12 July 2015

Book Description-328: "ROMAN CATHOLICS AND EVANGELICALS: Agreements and Differences (Prof. Norman L. Geisler, Ph.D. & Ralph E. MacKenzie, M.A.)

Roman Catholics and Evangelicals are two different Christian people who always blame each other as a heresy. Is is true that they are so different that we suppose?

Get the answer in the:
Book
ROMAN CATHOLICS AND EVANGELICALS:
Agreements and Differences

by: 
Prof. Norman L. Geisler, Ph.D. and 
Ralph E. MacKenzie, M.A.

Publisher: Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 1995



In this book, Dr. Norman L. Geisler and Ralph E. MacKenzie analyze about the agreements and the differences between Roman Catholicism and Evangelical. This book consists 4 part: Part one, they explain about 8 areas of doctrinal agreement between Roman Catholicism and Evangelical, such as: Revelation, God, human beings, Christ, salvation, the church, ethics, and last things (eschatology). In part two, Dr. Geisler and MacKenzie tell us about 8 areas of doctrinal differences between Roman Catholicism and Evangelical. In this part, they explain Catholics’ doctrines and critiques of Evangelical and then, they analyze those critiques based on the Holy Bible and church tradition (that Catholic believes). Eventhough there are 8 differences between Catholicism and Evangelical, in the third part, Dr. Geisler and MacKenzie believe that Roman Catholics and Evangelical can cooperate to expand the kingdom of God, such as:  social action, educational goals, spiritual heritage, and evangelism. In the last part, appendixes, they add some explanation about: eastern church, counter-reformation and later developments, modern/liberal Catholicism, Vatican Council II and the current situation, baptismal regeneration, and the Colson-Neuhaus Declaration. I believe that this book is so important for Evangelicals and Roman Catholicisms to discuss each other based on the Holy Bible.



Endorsement:
“It is important for us to understand the foundational things that we have in common, as well as to identify the irreducible difficulties that remain. Geisler and MacKenzie have undertaken the monumental task of showing us how to do this.”
Prof. Harold O. J. Brown, Ph.D. (1933-2007)
Professor Emeritus of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois and Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary (Charlotte) who holds Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) from Harvard College; Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) from Harvard Divnity School; Master of Theology (Th.M.) from Harvard Divinity School; and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from Harvard University

“I hope Catholic and evangelicals will read this book together, with the Catechism of the Catholic Church at hand for ready reference. Out of such prayerful study and honest argument will come, God willing, greater shared insight into the nature and mission of Christ and his church.”
Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, M.Div. (May 14, 1936 – January 8, 2009)
Ex Lutheran pastor who converted to Roman Catholics and became Roman Catholic priest holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. 

“The virtue of this book is clarity. It cuts through the fog of confusion and uncertainty like a searchlight. The real issues in Protestant/Catholic debate are laid bare with fairness and forthrightness. A book of this kind has long been needed.”
Prof. David Falconer Wells, Ph.D.
Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of historical and systematic theology at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Massachusetts who has B.D. from University of London; Th.M. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D from the University of Manchester (1969); and post-doctoral Research Fellow from Yale Divinity School.

“This book goes far towards resolving apparent differences between the two faiths, while at the same time revealing the great distance which in some ways still separates them.”
Prof. James Hitchcok, Ph.D.
Professor of History at Saint Louis University who holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Saint Louis University; M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University.



Biography of the authors:
Prof. Norman L. Geisler, Ph.D. is distinguished professor of apologetics and theology at Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California. He is the author of more than seventy books, including the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. He holds Diploma from William Tyndale College (1950-1955), then he studied in University of Detroit (1956-1957). After that, in 1958, he holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy from Wheaton College; Master of Arts (M.A.) in Theology from Wheaton Graduate School in 1960; and Bachelor of Theology (Th.B.) from William Tyndale College in 1964. In 1964, he worked in philosophy in Wayne State University Graduate School, in 1965-1966, he works on M.A in Philosophy in University of Detroit Graduate School, and in 1968, he also work in philosophy in Northwestern University, Evanston. In 1970, he holds Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Philosophy from Loyola University, Chicago. He has lectured in all 50 states and 26 countries on six continents. He is married to Barbara Jean (graduate of Fort Wayne Bible College {now: Taylor University}) and together they have six children, fifteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. His website: http://www.normgeisler.com

Ralph E. MacKenzie, M.A. graduated from Bethel Seminary, San Diego, in 1992, with a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Theological Studies and a concentration in Church History. In 1993, he spent three months at Odessa International Theological Seminary in the Ukraine as a visiting professor in Church History and Systematic Theology. He has also served as a visiting lecturer at BIOLA University's School of Apologetics in Los Angeles where he taught Church History and Historical Theology. While doing so, he addressed such topics as current religious trends and the interaction between science and the Christian faith. Ralph is married and delights in his eleven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Lastly, he and his wife Donna fellowship and serve at First Presbyterian Church in San Diego.