Nuke's Blog
Periodic ramblings by an old geek…

I was loaned a couple more books from Catholic friends this past week, so here are reviews from a non-Catholic’s perspective.

 

Nuts & Bolts: A Practical Guide for Explaining and Defending the Catholic Faith (Tim Staples)

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While I really can’t see everyday folks being able to memorize enough Scripture to defend their faith as Tim demonstrates in the 14 example scenarios he sets up for the reader, I found this to still be an interesting book regardless of which side of the fence you sit on.  The best thing about this book is Tim’s constant use of Scripture to back up his faith, relying very little on any Catholic “Tradition”.  This means it hits evangelistic Protestants on the turf we believe we “own”.  Even better, Tim digs into the original Greek rather than relying on the Latin Vulgate.  I am not an apologist, so I can’t refute many of his arguments… he certainly has done a thorough job in his scenarios, and it leads one to study Scripture more thoroughly as well (and if that’s the only outcome of reading the book, I think that’s more than enough).  I did especially like his section on “Peter the Rock,” dealing with the standard Protestant argument of the Greek petra vs. petros, in Chapter 8: “Bam! Bam! The ‘Pebbles’ Argument Goes Down!”  Entertaining stuff, and certainly worth further study.

 

Go in Peace: Your Guide to the Purpose and Power of Confession(Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. and Sean Brown)

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There is some really good stuff in this book, and it also uses Scripture where it can to establish reasons behind confession, penance, purgatory and indulgences.  It’s basically a 101 Q&A book on those topics, and should be read by any Catholic with questions on what their Church teaches.  It references the Catechism and Scripture as needed, just to entirely clear up potentially misunderstood notions.  While I feel backing up penance, purgatory and indulgences became somewhat weak as the book continued (for example, pointing to Apocryphal books like Maccabees), there are good things in there.  Somewhere the Bible basically says you should not throw out the baby with the bathwater, but I can’t find it right now… maybe someone can remind me where that is.  Anyway, that’s how I read this book, and it was well worth the read.  The best part by far is after the 101 Q&A, “An Examination of Conscience,” which takes the 10 commandments and asks you several questions related to how you are walking according to them.  Not only great stuff for a Catholic to reflect upon prior to going to confession, but great stuff for all Christians along their daily walk (though, perhaps slightly modifying those statements like “Have I denied my Catholicism or refused to defend the Catholic Faith?” ;).

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