| UP |
Revised September 26, 2015
See the bibliography of "Frequently used sources" in the Foreword. Other resources, also helpful in evaluating the teachings of Roman Catholicism, are listed below.
pro-gospel.org
Mike Gendron was a highly successful business man and a devout Roman Catholic for 30 years. Then he read his Bible, learned about Christ's death for his sins, accepted Christ and got saved. His website, "Proclaiming the Gospel" contains his personal testimony, many excellent articles highlighting the contrast between Roman Catholic teaching and biblical teaching, as well as other resources.
The Original Catholic Encyclopedia
(Available online at oce.catholic.com)
A reproduction of the Catholic Encyclopedia originally published in 1913. Extensive. Although published prior to Vatican II, this classic of Catholic scholarship is still considered a valuable resource.
Dreyer, F. C. H. and E. Weller, Roman Catholicism in the Light of Scripture, Moody Press, 1960, 256 pages
Rev. Dreyer is founder of the Shansi Bible Institute (China). This volume is brief but comprehensive, and full of helpful insights.
Boettner, Loraine, Roman Catholicism, 5th ed. (Presbyterian & Reformed, 5th edition, 466 pages).
(Available online at americanpresbyterianchurch.org, under Catholic Theology, under Roman Catholicism)
The copyright date is 1962, but the Preface to the 5th edition was written after the end of Vatican II, thus after 1965. Includes a wealth of material on a wide range of issues related to Roman Catholicism. The fact that most of the book was written before Vatican II detracts little from its value.
Hislop, Alexander, The Two Babylons, or The Papal Worship Proved to Be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife, (Loizeaux Brothers, 1943, first edition 1916)
(This book has been revised, republished, and reprinted a number of times and is available in different formats. It is also available several places online including at books.google.com, search for "Hislop, Two Babylons")
This is a heavily documented resource – a comparison of (1) the doctrines and practices of ancient pagan religions with (2) the doctrines and practices of Roman Catholicism. While not everyone agrees with the author's reasoning, Hislop is successful in demonstrating many parallels between (1) and (2). Many would further assert that he is also successful in demonstrating that (2) is derived from (1). Indeed, in view of Cardinal John Henry Newman's oft-quoted admission, that assertion would appear to be correct. Newman, an Anglican who converted to Roman Catholicism and rose to become a cardinal, said that “Temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holy days and seasons of devotion, processions, blessings of fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure (of priests, monks and nuns), images, etc., are all of pagan origin” (John Henry Newman, The Development of the Christian Religion, p. 359)
Trigilio and Brighenti, Catholicism for Dummies, (Wiley Publications, Inc., 2003. 414 pages)
A detailed and practical look at many aspects of Catholicism, written by two prominent priests for both Catholic and non-catholic readers. Tends to downplay certain negative aspects of Roman Catholic history and slant other topics (such as its very questionable description of oral tradition and of the history of the canon of the Old Testament). Also tends to soften certain doctrines, such as purgatory. Its attempt to be a "plain English" explanation may be overplayed at times by the frequent use of illustrations from contemporary life, some of which tend to sugar-coat a deep or difficult subject.