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Brotto 1 Natalie Brotto Final Essay Dr. K.

March 13, 2012

From Rohr I learned that Catholicism is based on tradition. He presented the good and the bad aspects of Catholicism while enforcing that Catholics be optimistic about life, human nature, and history. He explained that most Catholics do not have an understanding of their religions history and that this tends to be problematic in Catholicism as a whole. Rohr says that Catholicism can offer a sense of connection through the Eucharist as this is a way to become closer to God. We become closer to one another though this sacrament as we receive the Eucharistic meal with the others in our community. I learned that while Catholics may gain this sense of connection, they lack in being connected to the theological issues that are present in todays society. Most Catholics only think about the issues that affect their life in some way, and do not see them in terms of the big picture. I think Rohr did a good job with this book because he presented two different sides of Catholicism. I think he could have presented a little more historical support to better explain how and why things are the way they are today. I feel that he presents Catholicism from both a negative and a positive perspective, from a perspective of those looking in and those who practice. From OCollins I learned all about the history of Catholicism and how it has gotten to where it is today and what influences have shaped and changed it. I feel that the only person that would enjoy reading his book would be one who wants to study Catholicism in depth. His book

Brotto 2 was very dry and hard to understand, even if you have a Catholic background. In this book, OCollins did not try to bash other religions or put Catholicism on a pedestal; he just stuck to the facts and included what were mainly positive ideas. I learned about the sacraments more in depth and gained a greater understanding of the value they hold in the Church, and what each one means to me as a Catholic. I also learned more about Catholic morality and common practices and ways of life among Catholics. OCollins describes Catholicism as being an all embracing religion, which strives to gather and bring salvation to every nation. He says that Jesus demanded true love toward everyone in need, regardless of social standing or ethnicity. From Schreck I learned of how the early Christians created the bible, and how they instilled unity into their religious community. Schreck did a good job of explaining both Peter and Pauls role in the Church while giving a brief history of how Catholicism became so prominent. Schreck also talks a lot about leadership and authority while describing different sources of this leadership: pope, priest, deacon. An explanation of the sacraments is also given in this book but Schreck includes how the Holy Spirit is received in each sacrament. In this book I felt that Schreck was trying to educate others on what Christianity and Catholicism entail, I didnt feel that he was giving a negative nor positive perspective. I think overall Schreck did a good job with this book however he could have included the darker side of Catholicism as described in other books.

Brotto 3 For OCollins, I would try to convince him to make the book more interesting by making it not so detail oriented. It becomes hard to read when you have no idea what he is talking about nor do not know the background to certain situations. It would be easier to read if it was not as densely packed with information that seems to keep on going and going. He gives many biblical references in his work for credibility and proof, but it would be easier if he explained things in his own words or in a way that the general public would understand. The titles of the chapters are very broad and I feel that it is hard to explain everything he is trying to explain in one book, thats why this book is so dense and hard to read. I think he should better organize his thoughts in the book and eliminate some of the chapters or topics in order to better address others. I feel that OCollins could bring this book even more up to date by discussing some of the current issues and points of debate surrounding Catholicism and Christianity in general. As for gaining a sense of perspective, OCollins could add more depth so that one can get a sense if he is for or against the religion. Even though he gives a full history of Catholicism, good and bad, his perspective is very neutral and general sounding. Alan Schreck did a good job answering many questions that surround Catholicism while reminding current catholics of things they may have forgotten. I think his positive outlooks are good but he could incorporate some other more negative aspects as well so that others can get a full understanding of Catholicism. Schreck does a good job of keeping the Eucharist at the center of Catholicism while reflecting on the events that lead to where the church is now. I like Schrecks book the way it is, for a Catholic or non-Catholic. I feel that this book was basic enough for anyone to understand, whether they have an understanding of the faith or not. Some may argue that this book is too general, but I feel that it is detailed enough and provides enough

Brotto 4 information so that anyone can read it easily. Schreck uses Biblical references to back up his claims and to me he seems accurate and believable in the situations he is describing. To me, the Biblical passages that he uses are the ones that are typically held against the Church, but he does a good job defending them in light of their controversy. I would say that if this book were given to someone wanting to become Catholic assuming they know about its dark shadows, they would want to know more about the darkness in Catholicism and want more of a defense towards these views but otherwise I think this book is very well written for a class like this. Richard Rohr does a good job incorporating past and present. He addresses current topics that are important today, like why even be Catholic in the first place. He describes what it means to be Catholic and why someone would want to be Catholic. Rohr gives examples of people to look up to in the church, not only saints but also missionaries and thinkers, and explains in great detail the mission of the Church. If Rohr left his book as is, I think it would be a great book for those questioning their faith. He addresses why be Catholic, the shadows and darker side surrounding the Catholic faith, and how one can be Catholic in todays world. I think these are all good topics to address because they are commonly asked among many people Catholic and not. I think he should maintain the different perspectives he takes regarding Catholicism because I think it is good to know the good and the bad aspects so that people can draw their own conclusions when trying to decide on a faith to follow or even so that they can weigh out the positives against the negatives.

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