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13 verk 415 medlemmar 5 recensioner 1 favoritmärkta

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Brandon Vogt is an award-winning Catholic author, blogger, and speaker. His past books include The Church and Sew Media and Catholicism: The New Evangelization Study Guide. He's been featured on XPR, CBS, FoxNews, and EWTN. Brandon blogs at BrandonVogt.com, runs StrangeNotioas.com, and works as visa mer content director for Fr. Robert Barron's Word on Fire Catholic ministries. visa färre

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2.5 stars
This was certainly better written than the book about Catholicism that I read last year (and far less offensive and irritating), and the author seems like someone I would want to befriend if I met him. As the story of why he converted, it’s well-written and interesting. As an argument of why people should convert, I found it unconvincing.
I don’t doubt that he read and studied extensively before he made his decision. His continued references to Catholic scholars and their works was impressive. But the arguments presented in this book were oversimplified to the extent that I felt my intelligence was being insulted. He relies heavily on analogy to make his points, and this technique became increasingly annoying.
The points he made about the church’s contributions to scholarship, science, and benevolent works were more compelling to me than anything else, but I already had an inkling of them from other reading, particularly what I’ve read by the Jesuit James Martin. That chapter was still the most interesting to me.
I’m reading on this topic because I have a family member considering converting. I’m glad he asked me to read on the topic as a way to understand what he’s thinking about. I admit to reading these books begrudgingly. Even so, I stand by my opinion of them. I want to be clear that I don’t have anything against Catholics—I know and admire many—but I also don’t see any reason to convert from the Lutheran Church (the first book I read was specifically about making this change). The same arguments in his chapter, Because it’s for Everybody, could be made for the Lutheran Church, as well as other traditions.
I think this book may be validation for someone already on the road to conversion, but that’s about it.
… (mer)
 
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Harks | 1 annan recension | Dec 17, 2022 |
You're concerned about your child. He's stopped going to Mass. Maybe he's found another religion. Perhaps he no longer believes in God. Whatever the case, you want your child to return to the church. This book will serve as a true game changer for despairing parents everywhere. Every parent or grandparent with a fallen-away child needs to read this book.
 
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StFrancisofAssisi | Sep 6, 2021 |
I find it difficult to review books on topics that come out of a place of deep passion for the author. I feel like I am disagreeing with the person’s passion and making a personal attack, even though that is not my intention. While it is obvious that Mr. Vogt is passionate about his love for his church, there were several elements in his book Why I Am Catholic (And You Should Be Too) which I found misleading or did not really resonate with me. His basic position is that the reason he is a Catholic is that Catholicism is true, good, and beautiful. Mr. Vogt examines the Church based on these three criteria. He handles each of these criteria very differently and the strengths of his argument are different based on these conclusions. He is weakest in the first part, Catholicism is true. He begins by giving various proofs for God’s existence. This part is the first day of any introduction to philosophy course that you would find at any American University. However, he does not provide the refutation of these proofs that you would also find. He is stating his premise on which he will build his later arguments in this section. However, as one would also find in that hypothetical philosophy class is that one cannot prove or disprove a premise, you can only accept or reject. What I found frustrating is that this is a rather basic point and yet he keeps reminding the reader that he did a lot of studying on this and that there can only be one conclusion. If he did so much studying that why did he miss this basic point? However, this part was not useless, as I thought the fourth chapter brought up some interesting points. In this chapter he is trying to make that there is an historical logic to the Catholic Church by bringing up some interesting points that speaks to those raised in the Protestant version of Christianity. Perhaps the most interesting point he makes is that sola scriptura is an incorrect standard to judge Christianity because its founder (Jesus) did not give a book but a Church and it is within that Church that we must work out our salvation. In some ways, it can be seen as a way, though he does not expand this point of why a person should stay within the church even with all of its struggles and problems.
In the next part, the book improves, though I almost did not make it to the second part because the first part was so frustrating. This part is called Catholicism is good. His main point is that Catholicism has produced many worthy role models throughout history. While acknowledging the shortcomings of many people within the church, overall Catholicism is true because of the people who found strength and power coming from the church.
The last part is that Catholicism is beautiful in order words it appreciates beauty and is one of the few versions of Christianity that celebrates the beautiful. While he might be overstating his point here a bit, overall, I found what he said to be interesting and compelling; there is a certain appreciation for what is beautiful within Catholicism. It is in this chapter where, Mr. Vogt is the strongest and most compelling.
One other theme that goes throughout this book that I found sill is the idea that Catholicism is rebellious. He begins the book with this theme and concludes with it. I would say that there might be some people who are compelled by this theme but to me it provided more of a distraction that a help. Because of this, there were some arguments that were meant to support this idea and did not fit in with the rest of the book. The title of chapter 7, Part Two is “Because It Doesn’t Go with the Times.” He is suggesting that because some of the Church’s teachings go against current mores then it somehow makes the church correct. This is a rather simplistic argument that does not hold up.
In conclusion, when the author dabbles in theology is when he is the weakest. If you wish to read this book, skim the first part and focus on the second and the third.
… (mer)
 
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morningrob | 1 annan recension | Nov 12, 2018 |
There was a time...when long distance phone calls meant very good or very bad news. Ambitious boys on bicycles brought a newspaper to your front door seven days a week. And the bulletin that the church usher pressed into your hand on Sunday morning was typed and mimeographed by the church secretary on Friday afternoon. That time wasn’t that long ago - I certainly remember it. That was then. And the misfortune for many Christians who believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ is that their attitude is still essentially stuck in that era.

Brandon Vogt has authored a wonderful compendium The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet that should be on everyone’s reading list, and furthermore should receive wide distribution among parishes to reassure and nudge those who are furthering the mission of the Church with one (or maybe both) feet stuck somewhere in the early 1960’s.

I have considered myself something of an “early adopter” in these areas. (Mommy convert homeschool blogger since August 2002. Tempus fugit!) But when I was told about the first of Fr. Barron’s YouTube videos my immediate reply was, “YouTube? Isn’t that the home for shaky videos of teenagers doing JackAss style skateboard stunts?” We all need a nudge sometimes. And this book has something for everyone, no matter where they fall on the ‘tech savvy’ continuum. [FULL DISCLOSURE: My friends of a certain age think I am a pretty hip, with-it, groovy and forward thinking girl. I am also someone who, within the past year or so, asked her children if it was possible to send a text message from a regular old desk phone. Think continuum . . .]

The Church is a gerontocracy. Which is a good thing and we should all hope to grow in age, grace and wisdom. But along with wisdom, we acquire an accretion of outmoded concepts and strategies. Contentment and/or fear holds us back and keeps us from utilizing the gifts at our disposal. Helping to dispel this fear, this book has salient quotes from Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. [“Without fear we must set sail on the digital sea, facing into the deep with the same passion that has governed the ship of the Church for two thousand years . . .” Pope Benedict XVI]

The table of contents here is something of an ‘old home week’ for anyone who has some connection with New Media in this new century and a chance to learn more and expand horizons. For those who are not familiar with the varieties of New Media, Vogt gives a panoramic view of all that is at our disposal. And the downside of these new tools is not glossed over. Tools can be used for good or bad. Vogt realistically addresses the pitfalls of shallow relationships, information overload, increased narcissism, online relativism and the obstacles to prayer and contemplation. But he offers so many examples of the good that can be done utilizing New Media that it is quite obvious that the abuse of technology does not negate its use. Wonderful tools are at the Church’s disposal. The more impetuous would say that it is time for those with too much of an attachment to old media to “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” But here I must paraphrase a line from a favorite movie: “you're not supposed to choose ‘get out of the way.’ You should be leading - or at least following.”

I remember my parents talking about Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s TV appearances – which (while rather depressing in the way it shows my age) is quite impressive considering the my family’s lack of religiosity in my younger years. Here was someone from a different religion (religion, period!) capturing their attention and sharing the message of the Good News. As the cause Archbishop Sheen’s canonization progresses, I would propose that he someday be the patron saint of “early adopters” - those Christians who are ready to give new technological blessings a chance to bring Jesus to the world. As Fr. Barron said in the Summer 2011 edition of Extension Magazine, “Archbishop Fulton Sheen would have given his right arm to have what we have now in terms of technology.”

The Church and New Media is good news for those who want to share the Good News. Get it. Read it. (yes, you can get it on your Kindle) Check out its accompanying website. And please pass the word along to those who think the new media is a scary concept and useful for little more than Facebook stalkers, Nigerian scammers and “Keyboard Cats.”
… (mer)
 
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ellynv | 1 annan recension | Aug 29, 2011 |

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Statistik

Verk
13
Medlemmar
415
Popularitet
#58,725
Betyg
3.8
Recensioner
5
ISBN
15
Favoritmärkt
1

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