The Real Story of Catholic History

Answering Twenty Centuries of Anti-Catholic Myths

By: Steve Weidenkopf

Narrated by: Steve Weidenkopf

Anti-Catholics like to paint Church teachings in a way that makes them seem vain, backward, or superstitious, all in the hope of drawing people out of the faith and into sects or unbelief. Catholic apologists fight back with facts and sound arguments.

But there’s another area where the Church’s enemies tell their own false story of Catholicism: its history.

Whether it’s from the media, in classrooms, or out of the mouths of pastors and politicians, we’ve all heard a version of Catholic history filled with unrelenting violence, ignorance, worldliness, and bigotry. It’s enough to make many believers question whether the Church truly was founded by Christ!

This kind of attack requires no less of a response from those who know the truth. In The Real Story of Catholic History, Steve Weidenkopf gives it to you.

Weidenkopf (The Glory of the Crusades) collects over 50 of the most common and dangerous lies about Catholic history and, drawing on his experience as a historian and apologist, shows how to answer them simply and powerfully. Whether it’s claims about Catholicism’s supposedly pagan origins, old myths about Galileo or the Inquisition that never seem to go away, or more modern misconceptions that anti-Catholics cynically exploit, The Real Story provides the desperately needed corrective.

Packed with research and diligent in pursuit of the truth, while never whitewashing or explaining away the Church’s past faults when they’re found, The Real Story of Catholic History is an essential resource for every Catholic.

©2017 Catholic Answers Press (P)2022 Catholic Answers Press

Every Catholic should read this book.

Sooner or later someone will throw these myths at you. it is good to be prepared.

Would love to have the footnotes

Excellent content. Would love to see the footnotes . Possibly because of the audio format I found it at times difficult to know when the author was making a point or counterpoint in the events being discussed. Worth another listen.

Excellent summation and refutation!

The Catholic Church, its saints, and its members, have suffered more lies, attacks, and vilification, than any other religion. And, yet, Catholicism has been the greatest boon to all of mankind throughout its entire history. This book describes a small handful of some of the most egregious falsehoods and sets the record straight (with valid sources and citations). Two thumbs way up!

Good info- monotone reading

Good book however monotone narrator, wish it was read with more breaks and pauses in speech.

Great Brief Catholic history

The content was concise and interesting. Narration could be improved by learning the correct pronunciation of words and names before recording but overall a good audible listen.

very clarifying

would listen to it a second time. very clarifying on the Faith and History in general.

Educational, Easy-to-follow

I had no trouble following the book and distinguishing the mainstream claims vs the corrections. I thought this was an excellent overview of history and feel more equipped to defend Catholicism. Some of these myths were stumbling blocks to my conversion, but I don't have time to get a history degree to know the truth. This book was a fantastic resource.

Amazing

I would trade 4 years of high school for just this audio book. It will give you a great eduction on real history, it will show you all the lies we have been taught in history in school and media.

Both Thorough And Concise Explanations

Much like the Catholic “both and” sensibility, this book offers the best of whichever motivates your search. I consumed this book as a whole, learned a great deal, and and cannot think of any major topic that was not thoroughly addressed. If I am asked about a particular topic in the future, I know that I can simply find that chapter, look at the summation at the end, and then competently provide an answer. Every Catholic should have this on a real or virtual bookshelf. Mr. Weidenkopf has provided a great service to the Church with this excellent work.

Thank you for telling the truth.

This book is concise, entertaining, and super helpful.

To respond to another review; there are references in the paper and Kindle versions. (I bought a Kindle version so I could copy chunks out to post on social media when someone slanders Mother Church. Thanks for that Dr Weidenkopf.) I can’t really see how you could add the references to the audiobook. That would make for dull listening.

My only complaint is that none of his other books is on Audible.