Teachings for an Unbelieving World

These 13 reflections on Catholicism were interesting to read. I must disclose that I am not a religious person, but found these to interesting to read and can understand how they can help those that are not trusting of their Catholic Faith find comfort and their way back to their Church.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is a collection of teachings by St John Paul II concerning the interaction by the Apostle Paul’s Address in the Areopagus recounted in Act 17. The relevance for today is that the author unpacks Paul's arguments to a group that do not share the same worldview or philosophical method as the Jews and the early Jesus movement, with ramifications for how Christians might couch their discussions of the faith with modern and post-modern unbelievers. It is not, frankly, an easy read, and does not have the same refinement of other works by St John Paul II such as his encyclical The Gospel of Life. Highly recommended for fans of St John Paul II and for apologists of the faith.

Growing up Protestant, I was aware of who (then Pope) John Paul II was. I knew that he was beloved by the Catholic Church. I knew that I liked his face and his smile. I also remember, when he died, feeling like things suddenly didn't feel as safe as they had when he was alive. Now, I am a Catholic, John Paul II is a saint; still beloved by the Catholic Church, and absolutely beloved by me. So when I heard that a newly discovered written work had been published by this man, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible.

Based off of Saint Paul's sermon in Acts 17, John Paul II offers thirteen reflections not only about our faith, but FOR our faith. Yes, we live in an unbelieving, cynical world, and this book speaks beautifully to the heart of that. But those of us do believe, often find it difficult to believe. Not an unbelief IN our Lord. But more-so, a struggle to BELIEVE our Lord. Which is why I found 'Teachings for an Unbelieving World' to be such a balm to my own fears and anxieties and unbelief. Especially in these unprecedented times we are in! This book hits home for the world at large, for us as believers and for the Church as a whole. But it also gives us a comforting glimpse into the heart of our Pope-Turned-Saint. An absolute must-have book.

This is the first text I have read by St. John Paul II, and I was attracted to it largely because he was the author. I was also fascinated with its subject matter: St. Paul's Areopagus sermon. Taking the sermon apart point by point, His Holiness does (as you would expect) a very thorough job of elucidating the text's meaning and explaining its significance in its context, but he also applies its meaning to today. That said, I was not raised in the Catholic faith and I often struggle to understand the deeply religious terminology. Large theoretical words such as "kerygma" trip me up all the time, and they are used pervasively in this book. If you are ready for a spiritual and intellectual challenge, and want to dive deeper into the Catholic Church's teachings that there is One God Who loves every person on Earth, this book would be a good one to spend some time with.

An absolutely marvelous little gem of a book. Each page is packed with thought provoking analysis of Paul’s sermon at the Aeropagus. I read it twice through.. Five stars and highly recommended!