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“The authors conclude with a call to action: ‘American Protestantism needs to take a hard look in the mirror and ask itself why it has fallen so far from offering meaningful structures of authority, authentic experiences of holiness, and the kind of cultural leadership and intellectual sophistication that attracts the best and the brightest.’” - London Lyceum

Discussion

Fri, 05/10/24

This book will be especially helpful for pastors, seminary teachers, and anyone interested in church history and theology. What often sets converts down the road to Rome is simply learning about church history. Because many churches and some denominational traditions have not taught church history well, potential converts are primed and ready to accept the claims of Rome once they realize the church didn’t disappear after the Apostles died.

I have to say that the biggest attraction to me about Roman Catholicism is the connection to church history, the beauty of the architecture, music, and artwork it has inspired, and the liturgy (but, not the mass).

My older son and I visited Rome last year, and we toured the Vatican museum, St. Peter's Basilica, the Basilica of San Clemente, and some other RC churches in the city. The art and architecture were amazing. The history of some of these churches goes back a millennia or more. However, it sickened me as my son and I were walking around St. Peter's how much rank idolatry takes place in these RC churches. I felt the same way the first time I visited St. Patrick's in NYC: at first overwhelmed by the beauty, then sickened by the idolatry.

When we were touring St. Peter's, they had John Paul II's casket in one of the alcoves of the basilica so that people could pray to him. St. Peter's and other churches in Rome also have various relics that people come to see and / or worship.