Why I Am Catholic (and You Should Be Too)

by Brandon Vogt

Overview

Winner of a 2018 Catholic Press Association Award: Popular Presentation of the Catholic Faith. (First Place).


With atheism on the rise and millions tossing off religion, why would anyone consider the Catholic Church? Brandon Vogt, a bestselling author and the content director for Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, shares his passionate search for truth, a journey that culminated in the realization that Catholicism was right about a lot of things, maybe even everything. His persuasive case for the faith reveals a vision of Catholicism that has answers our world desperately needs and reminds those already in the Church what they love about it.

A 2016 study by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 25 percent of adults (39 percent of young adults) describe themselves as unaffiliated with any religion. Millions of these so-called “nones” have fled organized religion and many more have rejected God altogether.

Brandon Vogt was one of those nones. When he converted to Catholicism in college, he knew how confusing that decision was to many of his friends and family. But he also knew that the evidence he discovered pointed to one conclusion: Catholicism is true. To his delight, he discovered it was also exceedingly good and beautiful.

Why I Am Catholic traces Vogt’s spiritual journey, making a refreshing, twenty-first century case for the faith and answering questions being asked by agnostics, nones, and atheists, the audience for his popular website, StrangeNotions.com, where Catholics and atheists dialogue. With references to Catholic thinkers such as G. K. Chesterton, Ven. Fulton Sheen, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and Bishop Robert Barron, Vogt draws together lines of evidence to help seekers discover why they should be Catholic as an alternative.

Why I Am Catholic serves as a compelling reproposal of the Church for former Catholics, a persuasive argument for truth and beauty to those who have become jaded and disenchanted with religion, and at the same time offers practicing Catholics a much-needed dose of confidence and clarity to affirm their faith against an increasingly skeptical culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594717680
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	10/06/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	561,797
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Brandon Vogt is a bestselling and award-winning author of ten books, including Why I Am Catholic (and You Should Be Too) and What to Say and How to Say It, volumes I and II. He is the founder of ClaritasU, which trains Catholics in how to talk about their faith, especially hot-button issues. He works as the senior publishing director for Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.

Vogt is the cohost of The Word on Fire Show with Bishop Barron, and The Burrowshire Podcast with Fr. Blake Britton. Vogt runs several websites including StrangeNotions.com, the largest site of dialogue between Catholics and atheists, and ChurchFathers.org, the go-to resource for people wondering what the earliest Christians believed.

Vogt's work has been featured by media outlets including NPR, Fox News, CBS, EWTN, America magazine, Vatican Radio, Our Sunday Visitor, National Review, and Christianity Today.

Vogt has served as a consultant to the US Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis and on the board of the Society of G.K. Chesterton. He serves as president of the Central Florida Chesterton Society and founder of Chesterton Academy of Orlando, a new classical high school.

Along with his wife and children, he lives on Burrowshire, a small farm outside Orlando, Florida.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Paperback Edition ix

Introduction: The Only Rebellion Left 1

Part I Catholicism Is True

1 Because God Exists 11

2 Because We Need Religion 27

3 Because Jesus Is God 39

4 Because Jesus Started a Church 53

Part II Catholicism Is Good

5 Because It Built Western Civilization 73

6 Because of Its Heroic Charity 85

7 Because It Doesn't Go with the Times 97

8 Because It Offers True Forgiveness 113

Part III Catholicism Is Beautiful

9 Because It Cherishes Beauty 127

10 Because It Lifts Us Up 137

11 Because It's for Everybody 149

Conclusion: Join the Rebellion 161

Appendix: Going Deeper 171

Notes 173

Editorial Reviews

08/28/2017
Vogt, the content director for Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Catholic ministries, is well-acquainted with Catholic teaching and a champion for the church in the 21st century, and his eagerness and excitement about the faith are evident in this evangelical work aimed at convincing young adults to take another (or a first) glance at Catholicism and its tenets. His intellectual arguments are not as persuasive as his personal testimony, which highlights why he finds Catholicism so beautiful and nourishing to his soul. Some conservative readers may find the defense of female priests and arguments against artificial birth control to be tiresome, especially in the U.S., where the faithful and the hierarchy seem to diverge greatly on these issues. For those interested in learning more about Catholicism, however, this is a great primer. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"In a time of crisis, when so many young people have abandoned the Church, Brandon Vogt stands out among his generation as one who boldly affirms the truth, goodness, and beauty of the Catholic faith. As this book demonstrates, he is bright, articulate, kind, and passionate. He's one of the radiant lights of the New Evangelization." —Most Rev. Robert Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles

"Why I Am Catholic is the best book on apologetics I’ve read in a long time and one of the few apologetics books I’d feel comfortable sharing with non-Catholics." —Rev. Matthew Schneider, L.C.

"I wish I'd read this book back when I was an atheist—I would have become Catholic much sooner! Brandon Vogt makes clear, reasonable arguments that will resonate with people from any faith background." —Jennifer Fulwiler, Catholic radio host and author of Something Other Than God

"This book is clear, concise, and persuasive all in the same breath. Seeing the Church's truth, goodness, and beauty so effortlessly spelled out without getting too technical is truly masterful." —Matthew Sewell, National Catholic Register

"Brandon Vogt has written an insightful case for the Catholic faith. His treatment on how beauty confirms the truth of Catholicism is one of the best I've ever read." —Trent Horn, Apologist at Catholic Answers and author of Answering Atheism


"Why I Am Catholic proposes a most winning account, one that will tug most any reader toward fondness for the faith." —Christopher Kaczor, America

"Like all of Brandon Vogt’s writing, his compelling new book is accessible, inviting, practical, inspirational, and, in the deepest sense, true." —Rev. James Martin, S.J., Author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

"For years, I’ve longed for a book that I could recommend to parents whose children have left the Church or to people who have lost their faith. This is that book. Brandon Vogt makes the case for Catholicism with remarkable clarity and charity. Along the way, he handles common objections to Catholicism with answers that touch both mind and heart. If you know someone struggling with belief—or if you yourself have questions or doubts—then do yourself a favor: buy this book, read it, and then share it with others." —Brant Pitre, Catholic theologian, speaker, and author of The Case for Jesus

"Superb. Concise, readable, and substantive. Amazing." —Tom Neal, Professor of spiritual theology and director of lay programs, Notre Dame Seminary

"Brandon Vogt is one of my spiritual mentors, role models, and prayer warriors. I love Why I Am Catholic, in which Brandon provides guidance to a world in need of compassion and reason. " —Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author of The Grace of Yes

From the Publisher