Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love

This book is such a critical tool for me. I'm in sales, and I meet with people all the time who I have given this book to. Three categories of people are ripe...first, current Catholics, either to correct or confirm their faith. Second...fallen away Catholics who need to understand what they've left. Lastly...non-Catholics who are open to reading. I just wait to see if there is an interest in discussing faith, and then probe a bit about Catholicism. I then ask, "Do you enjoy reading?" If they say yes, I simply ask if they would read a book about the Catholic faith, and if they say yes, they're a new owner, and the rest is up to the Holy Spirit.

It's structured so that it can even be given to an atheist, but written such that it will be helpful to anyone. Trent Horn begins with why do we believe in science, then to why do we believe in God, on to why do we believe in Jesus, and finally to why we believe in the Catholic church. He then explores specific facets of the Catholic faith and her teaching. I love Horn's approach; my faith has to make sense to me. Obviously some things have to be taken on faith, but even here, Catholics aren't "faith alone" believers. Our faith in a creator, in Jesus and in the Catholic church is reasonable, and Horn does a great job covering these things succinctly. There are more in depth books on any of these topics, but this is a fabulous introduction to the Christian faith in general and Catholicism in particular, and as such is a very useful tool for evangelism, as I mentioned above.

The table of contents is also helpful to just pick and choose a topic on specific Catholic teachings.

There is a great deal on a bulk offer (but only buying directly from Catholic Answers on their website)...even with shipping it winds up only being about $3.75 a book for 20 copies.

Thanks Trent Horn and Catholic Answers for such an awesome gift to the Church!

Trent Horn (of Catholic Answers) have written a very accessible and fun introduction to the basics of what Catholics believe. My family and I converted to Catholicism earlier this year and we're delighted to learn about Catholic beliefs from Trent Horn, Jimmy Akin, Joe Heschmeyer, Cy Kellett, David Anders, and many others. This is a book to give to your Protestant or agnostic/atheistic friend who may not like Catholicism very much but do not really know a whole lot about Catholic beliefs. It's also a great resource for Catholic-newbies (like my family) - in fact, my youngest son read it before I did.

Trent Horn divided up his book into 5 parts. Part 1 deals with questions of epistemology and theology proper. The arguments in this part were nothing new for a former Protestant like me. Protestant apologists like William Lane Craig employ the same arguments. Part 2 deals with questions about the Person of Jesus and the authority of the Bible and Tradition. Again, not much is new if you're familiar with Lee Strobel, Gary Habermas, Frank Turek, or Michael Licona.

Parts 3 to 5 are the ones where Trent Horn truly shines. Here, he deals with distinctively Catholic beliefs and issues such as the Papacy, the Clergy, the Mass, Confession, Mary, the abuse scandals, and sexual morality (e.g. contraception and abortion). Each chapter is written in a pithy and inviting way which draws the reader into agreeing with the author's clear/fair arguments.

If there are things I did not like about the book, it's that the author (like most of the CA folks) have adopted the "Genesis-is-NOT-literal" and "Darwinism-is-science" Modernist positions. As a recent convert to Catholicism, one of the biggest attractions of Catholicism is the consistency/continuity of beliefs in the Church over millennia. I don't think the Church Fathers and earlier Popes would agree with such concessions to Modernity. Of course, this weakness is not unique to Trent Horn - nearly all the non-Catholic apologists I listed above promote this Modernist error as well.

Despite my misgivings about the author's position on Genesis/evolution, I heartily recommend this book by Trent Horn to family members and friends as an introductory book on what Catholics believe.

As a practicing Roman Catholic, I found this book disappointing. While the author does present some actual true facts, he also confuses articles of faith as “facts” and thereby “proof” of Catholic beliefs. He posits (p. 9) that “objective truth describes reality for everyone… religion describes reality and can be investigated”.
It is factual that the Catholic church can trace its origins to the early disciples of Jesus. It is also true that the Church can trace the leadership of the faith (the Pope) back to the apostle Peter.
Some of his other “facts” however are articles of faith. He states as factual proof that since the universe exists, it must exist for a reason, and it must have been created by a “personal cause”, and that the universe and the laws of nature must have been designed. Anyone who has taken Philosophy 101 has probably heard the “watchmaker” argument. Indeed, in philosophy, there are as many “proofs” of the non-existence of God as the existence of God.
Like any theistic religion, Catholics believe what we believe because of faith. To state “proofs” that have been debated on both sides for millennia is in my view misguided, and in fact, cheapens our faith.
Since the author frequently quotes scripture, I'll do so here: (Eph 2:8-9): “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God— not because of works, lest any man should boast.”

I am a cradle Catholic of nearly 70 years, from a tons of Catholics from generations down. I attend Catholic school my grade school years into my jr high years and must say this book was awesome. I learned many things I did not know and more than that it explained things I always wondered about. I NEVER write reviews although I do rely them a lot. If you want to learn things you never really knew or understood this book is great.

Answers questions about Catholic beliefs. Useful book.

This is the best book I’ve read so far that I’d recommend to Catholic, non-Catholic Christians, and those interested in the Catholic faith like me that are hoping to join.
The book is broken down into 5 sections covering topics from proof of God and morality, sacraments, Church scandals, early church history, veneration of Mary, etc.
Each chapter is easy to read and designed for people with no knowledge of Catholicism. Borrowed my copy from a seminarian.

This is a fantastic book that gently packs large amounts of knowledge, history, theology and logic together to explain to Catholics and non-Catholics the reasons we do what we do. I would highly recommend this for all users and this will be a supplemental book for my students in our upcoming confirmation courses. Also, if you like this book I think you will love the Counsel of Trent podcast.

This is a great apologetics book! An easy and entertaining read.

Gives answers to questions and explains them

This is an excellent little book that introduces the Faith to anyone non-hostile and curious.