Choose a topic from Vol 2:

God

Proof of God's existence
God's nature
Supreme control over all things and the problem of suffering and evil

Man

Destiny of man
Death
Immortality of man's soul
Pre-existence denied
The human free will
Determinism absurd

Religion

Necessity of religion
Salvation of the soul
Voice of science
Religious racketeers
Divine revelation
Revealed mysteries
Existence of miracles

The Religion of the Bible

Gospels historical
Missing Books of the Bible
The Bible inspired
Biblical account of creation
New Testament problems
Supposed contradictions in Sacred Scripture

The Christian Faith

Source of Christian teaching
Jewish rejection of Christ
Christianity a new religion
Rational foundation for belief
Causes of unbelief

A Definite Christian Faith

Divisions amongst Christians
Schisms unjustified
Facing the problem
The wrong approach
Is one religion as good as another?
Obligation of inquiry
Charity and tolerance

The Protestant Reformation

Meaning of "Protestant"
Causes of the Reformation
Catholic reaction
Reformers mistaken
The idealization of Protestantism
The Catholic estimate

The Truth of Catholicism

Meaning of the word "Church"
Origin of the Church
The Catholic claim
The Roman hierarchy
The Pope
The Petrine text
St. Peter's supremacy
St. Peter in Rome
Temporal power
Infallibility
Unity of the Church
Holiness of the Church
Catholicity of the Church
Apostolicity of the Church
Indefectibility of the Church
Obligation to be a Catholic

The Church and the Bible

Catholic attitude towards the Bible
Is Bible reading forbidden to Catholics?
Protestant Bibles
The Catholic Douay Version
Principle of private interpretation
Need of Tradition
The teaching authority of the Catholic Church

The Dogmas of the Church

Revolt against dogma
Value of a Creed
The divine gift of Faith
Faith and reason
The "Dark Ages"
The claims of science
The Holy Trinity
Creation and evolution
Angels
Devils
Man
Reincarnation
Sin
Christ
Mary
Grace and salvation
The Sacraments
Baptism
Confession
Holy Eucharist
The Sacrifice of the Mass
Holy Communion
The Catholic Priesthood
Marriage and divorce
Extreme Unction
Judgment
Hell
Purgatory
Indulgences
Heaven
The resurrection of the body
The end of the world

The Church and Her Moral Teachings

Conscience
Truth
Charity
Scandal
Tolerance
Censorship
The Inquisition
Astrology
Other superstitions
Attendance at Mass
Sex education
Attitude to "Free Love"
Abortion
Suicide

The Church in Her Worship

Magnificent edifices
Lavish ritual
Women in Church
Catholics and "Mother's Day"
Liturgical Days
Burial rites
Candles and votive lamps
The rosary
Lourdes water
The Scapular

The Church and Social Welfare

Social influence of the Church
The education question
The Church and world distress
Catholic attitude towards Capitalism
The remedy for social ills
Communism condemned
The Fascist State
Morality of war
May individuals become soldiers?
The Church and peace
Capital punishment
Catholic Action

Comparative Study of Non-Catholic Denominations

Defections from the Catholic Church
Gnosticism
Manichaeism
Arianism
Nestorianism
Eutychianism
Coptic Church
Greek Orthodox Church
Anglican Episcopal Church
The "Free" or "Nonconformist" Churches
Presbyterianism
Methodism
Church of Christ
Baptists
Seventh Day Adventists
Plymouth Brethren
Catholic Apostolic Church or Irvingites
Salvation Army
Spiritualism
Christian Science
Christadelphians
British Israelism
Liberal Catholics
Witnesses of Jehovah
Buchmanism or the "Oxford Group Movement"
From Protestantism to Catholicism

To and From Rome

Conversion of Cardinal Newman
Why Gladstone refrained
The peculiar case of Lord Halifax
Gibbon the historian
Secession of Father Chiniquy
Father Tyrrell, the modernist
Bishop Garrett's departure
Judgment on lapsed Catholics
Protestant apathy towards conversion of Catholics
Principles for converts to Catholicism
God's will that all should become Catholics

Plymouth Brethren

1305. Who founded the Plymouth Brethren?

This sect owes its origin to a Rev. John Nelson Darby, who was an Anglican clergyman in Ireland. He was an extremely Low Churchman, very Protestant in his outlook, and with a horror of the Catholic Church. Disgusted by the growing High Church tendencies associated with the Oxford Movement, he left Anglicanism in order to become a Protestant evangelist unattached to any Church. A pronounced "Bible-only" man, he began to preach a strict literalism in the interpretation of Scripture, even of the most mystical and symbolical passages. In 1827 he began to plead with people to separate from all Churches, whether Protestant or Catholic, and to reject ecclesiastical authority of any sort. In 1830 he went to Plymouth, and there founded his sect of the "Brethren." Hence the name, "Plymouth Brethren." But they were also known as the "Darbyites." Any brother was allowed to pray or preach, but those not gifted with utterance were discouraged from officiating. Despite the rejection of all ecclesiastical authority, however, the "Brethren" were expected to adopt the teachings of Darby himself; and the refusal by some to do so led to their excommunication. Various subsequent disputes have led to the formation of four different branches, at least, of the "Brethren."

1306. What are their doctrines?

They hold that the whole Christian body throughout the world fell away from the truth, and was rejected by God. They themselves are the "Lord's People" now. Darby taught strict Calvinism. For him, some people were predestined to hell; others to heaven. Personal merit makes no difference. Prayer must be chiefly the praise of God. Prayer of petition is not of much value. The Lord's Supper is celebrated every week. The Second Coming of Christ is likely to occur at any moment now, when He will inaugurate the Millennium, or His reign on earth for a thousand years. During that time the devil will be bound, and people will get a second and better chance of salvation. But the Brethren differ among themselves as to the nature of this Millennial reign of Christ.

1307. Are the Plymouth Brethren of any importance numerically?

They number about 11,000 throughout the world. The sect cannot expect to grow. The very doctrine of predestination, and the necessity of being elected by God, discourages efforts to convert others. If a man is predestined to join the Brethren, he will do so; if not, no preaching will persuade him to join. The members are not very interested, therefore, in the gaining of converts, and they profess to welcome only those whom the Lord sends them. They are not in the least disconcerted by the fact that the Lord inspires few to join their ranks, for they are essentially the "chosen few" as opposed to the multitudes whom God rejects. The Catholic Church knows, on the other hand, that she has been commissioned by Christ to go to all nations, and to "preach the Gospel to every creature."

NEXT TOPIC »

MORE FROM VOLUME 2

Prefer a PRINT version?