Rasselas House Debating Catholicism

What’s excellent about this book is that through the debates presented one sees the anti-Catholic accusations in written word so you can study later the mindset and positions of those who oppose the Catholic Church. Hard to remember all those words when you’re in a heated discussion with neighbor, co-worker, family member etc and you’re desperately trying to answer the charges which you know are wrong headed. How to answer? Since reading Keating’s many writings through the years, my frustration dissipated with the knowledge and fact that there is an answer to all of the anti-Catholic attacks. Karl Keating does that skillfully in this presentation, with equilibrium and remains unshaken and on his feet. Having answers now, when my own skill and talent is lacking in proper words and conveyance I offer to an inquirer or accuser this response, “Here, read this book.” If you find that in this book of debates that a charge was not fully addressed by constraints of a debate platform you’ll probably find that in Karl’s book “Catholicism And Fundamentalism.” That book saved one brother I gave it to from becoming Protestant when he was being challenged and starting to believe the Protestant position. Anyway this book is enjoyable, informative, sometimes funny and one you can pass around with “Here read this.”

Great book that presents the classical doctrines and teachings of the Catholic Church with clarity in a great format: Debate. In an age where so many are bombarded with false claims about what the Church teaches, this book covers a wide range of topics so often misunderstood and misrepresented in our digital age today. Keating effectively and charitably (unlike his opponents) presents the true teachings of the Catholic Church and refutes the plethora of false claims by those who have an improper or inadequate (or both!) education about key Church doctrines. Topics covered include: the Eucharist, sola fide “faith alone,” Church Tradition, confession, purgatory, the sacraments, etc.

I first came across Karl Keating with his book "Catholicism and Fundamentalism". Back in 1995 a "Born Again" Baptist friend at my job tried to convert me to Protestantism. I was "Catholic" only in name and when my friend told me Purgatory was a Catholic "invention" it was on! "C&F" saved my faith...then my friend said I had to check out Dr. Peter Ruckman who was a great Christian. After some research I found out Keating debated Ruckman.So I found this Protestant church in Ohio that was selling the debate between Keating and Ruckman on cassette tapes.It was an excellent debate and I threw the tapes out over the years which I regret....anyway when I found out the debate was in book form - this book !.....I had to have it. Highly recommended......(Pssst....Karl dismantles Ruckman).

Four great debates combined into one book. To me, as a Catholic, it demonstrates that the way to respond to a wordy case against Catholicism, is to respond with substantive scriptures and logic that cut to the heart of the matter, and give non-Catholics the opportunity to process the arguments for themselves. Piercing logic, scriptures, and historical data have a special ring to them, that give credibility to the church that Christ, the architect is building on the rock of St. Peter. Mr. Keating presents those well, in these lively exchanges. Highly recommend the book!

One of the best books defending Catholicism; I loved this book and you'll like the casual way it's explained.