Catholicism: A Very Short Introduction, Edition 2
May 2017 · Oxford University Press
Ebook
160
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
Despite a long history of external threats and internal strife, the Roman Catholic Church remains a vast and influential presence in our modern world. But what were its origins, and how has it changed and adapted over the centuries? After Pope Benedict XVI dramatically resigned in early 2013 (the first Pope to resign since the fifteenth century), and Pope Francis was elected, many wondered what direction he would lead the Church in, and whether the Church could modernise in the face of the demands of our world. In this Very Short Introduction, Gerald O'Collins covers the history of the Catholic Church, and considers some of the key issues facing Catholicism today, such as the catastrophic revelations about clerical child abuse, the impact of the growth of Islam, and the destruction in the Middle East of ancient Christian church communities. He also shows how Catholics are being increasingly challenged by an opposition between their traditional Christian values and rights which are endorsed by the secular world, such as the right to physician assisted suicide or same-sex marriage, and considers the future for the largest and oldest institution in the world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
About the author
Gerald O'Collins, SJ, PhD (Cantab.) is Adjunct Professor of the Australian Catholic University, a research fellow of the University of Divinity (Melbourne), and Professor Emeritus of the Gregorian University (Rome), where he taught for 33 years and also served as Dean of the Faculty of Theology. He has written or co-written 67 books, including Catholicism: The Story of Catholic Christianity (OUP, 2004), Salvation for All (OUP, 2008), and The Second Vatican Council on Other Religions (OUP, 2013). He has authored hundreds of articles in professional and popular journals, and lectured at many universities and colleges worldwide. In 2006 he was created a Companion of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest civil honour granted through the Australian government.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
