A Guide to Catholic Beliefs for Converts - and Anyone Becoming Catholic

This book answered all my questions in an easy-to-relate to way, and I now have the information and inspiration to move forward with my conversion. The perfect book for those who keep being drawn to a faith they have been misled about before. Thank you!

My attendance at other denominational churches always left me with a feeling something was missing. I now know what it is and why I felt that way. Attended my first Mass as I finished this book. RCIA is in my future

I used this book with an RCIA/Adult Confirmation group of college students and young adults. They LOVED it and found it much more easy to relate to that a traditional textbook. I've ordered it again for next year.

Discoveries like the historical Church’s Tradition, Apostolic Succession, The mystery of the Trinity, Mary as Mother of God and Mother of His Church, the saints, The sacraments and the Catholic approach to prayer all were stepping stones along Torgerson’s journey to the truths of Roman Catholicism. For the RCIA participant, or one wanting to lean more about the Church, you will find Chad to be an eager and confident traveling companion.

A wonderful gentle introduction to the Catholic faith and the RCIA process. I have been involved in the RCIA since 1989 and this book is now in the list of resources that will be used in the future for those discerning their journey in faith.

I enjoyed, learned and was inspired by this book. It was try to the teaching of the Catholic Church. If your curious about becoming Catholic, or just curious about what being Catholic is about, I recommend it.

Waking up Catholic, by Chad Torgerson, is the story of one man's journey to Catholicism and the MANY objections he had to the Catholic faith along the way. However, his story is not unique to him. Many people, myself included, had these same objections and misconceptions before we finally made our way to Rome. Chad just had the good sense and spiritual gift to write about these points and help others along their journey.

In this book one will find some of the major stumbling blocks people have with the Roman Catholic Church, including, Tradition, Mary, the Saints, the Eucharist, etc. Each chapter follows a specific pattern. Chad mentions a subject that was a stumbling block for him. Next, he talks about his feelings on the subject before he was Catholic. He then explains the actual Catholic teaching on the particular subject using Scripture and the Catechism. Lastly, he explains his new viewpoint and appreciation of the matter at hand. This definitely was like re-living my conversion as I went through practically these same steps on each such subject.

On face value, this books comes off as an introduction to Catholic Apologetics. Depending on your point of view, it is either a nice defense of your core beliefs or a reinforcement of them. However, the author wants us to not only know our faith; he wants us to live it too. He mentions the 80-20 rule, which says that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. In reality, and according to Matthew Kelly in "The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic," 7% is a more accurate approximation of the number of Catholics who are active in their parish. ("Active" means more than just showing up to Mass once a week.) Chad designed this book to be a call to evangelization, particularly the New Evangelization. The first step in the New Evangelization is learning and growing in our faith, with which this book definitely helps.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's easy to read, but that doesn't mean that the truths of our Faith have been dumbed down. My one regret with this book is that it wasn't around when I was embarking on my journey toward Catholicism. This is the perfect book for those considering becoming Catholic, already in an RCIA class, those looking to come back to the Church, or just someone who wants to understand what they believe better.

In his new book, Waking Up Catholic, Chad Torgerson describes his journey into the Catholic Church. He discusses how his faith in Christ developed over the years, from Lutheran, to agnostic/atheist, to born-again Protestant, and finally Catholic. Specifically, he brings in how his relationship with Christ was influenced by his study of Catholic teachings and practices, and shows how they can bring one closer to Christ. The book is easy to read, but gets to the point of complex issues remarkably well without becoming too complex on the one hand, or being too simple on the other.

Chad discusses several important topics that non-Catholics find problematic and often misunderstand, and shows how he overcame that misunderstanding, how these issues eventually made sense to him, and how he saw that there was indeed no conflict between Catholicism and the Bible. The important topics he covers are Tradition vs Sola Scriptura, the continuous transmission of Christ's teaching through the authority of the Church from the first century till today, the priesthood and the hierarchy of the Church, the Trinity, Mary and the saints, the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ, and prayer.

He goes on to a discussion of what it means to be Catholic and live one's life as a Catholic and why we have "obligations" and what their purpose is, and ends off discussing the difference between apologetics (my forte, not unnecessary) and evangelisation (what the Church badly needs).

In particular, I found his discussion of the saints as prayer warriors particularly enlightening - I hadn't thought of putting it the way he did, and it's a particularly powerful explanation.

The book definitely has a place on the apologetics bookshelf, although it was not written as a systematic defence, but rather as an experience of someone discovering the Catholic faith, and as an evangelising tool.

As part of the New Evangelisation, the book is great for cradle or lapsed Catholics who want to get to understand their faith better; it is a useful guide for new Catholics wanting to apply their new faith; and it is an experiential explanation for non-Catholics who want to understand what the Catholic Church really teaches and practises. Lastly, anyone who wants a good conversion story should read this book, whether they know a lot or just a little about their faith.

Opening your soul to faith (or re-opening your soul) can be a little scary. You might have objections, reservations, hesitations and misunderstandings. And not everyone is the type to tackle the Summa Theologica.

Chad Torgerson has been there, done that, and he's written the book on how to handle just this situation. He skillfully interweaves his own journey into Catholicism with concise explanations of just what this all means. If you're exploring the Church for the first time, rebuilding the faith of your childhood or just looking for an excellent review tool, Waking Up Catholic covers all the bases.

Topics covered in this 156-page book (MUCH less intimidating than the Summa) include:

Tradition with a Capital T
Guardians of the Faith
Shepherds of the Flock
The Trinity: Central Mystery of Our Faith
Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church
The Communion of Saints
More Than Bread and Wine
Reconciled
Becoming Catholic
Heavenly Conversations
Everyday Catholic
The Next Step
I found this book to be easy to read without being an insult to the reader's intelligence. It challenged the reader to reflect and pray and consider what the truths discussed in the book mean to them. Torgerson's honest account of his struggles with certain aspects of the faith and how (and where) he sought for answers drives home his explanations of the "basics" of the faith so that both the reader's mind and heart are engaged in learning and exploring.

Who should read this book? I'd recommend it to:

people considering becoming Catholic
people in the RCIA program who seek full Communion with the Church
ALL teachers in faith-formation programs (for children, teens and adults)
parents of children who are preparing to receive Sacraments
anyone who wants to learn more about the Faith
Most of the people on my list above are already Catholic. But that doesn't mean that any of us are experts. We can all benefit from the opportunity to refresh our knowledge and to have our faith refreshed. Chad Torgerson achieves both these goals in his simply-written yet deeply compelling book.

The premise behind Chad Torgerson's new release, Waking Up Catholic: A Guide to Catholic Beliefs for Converts, Reverts, and Anyone Becoming Catholic, isn't a new one.

He wants to help people understand what the Catholic Church teaches. It's a laudable goal.

What's different about this book than what I expected from another Catholic guide can be found, in part, in the fact that Torgerson isn't a professional apologist. He's a programmer, a writer, and a husband and father. He's a normal guy, and he approaches the topic that way.

You feel, as you read it, as though you're having a conversation with a friend, one who's there to explain things and not necessarily sell you on anything. He doesn't shy away from explaining things clearly, but there's no "you HAVE to believe this" sledgehammer.

Torgerson's authentic and honest. He shares his struggles and the solutions he found in Church teaching.

This is a good, straightforward book. It's a quick read and well-done. I wouldn't have any hesitations in sharing it with nearly anyone who expressed interested in Catholicism and maybe even some of those who haven't but have questions.

Highly recommended.

This book is a great primer for anyone wanting to better understand the Catholic faith. I loved reading about the author's personal story. The ending was great. This book is pretty basic, so if you already have a good grasp on Catholicism, it may seem elementary. Even for me, though, it was an inspiring call to a deeper walk with God. This follows the RCIA format, and would be great for classes.

"Waking Up Catholic" by Chad R. Torgerson is a must read for people who want to know and understand more about the Catholic faith. Mr. Torgerson explains the Catholic Faith in clear ways that people can really understand! He was a Protestant before coming to the Roman Catholic Church, as was I! He helped me to understand why Catholics have the Rituals; Oral Traditions ;The difference between Sacraments and Sacramentals; The Pope; The Blessed Virgin Mary; and many more facts! I chose this book as my Lenten Reading. If you want to know and understand more about the Catholic Faith, I highly recommend this Book!

I was raised Baptist and recently felt a strong pull towards Catholicism. After reading this book, I have decided that I am ready to convert. The author explains all of the common misconceptions about Catholics, and does so in a way that makes you excited to turn the page and read more. I will be purchasing this in hard copy as soon as possible. It earned its five stars!

Waking Up Catholic : A Guide to Catholic Beliefs for Converts, Reverts, and Anyone Becoming Catholic details the journey of author Chad Torgerson's path to Catholicism. Throughout the book Chad presents his disputes against the Catholic faith and how, after further study he realized, Catholicism was right.

In the early part of the book Chad discusses his desire to become a Christian minister. He also goes into some detail about how he debated and refuted Catholic beliefs. After some twist and turns in his life that led to his dream of ministry being shelved, Chad started to study and awaken to the truths of the Catholic Church.

This book covers a wide ranging number of topics that anyone discovering the Catholic Church would want answers on. The role of Scared Tradition widely disregarded by other faiths, is a cornerstone of Catholicism and the author explains why. Peter and the apostles, their successors (our Bishops) and their role of preserving the teaching of the Church through the Magesterium. The Saints, their Feast Days and the truth about their statues and images. The Eucharist and what it means to the Catholic Church. Confession, how it works and why it is so important. These and other topics are covered in the book and shed light on the Catholic Faith for those just starting their exploration.

The Chapter on Mary, I feel, was very reflective of many converts path to the Catholic faith. I detail it here as an example of what you will find in the book. As a Protestant, Chad had learned that Mary should not receive, in fact no one, deserves our love and adoration except the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Catholics believe she deserves veneration as the mother of Christ, and they look to her for intercessory prayers. Chad struggled with the many images and statues of Mary he observed, in his viewpoint, were being worshiped by his Catholic friends. Using Old Testament laws he would, in his opinion, prove the practice was wrong. Another problem he had issue with were the various apparitions of Mary recorded throughout Catholic history. Eventually as Chad came to know and love Catholicism he did some research on Mary hoping find volumes and volumes on why we hold Mary in such high regard. He found very little other than a few brief line in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. With no other option left other than prayer Chad discovered the simple truth. There is only one reason, not hundreds, and that is the simple truth that Mary is the Mother of Christ. Of all the women in all of history, God chose Mary to be the Mother of his Son. As Chad notes "her role in the Church is a model of faith and purity".

This book is a fantastic source for those contemplating the Catholic faith or those who are lapsed Catholics coming back to the Church. Chad's approach of telling his misgivings and then revealing what he discovered to debunk those misgivings is very indicative of what most converts go through. His approach to presenting the material is refreshing and not so overly theological that your average reader cannot grasp it. Even as a regular weekly Mass attendee I found the book to be a good read and it served as a good refresher on basic Catholic beliefs.

I received a copy of this book for this review from Assisi Media. You can learn more about the book on the Waking Up Catholic website.

"Waking Up Catholic" by Chad R. Torgerson is a must read for people who want to know and understand more about the Catholic faith. Mr. Torgerson explains the Catholic Faith in clear ways that people can really understand! He was a Protestant before coming to the Roman Catholic Church, as was I! He helped me to understand why Catholics have the Rituals; Oral Traditions ;The difference between Sacraments and Sacramentals; The Pope; The Blessed Virgin Mary; and many more facts! I chose this book as my Lenten Reading. If you want to know and understand more about the Catholic Faith, I highly recommend this Book!

I was raised Baptist and recently felt a strong pull towards Catholicism. After reading this book, I have decided that I am ready to convert. The author explains all of the common misconceptions about Catholics, and does so in a way that makes you excited to turn the page and read more. I will be purchasing this in hard copy as soon as possible. It earned its five stars!

Waking Up Catholic : A Guide to Catholic Beliefs for Converts, Reverts, and Anyone Becoming Catholic details the journey of author Chad Torgerson's path to Catholicism. Throughout the book Chad presents his disputes against the Catholic faith and how, after further study he realized, Catholicism was right.

In the early part of the book Chad discusses his desire to become a Christian minister. He also goes into some detail about how he debated and refuted Catholic beliefs. After some twist and turns in his life that led to his dream of ministry being shelved, Chad started to study and awaken to the truths of the Catholic Church.

This book covers a wide ranging number of topics that anyone discovering the Catholic Church would want answers on. The role of Scared Tradition widely disregarded by other faiths, is a cornerstone of Catholicism and the author explains why. Peter and the apostles, their successors (our Bishops) and their role of preserving the teaching of the Church through the Magesterium. The Saints, their Feast Days and the truth about their statues and images. The Eucharist and what it means to the Catholic Church. Confession, how it works and why it is so important. These and other topics are covered in the book and shed light on the Catholic Faith for those just starting their exploration.

The Chapter on Mary, I feel, was very reflective of many converts path to the Catholic faith. I detail it here as an example of what you will find in the book. As a Protestant, Chad had learned that Mary should not receive, in fact no one, deserves our love and adoration except the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Catholics believe she deserves veneration as the mother of Christ, and they look to her for intercessory prayers. Chad struggled with the many images and statues of Mary he observed, in his viewpoint, were being worshiped by his Catholic friends. Using Old Testament laws he would, in his opinion, prove the practice was wrong. Another problem he had issue with were the various apparitions of Mary recorded throughout Catholic history. Eventually as Chad came to know and love Catholicism he did some research on Mary hoping find volumes and volumes on why we hold Mary in such high regard. He found very little other than a few brief line in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. With no other option left other than prayer Chad discovered the simple truth. There is only one reason, not hundreds, and that is the simple truth that Mary is the Mother of Christ. Of all the women in all of history, God chose Mary to be the Mother of his Son. As Chad notes "her role in the Church is a model of faith and purity".

This book is a fantastic source for those contemplating the Catholic faith or those who are lapsed Catholics coming back to the Church. Chad's approach of telling his misgivings and then revealing what he discovered to debunk those misgivings is very indicative of what most converts go through. His approach to presenting the material is refreshing and not so overly theological that your average reader cannot grasp it. Even as a regular weekly Mass attendee I found the book to be a good read and it served as a good refresher on basic Catholic beliefs.

I received a copy of this book for this review from Assisi Media. You can learn more about the book on the Waking Up Catholic website.

This book provides simple explanations of the Catholic faith. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I'm beginning my new journey and this book provided answers to a lot ok f the questions I had as I too come from a Protestant background. Thank you so much forsaking your experience with us.

Written by a previously protestant-now Catholic author, he does an amazing job of introducing the catholic religion and explaining the meaning behind some of the differences between the catholic church and Protestant church in a way that is backed by logic and scripture. A great starting point for anyone curious about the Catholic faith or anyone returning to it.

I really enjoyed this book on Catholicism. The author blends aspects of his conversion story with information about the Catholic Church and finally issues a call to action. This is a fairly shallow book in some regards, seeking to cover a lot but not in too much detail. Still it makes for a good primer in the subjects. I read this book through the Kindle Lending Library for Prime members, and I was pleased with it.

I have always been extremely interested in Catholicism, and with Pope Francis recently visiting the US, it sparked my interest even more. I came across this book on my Kindle app and immediately downloaded it. Great book for anyone trying to gain more insight into the Catholic Church in a simple way, I believe I will give it a second read!! Loved it!!

I left the Catholic church 20years ago. The priest that baptized my newborn son told me that my marriage was a sin. I married a divorced Catholic man 25years ago. Still very much in love and happy, children grown, what's missing? I want to "go home" This book taught me about forgiveness, and where to find it. God. I will attend RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation of Adults) and except God into my heart and soul. I will be grateful the day that I complete my confirmation. Thank you so much for writing this book.

I was raised Catholic but decided to give this book a read. My husband and a good friend have at different points in life considered joining the Church and I wanted to get this point of view. However, it ended up being better than that for me. A well written, to the point reminder of some basics.