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Is Catholic Christianity by Peter Kreeft appropriate for a 13 yr old? Also, has anyone used Your Questions, God's Answers or Because God is Real? I'm looking for some books for my dd to read this coming year prior to her enrolling in our parish's Confirmation program. I will be reading and discussing them with her. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

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I like Peter Kreeft, but I don't have that particular book or the others you mentioned.

 

For 11-13, I like the Prove It books a lot. I also liked A Philadelphia Catholin in King James' Court, although I wouldn't call it top-notch literature.

 

Hope someone with older kids chimes in to help you more!

 

I haven't read the book you asked about either. The author of A Philadelphia Catholic is the Godfather of one of my kids. It's not great literature, but it is based on personal experience and a deepening of personal faith.

 

To find ideas for what books to use, I like to look at the book lists on Angelicum Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas Academy.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have read the Peter Kreeft book, and I think the content would be fine for a 13 yr old. I don't know if it will all be understandable to her though, it probably depends on her reading/comprehension level.

 

I HIGHLY recommend Ronald Knox's book "The Creed in Slow Motion". I bought this off Amazon last spring and I love it. It recently has been back in print. This book was actually a series of lectures Fr Knox gave to a group of girls from a boarding school who were being sheltered from the Blitz. He is amazingly clear and very amusing as he dissects the Creed piece by piece. I wish I had been given this kind of clarity as a teen!

 

I would also recommend maybe some Scott Hahn books for that age. For some reason I just keep thinking the Kreeft book will be tough for that age... but I don't have a child that age yet, so I could be underestimating.

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I have read the Peter Kreeft book, and I think the content would be fine for a 13 yr old. I don't know if it will all be understandable to her though, it probably depends on her reading/comprehension level.

 

I HIGHLY recommend Ronald Knox's book "The Creed in Slow Motion". I bought this off Amazon last spring and I love it. It recently has been back in print. This book was actually a series of lectures Fr Knox gave to a group of girls from a boarding school who were being sheltered from the Blitz. He is amazingly clear and very amusing as he dissects the Creed piece by piece. I wish I had been given this kind of clarity as a teen!

 

I would also recommend maybe some Scott Hahn books for that age. For some reason I just keep thinking the Kreeft book will be tough for that age... but I don't have a child that age yet, so I could be underestimating.

 

Is there any particular books by Scott Hahn that you would recommend? I have Rome Sweet Home and The Lamb's Supper. I will check around for the book by Ronald Knox.

 

Since this thread got brought back up, I'm also wondering now what the difference is between Mere Christianity (I've read this some long time ago) and The Case for Christianity?

 

Thanks.

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I was thinking of "Hail, Holy Queen", I think it explains the role of the Blessed Mother very clearly and beautifully. "The Lamb's Supper" would be a good one too (personally I had trouble getting into that one, but that was probably due to sleep deprivation at the time). He also has one called "Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith" - I have not read this one yet, but it would be worth looking at for a Confirmation student I think. If you child doesn't already go to Confession regularly, perhaps his book on that sacrament would be helpful too.

 

In thinking about this more this afternoon, I think I'd actually (if I were doing this with my child) use Trese in place of Kreeft. I think Leo Trese's "The Faith Explained" is similar but maybe more thorough than Kreeft's book. It is an excellent book, especially if you are going to be reading it together and discussing it. Just something else to consider. In my opinion it is more "readable" than Kreeft in the sense that Kreeft goes through each point in a rather dry fashion, whereas Trese's chapters seem to be filled with a little more explanation.

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In thinking about this more this afternoon, I think I'd actually (if I were doing this with my child) use Trese in place of Kreeft. I think Leo Trese's "The Faith Explained" is similar but maybe more thorough than Kreeft's book. It is an excellent book, especially if you are going to be reading it together and discussing it. Just something else to consider. In my opinion it is more "readable" than Kreeft in the sense that Kreeft goes through each point in a rather dry fashion, whereas Trese's chapters seem to be filled with a little more explanation.

 

This is why I need to ask. I have The Faith Explained and completely forgot about it.

 

Thank you for your help.

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Is there any particular books by Scott Hahn that you would recommend? I have Rome Sweet Home and The Lamb's Supper. I will check around for the book by Ronald Knox.

 

Since this thread got brought back up, I'm also wondering now what the difference is between Mere Christianity (I've read this some long time ago) and The Case for Christianity?

 

Thanks.

 

The Case for Christianity is straight out of Mere Christianity. It is just the core content of the book without all the extra tangential material, so it is much thinner and somewhat easier to digest; it's a great introduction to Lewis. Unfortunately it is also harder to find and often more expensive. :001_huh:

 

You might also like a small anthology of Lewis called Readings for Reflection and Meditation. I think it is edited by Hooper, maybe? It has a wonderful collection of short excerpts that are ideal to read aloud and discuss. It is also a great introduction to Lewis. I would prefer it for a young person. Not so apologetics oriented but more general. Very good stuff and a good primer for Mere Christianity and Lewis's other works. Enjoy!

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