fresh, helpful explanations of otherwise difficult doctrines.



3. This book is a worthwhile read. It will take your basic apologetics skills one level deeper. The author really envelops the reader in the Old Testement in a way that is refreshing. Instead of looking soley at the teachings of Christ, the author includes how the Church today is a fullfilment of prophesy and in accordance with the whole book. The beginning of the book is helpful in dealing with other than Christian faiths, atheists and agnostics.



4. I ordered this book because we are going to have a study class in Oct but I have not had a chance to sit down with it. I have other Scott Hahn books and all have been very good.



5. Scott Hahn is an extremely careful writer, who has been very patient to choose the wording for his arguments. The book is well written, easy to read and fulfilled my expectations.
   Speaking from his heart, the author gives an honest report on his view of the protestant faith he once embraced and the Catholic faith he now pursues.
   Having St. Thomas on the cover is a testimony of his intellectual honesty by admitting it is not easy to find the path to belief and salvation.

2 comments about Encountering Jesus in the New Testament.

1. The book is like new, it is in perfect condition. I am relly happy with the service



2. The book arrived earlier than expected. It was in very good condition & package.

5 comments about Jesus of Nazareth.

1. First, I am not a Catholic, but a Protestant. Second, I have read a vast array of Jesus books, over the last three years, by countless, great, respected: scholars, theologians, commentators, pastors, bishops, etc. I am doing research for a project, and therefore I have read quite a broad spectrum of material about Christ.
   
   "Jesus of Nazareth", by Pope Benedict XVI, is the greatest book on Christ that I have ever read, or at least have yet read. The depth and spiritual insight in this book is hard to describe except to say, it's incredible what you can get from just reading one page. The impressive spread of Ratzinger's knowledge of the scriptures, literature, the writings of the Church fathers, sermons, academic works, etc, will blow you away. It's staggering how much knowledge this man has, and how well and artfully he wields it. He draws beautiful and insightful connections between the scriptures and many outside sources.
   
   The most impressive thing in the book is just how deeply spiritual it is, and how much spiritual insight one obtains from reading it. Benedict reveals the intricate spiritual truths that connect major events in Jesus' life, as described in the gospels. The chapters on Jesus Baptism, the Tempations, etc, are packed so tight that it will take you hours to read just a chapter and reflect on it.
   
   Keep in mind, this book is not written in lofty, theological language. It is written for a layperson to read, quite easily - it is only the concepts and the spiritual truths, connections, and revelations that Benedict makes that force one to read slowly, to absorb and contemplate what Benedict is writing.
   
   I highly recommend this book to all Christians, non-Catholic, Catholic and everyone in between. This book is full of beauty and truth and you will truly feel close to Jesus, as if you are reading a book written about him by one of his close, personal friends who truly knows him.



2. I love B16's no nonsence teaching. I read the book and loved it so I bought the audio CD to listen in the car. What a mistake. I love the way the Holy Father brings so much of scripture into his work but here's the problem; when I read I can focus on his beautiful insights and know they are scriptural because of the citings.I can go back later for an in depth study. In the audio, I almost loose the focus of his teaching/ meditation because he uses so much scripture and the narrator reads every one as it is printed in the book. For me it makes the the listioning almost unbearable. I bought the recording to meditate on the message of Jesus and Salvation and I can't. Pope John Paul II's Crossing the Threshold of Hope is the same way. So again, this is a great book but an unfortunate audio production.



3. The Holy Father wrote a wonderful book on Jesus.
   It is not propaganda.
   It is a message of hope.
   Now people can understand the teachings of Jesus as a simple and loving human being with divine inspiration.
   I am Catholic but I never believed everything my Padre told me. In the book of the Holy Father, the teachings of our Lord are simple but full of hope for people of all faiths.
   
   Content/Subject Quality: Excellent book on the true message of Jesus.
   
   Product quality: Excellent quality. Very distinguished.
   Appearance: Excellent. Nicely printed.
   Delivery service: Excellent. No delay.Good service from amazon.
   Rating: 5 stars and plus.



4. This book is not so much a traditional biography per say but more of a biographical critical study. What made me buy it was an interest both in its subject and its author. The Pope, Joseph Ratzinger, is a figure who greatly fascinates me. He's a master's master and a scholar's scholar. Not that I'm a worthy appreciator of his skills as I am a Biblical ignoramus.
   
   While I did learn a ton from finishing this work what amazed me most was the Bishop of Rome's intellect. I knew he wrote voluminously but was astonished to see how well-versed he is in...well, everything. His talent as a scholar and teacher cannot be underestimated. Normal folks, and even ecclesiastical half-wits like me, can profit from his instruction. Of course, Jesus of Nazareth, was no page turner. It is very cerebral.
   
   And it was slightly incongruous to discover that the Pope even quoted Jacob Neusner and his A Rabbi Talks with Jesus, but I get the feeling that there is no truth Ratzinger will not examine in his attempt to understand God. Via discussion of the major elements of Jesus's life--such as the baptism, the temptation, and the gospel--the Pontiff succeeds in illuminating his essence.
   
   Basically, his narrative is a mixture of minor and major; detail and theory; the mundane and the sacred. In his words: The Kingdom of God is not to be found on any map. It is not a kingdom after the fashion of worldly kingdoms; it is located in man's inner being. It grows and radiates outward from that inner space.
   
   What more can I say about Christianity and this book than that it gives us hope: If you follow the will of God, you know that in spite of all the terrible things that happen to you, you will never lose a final refuge. There's not more we can ask for than that.



5. Book arrived promptly and in the conditon advertised. I would purchase from this vendor again.

1 comments about St. Paul: Jubilee Year of the Apostle Paul Edition: A Bible Study for Catholics.

1. Father Pacwa is a biblical scholar of remarkable depth, but he's also a preacher who can communicate to ordinary people. He has produced something remarkable here: a profound synthesis of St. Paul's thinking on a variety of subjects, but in a form that's digestible for parish groups and home Bible studies. His special focus is the Church's sacraments, but he also touches upon other doctrinal, moral, and disciplinary issues. With this overview, we can recognize our present-day parishes in the congregations of so long ago. The Church is one, not only throughout the world, but through all time. This is the best introductory Bible study to Paul I've seen.