Historical Dictionary of Catholicism - Hardcover

Collinge, William J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 081083233X ISBN 13: 9780810832336

Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 1996

Synopsis

Provides comprehensive coverage of Catholicism, with emphasis on theology, doctrine, and liturgy. It covers the entire Catholic tradition from the time of Christ, and includes the periods before the division of Christianity into Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant, but the main emphasis is on the development of Latin-rite ceremony in the United States.

The introduction and an eight page chronological chart offer an overview of the history. The Dictionary contains five hundred brief articles complemented by about four hundred cross-references and index references. The volume discusses not only normative Catholicism but also heretical, schismatic, and dissident movements. On controversial issues, such as sexual morality, the dictionary endeavors to give a fair and sympathetic exposition of conflicting points of view. Appendixes list information on popes, councils, church documents, and prayers. The book concludes with a seventy-page bibliography, subdivided by subject.

About this title

About the Author

William J. Collinge is Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Mount Saint Mary's College.

Review

...an extremely ambitious undertaking, but one I believe he has accomplished in a brilliant way...a fine summary of the beliefs, rites, events, movements, memorable popes, saints, and other key persons in Catholic history. The summary of church history he provides in the introduction is a model of compression and delineates well the main lines of development...a lively, well written work...a very full bibliography...for anyone interested in the history of the Catholic Church, this is a most useful and up-to-date reference work. (The Catholic Historical Review)

...a valuable reference work on a vast topic. It is difficult to imagine that the history of Catholicism could be addressed in only 551 pages, but Collinge has risen to the task...will please pastors and parishioners seeking quick answers to questions about Catholic history, theology, or doctrine. All the entries are well written and concise... (Choice)

...while its approach is scholarly and historical, it is written in a lively tone from a modern perspective. (Times (Gettysburg, Pa))

...the entries are generous in the historical information provided...[and] cover a broad range of doctrinal, theological, liturgical, spiritual, ethical, historical, and institutional topics. The entires are uniformly well-written, informative, and refreshingly readable. The descriptions are impressive in their accuracy and fairness. The book includes several useful features in addition to the entries themselves. (The Living Light)

This is a remarkable and ambitious task given that it is the work of one person....Cross-referencing makes it easy to find information quickly....With more than 1 billion members worldwide, Catholicism is the Christian religion with the most members; this easy-to-use, one volume dictionary succeeds in capturing the important elements that are at its core. It is recommended for all libraries. (Arba)

Collinge has dealt quite effectively with the initial problem this book posed; from among the many topics a tradition that stretches back two millennia offers, he has selected the most significant for exposition...clear prose...welcome... (Rettig On Reference)

This book, an excellent source of information for American Catholics, makes a significant contribution to the promotion of historical and theological scholarship. (Church History)

William Collinge has produced a very helpful source of reference and information for a wider readership...one is tempted not only to read the entry one is looking for, but to continue to read and read and read. (The Ecumenical Review)

Edition details

• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 081083233X
• ISBN 13: 9780810832336
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 576