The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism (Blackwell Companions to Religion)

The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism offers an extensive survey of the history, doctrine, practices, and global circumstances of Roman Catholicism, written by a range of distinguished and experienced Catholic writers. Engages its readers in an informed and informative conversation about Roman Catholic life and thought Embraces the local and the global, the past and the present, life and the afterlife, and a broad range of institutions and activities Considers both what is distinctive about Catholic life and thought, and how Catholicism overlaps with and transforms other ways of thinking and living Topics covered include: peacemaking, violence and wars; money, the vow of poverty and socio-economic life; art by and about Catholics; and men, women and sex

The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism offers an extensive survey of the history, doctrine, practices, and global circumstances of Roman Catholicism, written by a range of distinguished and experienced Catholic writers. The essays are addressed to all those who wish to broaden and deepen their knowledge of Catholic life and thought. The Companion is divided into four accessible parts:

• Catholic Histories includes essays on major eras of the Catholic story, from Scriptures and the early Church through the Middle Ages and Reformation to Modernity and Post-Modernity


• Catholic Cultures describes Catholics in different lands – the Holy Land and India and Africa, Europe and the British Isles and Ireland, Latin America and North America, Asia and Oceania


• Catholic Doctrines has essays on central topics in the practice of Catholic theology and development of doctrine – God and Jesus Christ, creation and Church and Mary, sacraments and moral theology, and eschatology


• Catholic Practices surveys some of the central Catholic practices: spirituality and ecumenism, inter-religious dialog and Catholic institutions (schools, hospitals, and charitable organizations), art and the natural sciences, the Holy See.

The result is a comprehensive and illuminating reference work, spanning the diversity and capturing the resonances of Roman Catholic life and thought.

The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism......Page 5 Contents......Page 7 Notes on Contributors......Page 11 Introduction......Page 19 Part I Catholic Histories......Page 23 1 The Old Testament......Page 25 2 The New Testament......Page 40 3 The Early Church......Page 54 4 The Middle Ages......Page 67 5 The Reformation......Page 81 6 Modernity and Post-Modernity......Page 99 Part II Catholic Cultures......Page 115 7 The Holy Land......Page 117 8 India......Page 130 9 Africa......Page 145 10 Europe......Page 161 11 Great Britain and Ireland......Page 177 12 Latin America......Page 191 13 North America......Page 207 14 Asia......Page 223 15 Oceania......Page 239 Part III Catholic Doctrines......Page 253 16 The Practice of Catholic Theology......Page 255 17 The Development of Doctrine......Page 269 18 God......Page 286 19 Creation and Anthropology......Page 300 20 Jesus Christ......Page 315 21 Mary......Page 330 22 Church......Page 344 23 The Liturgy and Sacraments......Page 358 24 Moral Theology......Page 372 25 The End......Page 389 Part IV Catholic Practices......Page 405 26 Spirituality......Page 407 27 Institutions......Page 421 28 The Holy See......Page 436 29 Ecumenism......Page 450 30 Inter-Religious Dialog......Page 467 31 Art and Literature......Page 481 32 Science and Theology......Page 495 33 Justice and Peace......Page 508 Index......Page 523