Why I Am Catholic (and You Should Be Too)

Great book. Very clear and concise. Good information.

The new evangelization has another solid voice in Brandon Vogt. I never tire of hearing how God has worked in people's lives and the realities of our Catholic faith.

There are lots of books that outline all the reasons one should give up atheism or other religions and become Catholic and with good reason: Because the path to the Catholic faith has its origins in many places and winds its way through a myriad of obstacles, challenges, and objections.

Brandon Vogt—one of the smartest, engaging, and energetic young Catholics out there—has written a new book, “Why I Am Catholic (and You Should Be Too),” that offers his own take on why one should consider the Catholic faith, a take that seems aimed directly at the “nones”, the large and growing percentage of mostly young Americans today who tell pollsters that they have no religious preference, and does so in a way that should appeal to a younger audience, characterizing becoming Catholic as a way of “joining the Rebellion”, rather than giving into a massive institution.

> I’ll admit it’s a weird decision. It goes against the grain. It’s radical. It is, in a word, rebellious.

In this concise, yet compelling book, Brandon outlines the reasons why anyone seeking the truth should become Catholic, using arguments both old and new. Brandon is an engineer by training and a philosopher by avocation so it’s no surprise that the book and its arguments are laid out in a logical progression, from whether God exists to the necessity of religion vs. pure spirituality to Christianity over other religions to the Catholic Church.

Along the way, he recounts bits and pieces of his own journey from a nominal Protestantism to his discovery of Catholicism in college. However, this is not a memoir. Brandon doesn’t delve into his family life or his emotions and motivations, and doesn’t look deeply into the events and circumstances. Instead, he uses his own experiences as a buttress for his arguments, to lend an “I was in your shoes” authenticity to his claims.

Like a good philosopher, Brandon breaks down the argument for Catholicism into three parts: Catholicism is True, it is Good, and it is Beautiful. He notes that while truth is the first and most important qualities, the others are harmonious. “If a belief is true, it’s almost always good and beautiful,” he writes and notes that is the case in other areas, like science, as well.

## Truth and Goodness
The section on Truth deals with the conventional arguments about dogma and creeds, like the existence of God, the divinity of Jesus and so on. He covers all the good arguments and while the ground is well-trod, Brandon manages to find some new and unique ways of expressing himself through appealing analogies.

The other sections on Goodness and Beauty are more unconventional, but no less compelling. In the section on Catholicism as good, he looks at how the the Church was the fount of Western civilization’s flowering in four specific ways.

> Just four of the many ways Catholicism has shaped our world: science, the university system, charities, and our system of law.

Obviously, there are many more, but these offer some of the best and most convincing arguments. Science, in particular, could only have arisen in the way it has from Christian roots, contrary to the way it is popularly perceived today, because for Catholics even form ancient times, science was a way to understand God through his creation. Many of the great scientists of history were themselves clergy or religious, including Copernicus, Mendel, and Fr. Georges LeMaitre, father of the Big Bang Theory.

Likewise, the Church has contributed to the world by creating universities, by becoming the largest charitable institution in the history of the world (especially in prior ages when caring for the needy was not a virtue), and by creating the modern system of laws based on the Church’s canon law with concepts like the equality of all men.

Catholicism’s Goodness is also found in the attractive witness of the saints and martyrs, pulling out St. Lawrence, St. Damian of Molokai, and St. Theresa of Calcutta as examples; in her rebellious refusal to change teachings that cannot be changed in the face of overwhelming pressure; and in her offering of God’s forgiveness and mercy to the world. This last one may make the greatest impression in some quarters as it is the one thing so sorely lacking in the world today and which so many people are craving: someone to say I love you, you are inherently good, you can be better, let me show you the way. As Brandon writes, “People don’t want mediocrity. All of us—you, me, everyone—we want greatness; we want excellence.” Catholicism is a path to excellence and perfection.

It is also in this section that Brandon deals with the most popular objections to the Church’s teachings, the so-called “pelvic” issues which are at the root of so much rejection of the faith. He deals with ably here, but there isn’t room in his book to give a full exposition, but that’s okay because there are plenty of books that do.

## Beauty
Finally, Brandon advances the case for Catholicism through Beauty. He notes the Church’s unusual insistence on the importance of aesthetics and beauty in art, architecture, and music as well as areas like mathematics.

> Christians believed that when they studied and applied geometry, whether in mathematics or art, they were tapping into the same underlying structure of reality that God sed in Creation. This view bore tremendous fruit in the realm of Renaissance art.

And so beauty is important because it lifts our hearts and minds to God. Even the most hardened atheist can have his breath taken away by a beautiful landscape, a soaring sculpture, or the perfection of their newborn child. They may not be able to identify the source of their wonder, but the source is God. This is what the Church treasures in beauty.

Brandon then moves the discussion of beauty to an unusual place, by finding it in the Church’s teaching on an authentic humanism. Secular humanism credits humanity alone for all great achievement, but a Christian humanism sees man’s harmonious cooperation with God as a kind of symphony at work. And through Christ, our humanity is lifted up, elevated, and divinized, given greater dignity and power and authority than even the secular humanists imagine.

Finally, Brandon finds beauty in the Church’s universality, how her call and appeal crosses all boundaries of race, gender, culture, language, place, and even intellectual mindset. He uses the examples of different kinds of people who can find a home in the Church: the Thinker (with Thomas Aquinas as his example); the Partier (G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc); the Ordinary Man in the street; the Skeptic, whose doubts are welcomed because the Church isn’t afraid of difficult questions; and the Sinner.

It’s the last two-thirds of the book where Brandon really shines. Like I said, the first section is good and I have no objections, but the content is not original. However, in looking at Goodness and Beauty as arguments for Catholicism, he is quite original among today’s authors.

This is especially important because his audience of millennial “nones” in the age of “fake news” aren’t easily convinced by the old logical arguments anymore. A presentation that less about intellectual proofs and more about appealing to a sense of good and rightness and beauty may get more traction in this very cynical, distracted age live in.

If you know a “none” or any millennial, for that matter, Brandon’s book may make an interesting gift to begin a conversation with them and an invitation to reject the Dark Side by joining the Rebellion.

He explained it in a way that anyone from 13 to 90 can understand.

When Brandon Vogt decided to turn Catholic, some of his friends and family were astonished. He was greeted with 'crickets and confusion'. Vogt thinks that this is because it is 'countercultural' and provocative because it is travelling in the opposite direction to our Western culture. He argues that these days when practically anything is allowed, it is really the only way to rebel. It's not rebellious anymore to get drunk, have sex, pursue money or turn atheist. As Vogt writes: 'What's truly radical is to consider a Church that billions of people have embraced throughout history but millions of people ttoday dismiss as bigoted and outdated'. He quotes G.K. Chesterton saying that the Catholic Church 'is the only thing that frees a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age'.

Vogt points out, and people who are anti-Catholic should remember this, that 'no other group feeds more people, heals more people, teaches more people, or houses more people around the world'. Catholics have a duty to help others, and their considerable charity work shows that many of them are fulfilling their duty. This is the part that I liked best about the book.

In this excellent introduction to Catholicism, Vogt studies the truth about Jesus and Catholicism in an academic but lively way so that this book is not at all dry. He goes through the reasons for God's existence and Jesus's life point-by-point, and examines the writings of Jesus's followers who believed in his miracles and that he was raised from the dead. Vogt makes a very considered study of the skeptic's arguments here which is extremely impressive.

He also doesn't shy away from the scandals of the Church and the difficult teachings on, for example, abortion and homosexuality and women priests. Vogt considers whether the Church is anti-women and discusses why it only has male priests. However, this is not a long book so he doesn't go into the ins and outs of every ruling.

I liked the sections on the doctrines of the Church and the differences between Roman Catholicism and the Orthodox churches. However, I was surprised that Vogt didn't try the Anglican Church and that he didn't mention it at all when he was explaining what distinguished the Roman Catholic church. Also, I don't think that he went into rules about receiving Holy Communion which affect an enormous number of people, and the arguments about watering them down.

This probably needs a few readings but it's recommended if you are interested in the Catholic church.

I received this free ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.

I was curious about Brandon Vogt’s new book for a few reasons. I converted to Catholicism in 2009 after a lifetime as an evangelical Protestant, and my husband followed me a few years later. My conversion was the culmination of years of reading, studying, discussion, and a few clandestine visits to various parishes. I read both theology books and conversion stories during that time, and all contributed to my decision in their own way, but I never found a “light bulb” book. Vogt has created that book.

Over the years, my husband and I have both been asked a number of times why we did it, and that’s a hard question to answer in just a few short sentences. The defining characteristic of Vogt’s book is that it (mostly) answers that question in a way that’s simple and direct but never shallow. As I read it, I found myself wishing that I’d had it to recommend to some specific people in the past who wanted to know “why." We do have a couple of family members who have expressed some continuing curiosity about our faith, and I will recommend it to them.

The only topic that I wish he had spent a little time on is the Catholic view of suffering, because that’s one aspect that of the Church that spoke deeply to me during my own conversion. However, I respect that he’s writing a book that can be for a wide swath of people, and there’s only so much one can cover and still remain simple and concise - as our parish deacon said to my husband numerous times before his conversion, “There’s more to it than you think!"

This past spring back to back I read this book and Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love by Trent Horn. In some ways there is a number of similarities, and both speak specifically about the example of Saint Damien of Molokai. This book really struck a chord with me when I read it. I could immediately think of some lapsed Catholics who would benefit from reading it. I also thought of some friends who I believe will eventually find their way home to Rome. And as a revert myself I greatly enjoyed the book and found it motivating and challenging at the same time.

The chapters in this volume are:

Introduction: The Only Rebellion Left
Part I. Catholicism Is True
1: Because God Exists
2: Because We Need Religion
3: Because Jesus Is God
4: Because Jesus Started a Church
Part II. Catholicism Is Good
5: Because It Built Western Civilization
6: Because of Its Heroic Charity
7: Because It Doesn't Go with the Times
Part III. Catholicism Is Beautiful
9: Because It Cherishes Beauty
10: Because It Lifts Us Up
11: Because It's for Everybody
Conclusion: Join the Rebellion
Appendix: Going Deeper
Notes

Brandon states in the introduction:

"Choosing to be Catholic is provocative. It's countercultural. It's literally the opposite direction our culture is going. The Pew Research Center completed a massive, national religious study, surveying over thirty thousand Americans, which found that exactly half (50 percent) of Millennials who were raised Catholic no longer call themselves Catholic today. That's massive attrition. Half of young Catholics have already left the Church (with more likely following in the future). That explains why "former Catholic" continues to be one of America's largest religious groups.
The study also found that roughly 80 percent of people who left the Catholic Church have left before age twenty- three. These aren't lifelong Catholics who stay on the fence for decades before drifting away. They're young people, people in high school or college, or young adults-people the same age I was when I chose to become Catholic."

And that plays out with what I have seen spending the better part of twenty years on university campuses as a student, mature student and chaplain with a nondenominational campus ministry. Brandon does use a lot of numbers and stats in this book. But he also writes passionately from the heart and from his own experience. He says:

"I'm not part of the 50 percent of Millennials who left the Church. I'm not one of the 6.45 who continually stream out the back door. I'm the one who joined. I'm the one who deliberately chose Catholicism, who carefully studied and wrestled with its claims, who prayed, read, thought, and discussed and came out the other end a Catholic.
I'll admit it's a weird decision. It goes against the grain. It's radical. It is, in a word, rebellious."

Brandon builds has case based on three key principals; Catholicism is True, Catholicism is Good, and Catholicism is beautiful. And he does an excellent job of laying a great ground work. I myself returned to the Catholic Church while studying theology and pursuing ordination in a different denomination. Like Brandon what brought me home was I became convinced of the theological truth of Catholicism. And Once I knew that truth I either had to accept and embrace it or reject it live a lie.

Brandon presents his story in a clear and concise way. He writes in a very engaging style that is easy to read. Brandon's energy and passion comes through on the pages. He also addresses many of the common misconceptions about Catholicism and the key arguments against it. It is a good read and I belive that anyone who reads it will be challenged or encouraged in their faith. Well done Brandon.

http://catholicmom.com/2017/09/21/book-notes-catholic-brandon-vogt/

This book offers excellent reasons as to why people should consider Catholicism as a viable option. For those who find apologetics and reason- based arguments appealing, this will certainly provide some useful ammunition.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. As a fairly recent convert to Catholicism I found the author addressed many of the subjects that I myself struggled with or questioned prior to and during my conversion. It's a very easy read that's accessible to everyone. Not overly theological but with enough substance to satisfy someone who is truly looking for answers. I would certainly recommend this book to my friends both Catholic and not.

As a Catholic (who having been Catholic all my life) I might be seen as not the right audience for this book - yet, we Catholics need to be educate about our own faith, too! Because we live in the world and we should be the messengers of the Good News - sure, our acts are far more important than our words, yet people aks and want the answers (some to argue, some to have fun on our account, yes - but some seek the answers). And we should try and to do our best in answering.
Mr Vogt offers many eloquently put information (some new for me) and I find this book being both inspirative and useful. I very much like to read the book written by the converts to Catholicism, as they can describe their struggles and ways to find and enter the Catholic faith.
Yet I often wonder - can faith itself be "translated" by the books? What about the silent (or in same cases stormy) voice of God, whispering (or silencing by its intensity) the calling? Can the calling be done in the form of explaining? For some, maybe (not my case, so I simply do not know and do not wish to disrespect this!). Fot those who seek, I would recommend this book as one of the sources (this depends on the seeking one and his questions/needs/concerns...also his personality, age and other factors). But I would probably also offer the book written by somebody who went through the serious crisis in his Catholic faith, too (because many seekers are in pain and this pain could be recognized by someone who went through the pain, too).
All in all, I applaud this author for being a brave apologetic of the Catholic faith.

Why I Am Catholic (and You Should Be Too) was an absolute treat. As a practicing Catholic, I know that there are many times when co-workers, neighbors, and even friends, have questioned my faith. I once had a colleague tell me that "My Pope" should not be worshipped, and that alone was reason enough for me to dive into this book. Brandon Vogt is thoughtful in his research, and engaging in his writing, making this book an absolute treat and an educational read. Packed with questions and detailed answers, this book was an easy and approachable text, but was jam-packed with information. After reading it, I feel more informed, and even more proud to be Catholic.