F. J. Sheed (1897–1981)

I played with the thought of dedicating this book TO ALL WHO KNOW LESS THEOLOGY THAN I. It would have sounded flippant. But it would have been exact. There are thousands who know more theology than I, and for them I have no message: they must teach me. But there are thousands who know less, and less is not enough: I must try to teach them. This book contains theology, not the great mass of it that theologians need, but the indispensable minimum that every man needs in order that he may be show more living mentally in the REAL WORLD—which is what the word SANITY means in my title. show less

This is a good introductory text to the general beliefs of the Catholic faith. While accessibly written, the text tends towards a density and dryness that can make it difficult to digest. I found myself needing to reread paragraphs, and even chapters at times to get the ideas to fully sink in. That having been said, I cannot fully imagine how the ideas could have been better conveyed. Theology is a very tough subject, and so far this is the most accessible book I've been able to find on it, show more at least in terms of the Catholic faith.

The book is helpfully arranged into individual chapters that build off of one another to ease the transition into deeper topics. A whole chapter, for instance, is dedicated to better defining what precisely the spirit is. Other chapters include one on the concept of the Trinity, on what happens after death, how to read the Bible, and why in general one should familiarize themselves with theology and its tenets.

All in all, this is a difficult but rather good book for anyone interested in the subject. I'm glad I had a chance to read it, even though it took me forever to finish. show less

Sheed's concern with the Gospels is to come to know Christ as he actually lived among us, interacted with all the various people he encountered from his infancy to his passion and death--the God-man who was like us in all things except sin. In this classic study, Frank J. Sheed employs wide learning, theological sophistication, spiritual insight, and a lucid style to bring the reader to a personal encounter with the living Lord. To Know Christ Jesus has been justly called "one of the most show more satisfying studies of the Gospel ever made." show less

Theology for Beginners is one of the most outstanding presentations of the central doctrines of the Christian faith ever penned. After showing how God is Spirit, the author examines God’s infinity and man’s creation from nothing, and then moves on to the Trinity, the Fall, the Incarnation and Redemption, the Mystical Body, Grace and the Sacraments, and the Last Things. For those to whom these doctrines once seemed formidable, Sheed's is a fresh voice of lucid and carefully reasoned show more prose. To read Theology for Beginners is to have one’s mind awakened to the spiritual realities at the center of human existence show less