Being Catholic in a Culture of Choice

by Thomas P. Rausch

What will the next generation of Catholics be like? Will they have a strong sense of their identity as Catholic Christians, or will they reflect a more generic Christian identity, without the distinctives associated with Catholicism? Some social commentators suggest that the Catholic identity of young adult Catholics is in jeopardy, with a less ecclesial faith, a thin commitment to the institutional church, and alack of familiarity with the Catholic tradition. Others argue that there are signs that a new generation of younger Catholics is emerging, not all of whom fall easily into the liberal/conservative categories, though many Catholics over fifty tend to dismiss them as conservative, neo-conservative, or even restorationist. Thomas Rausch's book examines a number of recent studies of young adult Catholics as well as different ways that being Catholic is developed and supported, from the Catholic imagination to a reexamination of Christian origins in the light of the charges made in The Da Vinci Code, to the domestic church and Catholic colleges and universities.

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2006

About the author

Father Thomas P. Rausch, S.J., Ph.D. (Religion, Duke University, 1976; S.T.M., Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, 1972; M.A. Gonzaga University, 1967; B.A., Gonzaga, 1966), is the Emeritus T. Marie Chilton Professor of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, and an ordained Roman Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit) order. He was rector of the Jesuit community at Loyola Marymount 1988–1994, and chair of the department of Theological Studies 1994–2000.

Reviews

[Filip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a Catholic in Culture of Choice is a very interesting book about future of catholicism and what it means to be a catholic in this modern world. Book is not to preachy and author gives realistic opinions on faith today.

[Gerry Czerak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rausch helped get me intrigued with the young adult Catholics and their needs/wishes/"hooks" that need to be addressed before it is too late.119 pages that pack a punch.