Preface to Religion

by Fulton J. Sheen, Rachael Underhill (Foreword)

Amidst the backdrop of World War II, the great Fulton Sheen wrote Preface to Religion, his first book published after the war ended. As the world was recovering from death, destruction, and despair, Sheen's timely work tackles the most salient questions pertaining to happiness and sanity. With simplicity and frankness, Sheen declares, "If you do not worship God, you worship something, and nine times out of ten it will be yourself. If there is no God, then you are a god." Throughout this work, Sheen addresses the perennial subjects of fallen nature, forgiveness, the four last things, how God remakes us, the role of religion in the process, and the gift of second chances.

Contrary to the modern world, God does not give us what "we want for our pleasure" but "what we need for our perfection." Preface to Religion reminds us of education's primary purpose, which is to train the mind to use freedom rightly. God chose to make a moral universe, but morality is impossible without freedom. And therefore, the reader will see that the body must always serve the soul.

Finally, Sheen writes on faith, that "the modern man who is not living according to his conscience wants a religion without a Cross, a Christ without a Calvary, a Kingdom without Justice," and a pastor "who never mentions hell to ears polite." For anyone seeking to find true happiness and true freedom, Preface to Religion will be your guide.

Genres: Theology, Catholic, Christianity

124 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 1946

About the author

Fulton John Sheen was an American bishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois, in 1919, Sheen quickly became a renowned theologian, earning the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923. He went on to teach theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and served as a parish priest before he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in 1951. He held this position until 1966 when he was made bishop of the Diocese of Rochester in New York. He resigned as bishop of Rochester in 1969 as his 75th birthday approached and was made archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales.
For 20 years as "Father Sheen", later monsignor, he hosted the night-time radio program The Catholic Hour on NBC (1930–1950) before he moved to television and presented Life Is Worth Living (1952–1957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968) with a format that was very similar to that of the earlier Life Is Worth Living show. For that work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks. His contribution to televised preaching resulted in Sheen often being called one of the first televangelists.
The cause for his canonization was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues," a major step towards beatification, and he is now referred to as venerable. On July 5, 2019, Pope Francis approved a reputed miracle that occurred through the intercession of Sheen, clearing the way for his beatification. Sheen was scheduled to be beatified in Peoria on December 21, 2019, but his beatification was postponed after Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester expressed concern that Sheen's handling of a 1963 sexual misconduct case against a priest might be cited unfavorably in a forthcoming report from the New York Attorney General. The Diocese of Peoria countered that Sheen's handling of the case had already been "thoroughly examined" and "exonerated" and that Sheen had "never put children in harm's way".

Reviews

[Christine Bengle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with all his books he gives me lots to ponder.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the susinct breakdown of religion and the simple steps to understanding God in a new light. Especially for those who question religion or if God exists. I think that all who are interested in learning more about Christianity should take a day or two to read this book. I read it in about a month - just a page or so at a time while nursing my first son. A great way to spend the time.

[Jonah Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book from (soon-to-be Bl.) Abp. Fulton Sheen. He writes like he speaks, and that's fantastic. I will happily read some of his other books now. This was a wonderful book and a tremendously easy read. This is a summary of the Good News that is so very accessible.

I am uncapable of saying anything more, so I will let His Excellency's words speak for themselves.

Fire is never praised for being hot, nor ice for being cold. But men are praised for being virtuous because they could have been vicious; they are lauded for being heroes, because they could have been cowards; and they are extolled for being saints, because they might have been devils.

Ch. 4 "How You Got That Way"

When you fail to measure up to your Christian privilege, be not discouraged for discouragement is a form of pride. The reason you are sad is because you looked to yourself and not to God; to your failing, not to His Love. You will shake off your faults more readily when you love God than when you criticize yourselves.

Ch. 7 "How You Are Remade"

God is more lenient than you because He is perfectly good and, therefore, loves you more. Be bold enough, then, to believe that God is on your side, even when you forget to be on His.

Ch. 7 "How You Are Remade"

The greatest reason why we fear death is because we have never prepared for it. Most of us die only once when we should have died a thousand times—aye, when we should have died daily. Death is a terrible thing for him who dies only when he dies; but it is a beautiful thing for him who dies before he dies.

Ch. 8 "Judgement"

Faith, it must be remembered, is not due to our wisdom, and the lack of faith is not due to their ignorance. Faith is solely a gift of God. "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 16:17)

Ch. 12 "Faith"

What you love about yourself is the person that God made; what you hate about yourself is that God-made person whom you spoiled. You like the sinner, but you hate the sin. That is why when you do wrong, you ask to be given another chance, or you promise to do better, or you find excuses. But you never deny there is hope.
That is just the way Our Lord intended that you should love your enemies: Love them as you love yourself, hating their sin, loving them as sinners; disliking that which blurs the Divine image, liking the Divine image which is beneath the blur; never arrogating to yourself a greater right to God's love than they, since deep in your own heart you know that no one could be less deserving of His love than you. And when you see them receiving the just due of their crimes, you do not gloat over them, but say: "There I go, except for the grace of God."

Ch. 14 "Charity"

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based upon Sheen’s radio & TV programs (I think) these are reflections on the Catholic faith. Sheen’s exposition of the faith is easy to understand and his arguments are coherent.However, some of his language and examples are a product of his era and would not pass a the test of diversity.

[Gil Michelini · Rating 5 out of 5]

At least to me, it is amazing that in the lifetime of some of my friends and family, on Tuesday nights, millions of Americans of all faith traditions would watch "Life is Worth Living" hosted by Archbishop Sheen rather than Milton Berle's show. We have fallen far in the 61 years since Sheen won his Emmy for "Most Outstanding Television Personality" to where Catholics are now mocked on primetime television. This is just another indication of how in need our world is of evangelization. By God’s grace, Sheen left behind at least 65 books to help us become the evangelists we are called to be. I recently read one of those books and I encourage you to do the same.

"Preface to Religion" was published in 1946 to a world reeling from the aftermath of WWII. Sheen goes back to basics in the book to explain the most fundamental teachings of the Church to a world where many were questioning if God and His Church were worth following after what the world had experienced during the war. And by 'back to basics,' I mean he spends the first 10 chapters putting the cookies on the bottom shelf when it comes to the big questions of Christianity such as why am I affected by Adam’s sin, why did Christ have to die, and why do people want to go to Hell. Those chapters are the preface to religion. In the last three chapters, which cover the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, Sheen brings everything together to explain why, if you want to be happy, be a Catholic.

For a good back-to-basic review of our faith, I encourage you to add "Preface to Religion" to your reading list to help you in your evangelization efforts in presenting the Lord to the world."

[Weronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

abp Fulton Sheen jest niesamowity i każda kolejna przeczytana książka tylko utwierdza mnie w tym przekonaniu. ze „wstępem do religii” ta przygoda trwała dość długo, ale chyba musieliśmy sobie dać czas, by wróciła do mnie w tym odpowiednim momencie życia. mistrzostwo!