Catholic Thought discussion

Background

Warren Carroll’s “The Founding of Christendom” ISBN 978-0931-88821-2 has been included in Fr. John McCloskey’s Catholic lifetime reading plan as well as in Patrick Madrid’s reading plan. This is how I first encountered the title; I thank both of these very well read gentlemen.

A number of members have expressed an interest in having this title for a group read. At the last poll it was voted to be second in line after “The Life of Christ”.

I doubt that anyone who has taken reading about Catholicism seriously has not encountered at least some disconnects between secular history and what actually occurred. Also, we need sources that will not omit events and facts in order to promote a personal narrative.

Below I have pasted a link to “Catholic and Anti-Catholic History” on LibriVox. This is an audio of four short essays narrated by J. Baker using essays from H. Belloc, G.K. Chesterton and J.J. Walsh. This useful little recording runs forty-two minutes and is worth the time.

https://librivox.org/search?q=Catholi...

These authors were primarily dealing with an English bias against the Catholic Church. We may need to apply their thinking to our individual experiences.

I have NOT been able to locate the book in electronic format. If you can help locate an electronic copy, please post.

I know that Amazon has it; new for $ 20.74 and used from $ 14.30 on up. I would also check your local library.

Thank you for posting the link to LibriVox. I listened to the essays and found them to be interesting. While learning history in the late 60's and early 70's at a public school, I was taught that the Middle Ages were the Dark ages. I don't recall the Catholic Church being mentioned much except in reference to the Reformation and the Crusades. I remember coming away with the impression that Martin Luther was probably right and I had no opinion on the Crusades. (At the time I was a protestant, and a poor student, so that should answer some questions about my youthful opinions or lack thereof.)

Anyway, a few years back for the fun of it, I took a world history course at a state community college and noticed that the textbook referred to the Middle Ages as the Middle Ages and the term dark ages was never used. I was also surprised to read how often the Catholic Church was mentioned in the text and how they played an influential role in world history, things I did not learn or read about in my youth. I don't recall reading anything anti-catholic or derogatory about the Church in my college textbook, but it is possible I may not have picked up on it. I think due to history revisionists a more balanced view is presented and some progress is being made. I was also lucky that I had a good textbook.

Below you will find a link to an interesting article published by the Catholic Herald which is located in London, England. The article is titled "How to protect your children from anti-Catholic myths".

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/issue...

Mike wrote: "Background

Warren Carroll’s “The Founding of Christendom” ISBN 978-0931-88821-2 has been included in Fr. John McCloskey’s Catholic lifetime reading plan as well as in Patrick Madrid’s reading plan..."

Mike you are the best for this reading! I've gotten man great ideas from the lifetime reading plan link you posted in the General thread!

Mike wrote: "Background

Warren Carroll’s “The Founding of Christendom” ISBN 978-0931-88821-2 has been included in Fr. John McCloskey’s Catholic lifetime reading plan as well as in Patrick Madrid’s reading plan..."

Thank you Mike for interesting listening material. I am a big fan of librivox for a number of years as I have commuting time to fill. I enjoyed and learned from Belloc and Walsh. It looks to me this group will be in good hands with this reading.

Susan Margaret wrote: "Thank you for posting the link to LibriVox. I listened to the essays and found them to be interesting. While learning history in the late 60's and early 70's at a public school, I was taught that ..."

Thank you Susan Margaret for sharing in your look back on how the history we are about to examine came by you and for the valuable URL.

You are most welcome Galicius.

Susan Margaret: Thank you so much for that Link, I really enjoyed it.

The article mentions Eamon Duffy, he is Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge, and the author of "The Stripping of the Alters -- Traditional Religion in England 1400-1580". This is 593 pages packed with interesting facts and view points; worth the read.

Also there a number of comments posted about the article; but there are several by a man named Dan Haggerty. For those who go out to URL, I would suggest staying a little longer to read his comments.

Galicius wrote: "Mike wrote: "Background

Warren Carroll’s “The Founding of Christendom” ISBN 978-0931-88821-2 has been included in Fr. John McCloskey’s Catholic lifetime reading plan as well as in Patrick Madrid’s..."

Thank You Gallicius - I am hoping that your participation will continue to enhance our enjoyment of Dr. Carroll's book.

I, also, tried to find an electronic format and couldn't. New Vol. 1 is going for $15 now. :-) Just ordered my copy and hope to catch up to you soon.

I'd still highly recommend The First Thousand Years of Christianity by Robert Louis Wilken.

Leslie, I am happy that you are going to join the conversation! I hope your copy of the book arrives quickly!!!

Thank you Susan Margaret!

Book arrived today!!!