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Summary: Apologetics makes us understand, and not act with ignorance
Review: As our friend from Ottawa wrote on June 6, 2003 regarding the Immaculate Conception, he proved why Protestants must read Catholic apologetics and why Catholics must read Protestant apologetics. Agologetics are nothing more than "combative" theology (some prefer to call it "faith defense," but that expression is weak-minded). Good apologetic writing generates understanding of the other faith, an understanding that our friend from Ottawa does not yet possess. From his comments, I doubt he read this or any other Catholic apologetic book. If he did, he would know what we Protestants should all know: What the real Catholic doctrines are. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is not the belief that Mary was conceived in the womb of her mother (Anne) by devine intervention like Christ was. The Catholic belief is that Mary was conceived in the normal way by her biological mother and father. IC doctrine says that at the moment of her natural (as opposed to Jesus's "supernatural") conception, God interceded as He never did in human history, and immediately primed Mary to be the mother of His Son by cleansing her soul (which Catholics believe exists at the instant of conception) of sin, particularly original sin. Thus, she was blessed and purified unlike any human before her or since (save for Jesus Himself), and fit to be the "Mother of God." Now, this belief may be unbiblical -- not found in the Bible (or if you are a strident anti-Catholic it may seem anti-biblical -- contradicted in the Bible, but that is not really true), but at least you should know what the doctrine means before mis-asserting an impression that implies that Catholics belief that Mary is, like Christ, of a devine nature, or the "daughter" of God. Good apologetics serve two purposes: it strengthens the faith you have now, or it convinces you that, for reasons unique to you, you should change religions. Either way, it should be accepted as good education that either confirms your faith, or changes it. To this end, judge apologetic works, from both sides, for their effectiveness, not just from the side of the fence that you are on now. I have read great Catholic apologetics, and lousy Protestant apologetics, and I have read lousy Catholic apologetics and wonderful Protestant apologetics. A good Protestant can appreciate good Catholic apologetics, and vise versa.
Rating: 
Summary: A pointless book
Review: Books like this, or there Protestant counterparts (such as "The Roman Catholic Controversy") are basically written for the benefit of those that already accept their basic viewpoints. They really do "preach to the choir," so to speak.
They only appeal to fundamentalists, either Roman Catholic or Protestant. Most folks really don't care less about their tired arguments - they worship in the tradition they were born into. Some are comfortable with Roman Catholicism because they appreciate the ritual and tradition, finding Protestant services too boring and void of emotion. Conversely, some are uncomortable with Roman Catholicism because the ritual forms alien and inexplicable, and distracting from a focus on scripture.
The disagreements over Mary and the Pope are many and too well known to recite here. But it seems to me that far more unites Catholics and other Christians than divides them.
Obviously, people from both traditions can love their neighbor as they love themselves... I recall Jesus giving that great commandment, but I don't remember him uttering a single sylable about "Thou Shalt Not Be Protestant," or "Sola Scriptura is the Way to Go!," either.
This book does an able job of detailing some of the historical bones of contentions between these two great Christian groups. I guess it would make good reading for those interested in such topics. I find it hard to believe that many will find any spiritual comfort in its pages, however.
For those interested in learning about how the message of Jesus Christ is relevant to modern Christians today, and how to be a Christian without having to denigrate the traditions of either Roman Catholics, Protestants, or anyone else for that matter, I strongly advise the Teaching Series of the Episcopal Church. YES, there IS a non-fundamentalist, inclusive form of Christianity that doesn't require you to look down on anyone!
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Summary: Sola Scriptura = Only My Opinion of Scripture is Infallable
Review: Evidently the last two pro-"sola scriptura" reviewers didn't read the book very carefully (if at all), because the book completely debunks both of their objections. This work very thoroughly refutes the the idea that Sacred Scripture is the sole infallable rule of faith. It makes obvious how forced, unreasonable, unworkable, unhistorical, and ironically, how unbiblical, this reformation-invented idea is. Since the books of the Bible were canonized by the Catholic Church, you'll even hear the most prominent Protestant apologists claim that the Bible is "A fallable collection of infallable books." It is by this disturbing notion that Martin Luther decided to remove James & Revelation (among others) from the New Testament until some of his followers decided that maybe they shouldn't. I highly recommend this book.
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Summary: do all these review threads turn into apologetics?
Review: Funny how the anti-Catholic posters always get Catholic understandings confused.
Afterall, that is difficult to do because the RCC has the courage to write its beliefs down and publish them widely. Funny because Protestants accuse the RCC of hiding the bible and obscuring teaching!
I have recently tried to investigate Protestantism as a "Seeking Christian" but hit against the variety of interpretations and individual flexibility. Beyond the consensus that the bible is God's word it is a free for all. Even such fundamentals as sola scriptura and sola fide are not accepted by many Prostestants in the form that the first Reformers employed them to seperate from the RCC.
Thus, some modern protestants seem to reject both pre-reformation/catholic history and the philosophical pillars of their own fathers Luther, Calvin etc, in place they create communities with shallow roots held by the optimism of the HS. Identifying protestant beliefs is like nailing jelly to a tree. Interesting point on James bro of Jesus? Will investigate... Regarding Immaculate conception... poster below is WRONG. They should have look at a catholic catechism or the catholic encyclopedia. Good luck finding info on obscure protestant ideas!!
Mary was not conceived in the same way as Jesus (by the HS). She was conceived as a human but by God's grace did not have original sin. For example, Gabriel addresses her "Hail Mary, full of grace."
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Summary: Another great volume from Sungenis and pals...
Review: In his characteristic style, Robert Sungenis leaves no stone unturned in his salvo against Sola Scriptura. The biblical verses (slim at best) that are marshalled to support the Protestant view of Sola Scriptura are examined under a microscope and shown that they cannot support sola scriptura. Arguments from Protestant authors (John MacArthur, James White, RC Sproul, John Armstrong, Norman Geisler etc.) are systematically debunked. I read this volume with doubts about the truth of Sola Scriptura, but I wasn't for fully rejecting it. Now I cannot accept Sola Scriptura as a valid rule of faith. The only real criticism that I have of this book is ironically the same criticism of one of the books this volume rebutts. Like "Sola Scriptura! The Protestant Position on the Bible" the essay format of the book tends to overlap ideas, making the book overly redundant. Although it is not as guilty of this as "Sola Scirptura!" (and to a greater extent, "Justification by Faith ALONE"), it still is a weak point, in an otherwise outstanding work. As a post-script, many critics of this book have claimed that the authors didn't understand sola scriptura. While this is the standard condescending response to any critique of Reformed theology, it must be pointed out that this conclusion is completely unwarranted. First, many of the authors themselves were of the Reformed persuasion and then converted to Catholicism (Sungenis himself went to Westminster Theological Seminary, a stronghold of Reformed theology). Second, before offering a critique on any aspect of Sola Scriptura, they quote what leading Protestant sources (i.e. RC Sproul, James White and The Westminster Confession of Faith) have said on that aspect before delivering their critique.
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Summary: A Must-Have for Catholic Apologists
Review: Perhaps the primary difference between Catholics and Protestants is what they consider to be valid spiritual authorities. The Catholic Church has always believed in the Bible as well as Sacred Tradition while Luther and Calvin introduced the concept of sola scriptura (the Bible alone) as the final authority. This book, written by a man who converted from Protestantism to Catholicism, presents the biblical and historical rationale for the Catholic position as well as responding to the common Protestant objections to the Catholic position. It is a "must have" for any Catholic interested in defending his faith.
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Summary: "Sola Scriptura" Demolished
Review: Sungenis and friends leave no stone unturned in this thorough refutation of the man-made concept of "Sola Scriptura". Counter arguments by the leading (and hopelessly misdirected) modern protestant apologists are shot down like the bad guys in a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. Sungenis has spoken. The case is closed!
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Summary: A very important book in my own conversion
Review: Sungenis has done it again. This masterwork comprising essays from different Catholic thinkers and apologists is clear, exhaustive and convincing for all of its 619 pages with which it smashes sola scriptura. From the fact that sola scriptura was never believed until the reformation, to the fact that the NT itself contains extra-biblical Jewish traditions to the fact that sola scriptura makes the bible the personal rubix cube of the reader, this book will make any Protestant who takes the time to read and actually digest the arguments in it very, very uncomfortable. As a Protestant, I had to be honest an admit that s.s. has no basis-either biblically, or epistemologically.
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Summary: Sola Scriptura Demolished
Review: The book _Not By Scripture Alone: A Catholic Critique of the Protestant Doctrine of Sola Scriptura_ (Queenship, 1997) is surely to remain the most comprehensive response to and refutation of the primary Protestant principle well into the new millennium. And it might take me a millennium to finish reading and digesting the arguments in the book (over 600 pages). I especially appreciate the detailed responses in the book to major Evangelical Protestant critics of Catholicism such as White, MacArthur, Geisler/Mackenzie and others. These are found throughout the book but especially in the two chapters by Bob Sungenis on the supposed Biblical support for Sola Scriptura (which is shown to be non-existent) and the answers to the few arguments for Sola Scriptura and anti-Catholic objections culled from the writings of recent Evangelical works against Catholicism. The tone is polite in response. The most interesting and well-written chapters in my opinion are the ones by Phil Blosser and Joe Gallegos. Blosser explains the philosophical problems with Sola Scriptura in great logical detail and Gallegos puts into print his massive work on the Church Fathers (in his chapter and an appendix) on Scripture, Tradition, and Church Authority (including the Papacy). Quite comprehensive and clear patristic references included in footnotes for anyone willing to check his work. An excellent companion to the Bob Sungenis work on Justification (Not By Faith Alone). Phil Porvaznik
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Romanist Attack of Christianity
Review: This book "Not by Scripture Alone: A Catholic Critique of the Protestant Doctrine of Sola Scriptura" would be closer to the truth if it were titled "A Romanist Attack of Biblical Christianity" or something to that effect. Because this book is at it's heart just an attack of Biblical Christianity.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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