Catholic Review of: Catholicism and Fundamentalism

Nutshell

Fundamentalists often believe that Catholicism is a cult. They frequently refer to the Church as “the whore of Babylon,” while the Pope is labeled “the Antichrist.” Still others believe that Catholics aren’t even entitled to identify themselves as “Christians.” These are but a few of the beliefs of many radical fundamentalists today. Even more disturbing is that there are many Catholics who are enticed by the theology of “professional anti-Catholic” fundamentalists simply because they don’t understand or have never been taught their own faith. In Catholicism and Fundamentalism, Karl Keating examines the Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura and scrutinizes fundamentalist views and attacks on Catholic doctrine. His purpose is not to drive a wedge between Catholic Christians and fundamentalist Christians, but to support Catholic theology by examining early Christian history through the Fathers of the Church. By using the Bible, Church history, the teaching of the early Fathers, and other sources, Catholicism and Fundamentalism easily debunks the fundamentalists’ perspective.

Content

Catholicism and Fundamentalism is divided into three major sections. First, Keating considers the evolution of fundamentalism by examining Protestantism’s roots in the Reformation. He additionally names the “sourcebook” for much of the misunderstanding or misconceptions about Catholicism by fundamentalists—Loraine Boettner’s Roman Catholicism. Keating cites Boettner’s book as a major influence for anti-Catholicism in fundamentalist theology, and discusses why some anti-Catholics vehemently and actively revile Catholicism.

Secondly, Keating effortlessly rebuts not only Boettner, but also many other staunch anti-Catholics by addressing several chapters to fundamentalist misconceptions about Catholicism, such as Catholic Tradition, salvation, purgatory, papal infallibility, Marian beliefs, and others.

Lastly, he briefly instructs Catholics on the basics of apologetics. He enlightens Catholics to the subtleties of addressing questions that are asked by fundamentalists. He even devotes a chapter to this purpose entitled “Practical Apologetics,” though it could be argued that Keating instructs Catholics in practical apologetics throughout the entirety of Catholicism and Fundamentalism as he addresses the false claims, allegations, and prejudices of fundamentalists toward the Catholic Church.

Evaluation

Those Catholics who have questions about their own faith should read Catholicism and Fundamentalism. Keating’s book is a meticulous study of many fundamentalist viewpoints on Catholicism in contrast to true Catholic teaching. Anyone serious about defending the faith should have this book in his or her personal library.