I read this book last year, and I was not impressed. Dr. Hahn is intelligent and incisive, but his history reads like the memoirs of a young and immature man who got a hold of too much theology too quickly. You see this repeated daily now with the internet. A young man drinks deeply from a theologian or a theological viewpoint, holds it firmly for about six months, and then he is rocked by discovering a contradictory view has some truth in it. It's a big sign of a lack of self-discipline and why theology is best learned from others and not by young men on their own.
As for me, I wouldn’t read Rome Sweet Home as a theological treatise, but rather a story of how he came to be Catholic.
That said, he was actively studying under academics and the books includes his interactions with Ivy League Divinity school profs, and he was on track to become the dean of a seminary before he converted. Comparing him to the Theo Bros on Twitter today is not only anachronistic, it’s just inaccurate.
That said, the way I describe this book to people is that the first half is very interesting but the second half it does feel like you’re getting drowned in the Tiber. But the book has sold millions of copies and been in circulation for nearly 30 years, so that alone mitigates against our criticisms.
I’ve enjoyed his other works, like his book on Revelation is good, his other more generalist books didn’t stick with me as much, but that’s because generalist apologetics stuff reads the same to me at the point. But as with all authors, he’s not for everyone.
I think my statement comparing him to the Theo Bros stands when you look at how young and overly confident he was in his theology. Normal high school teenager, even Christian ones, do not and should not be writing treatises on Martin Luther. They do not have the maturity needed to handle such things.
I don't accept the idea that numbers mitigate against criticisms. A book should be judged on its merits, not its popularity.
As far as books that engage Catholicism, I'd recommend Calvin's Institutes and the Annotated Luther Series. Both are original sources that deal with actual, historic Protestantism and engage with historic Roman Catholicism.
Looks like you're pretty young. You sure you should be writing about your beliefs on Substack? Wouldn't want you to be confused for a theo bro ;)
Kidding aside. I think you're just inaccurate in your assessment. Couple of facts that counter your "High school teenager" criticism.
Take a look at the educational accomplishments and accolades that he received. These were awarded to him for work he was doing in tandem with Rome Sweet Home: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Hahn
It's a testimony book, so one should not read it as an apologetics or theological work. It's a popular level testimonial, so I'm not sure we should put the bar that high. That said, here are few more facts.
This book has been in circulation for 30 years. That means he wrote it when he was ~35 and was working on his doctorate at the time in Marquette Univ. He also graduated from Gordon Conwell Summa Cum Laude. So I think it's safe to say, you're just factually incorrect about his understanding of the material. You might not have been a fan of the book, but comparing it to the drivel online is an immature criticism I would expect from young and overconfident self-proclaimed, unpublished, "theological experts."
No one is saying that "numbers mitigate" against criticisms. It's just that numbers do indicate that a book is worthy of engagement over other lesser-known testimonial books. You know, like that completely obscure book titled, Surprised by Joy ;)
I read this book last year, and I was not impressed. Dr. Hahn is intelligent and incisive, but his history reads like the memoirs of a young and immature man who got a hold of too much theology too quickly. You see this repeated daily now with the internet. A young man drinks deeply from a theologian or a theological viewpoint, holds it firmly for about six months, and then he is rocked by discovering a contradictory view has some truth in it. It's a big sign of a lack of self-discipline and why theology is best learned from others and not by young men on their own.
As for me, I wouldn’t read Rome Sweet Home as a theological treatise, but rather a story of how he came to be Catholic.
That said, he was actively studying under academics and the books includes his interactions with Ivy League Divinity school profs, and he was on track to become the dean of a seminary before he converted. Comparing him to the Theo Bros on Twitter today is not only anachronistic, it’s just inaccurate.
That said, the way I describe this book to people is that the first half is very interesting but the second half it does feel like you’re getting drowned in the Tiber. But the book has sold millions of copies and been in circulation for nearly 30 years, so that alone mitigates against our criticisms.
I’ve enjoyed his other works, like his book on Revelation is good, his other more generalist books didn’t stick with me as much, but that’s because generalist apologetics stuff reads the same to me at the point. But as with all authors, he’s not for everyone.
What are some books you would recommend instead?
I think my statement comparing him to the Theo Bros stands when you look at how young and overly confident he was in his theology. Normal high school teenager, even Christian ones, do not and should not be writing treatises on Martin Luther. They do not have the maturity needed to handle such things.
I don't accept the idea that numbers mitigate against criticisms. A book should be judged on its merits, not its popularity.
As far as books that engage Catholicism, I'd recommend Calvin's Institutes and the Annotated Luther Series. Both are original sources that deal with actual, historic Protestantism and engage with historic Roman Catholicism.
Context check: are you Catholic or Protestant?
Protestant.
Looks like you're pretty young. You sure you should be writing about your beliefs on Substack? Wouldn't want you to be confused for a theo bro ;)
Kidding aside. I think you're just inaccurate in your assessment. Couple of facts that counter your "High school teenager" criticism.
Take a look at the educational accomplishments and accolades that he received. These were awarded to him for work he was doing in tandem with Rome Sweet Home: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Hahn
It's a testimony book, so one should not read it as an apologetics or theological work. It's a popular level testimonial, so I'm not sure we should put the bar that high. That said, here are few more facts.
This book has been in circulation for 30 years. That means he wrote it when he was ~35 and was working on his doctorate at the time in Marquette Univ. He also graduated from Gordon Conwell Summa Cum Laude. So I think it's safe to say, you're just factually incorrect about his understanding of the material. You might not have been a fan of the book, but comparing it to the drivel online is an immature criticism I would expect from young and overconfident self-proclaimed, unpublished, "theological experts."
No one is saying that "numbers mitigate" against criticisms. It's just that numbers do indicate that a book is worthy of engagement over other lesser-known testimonial books. You know, like that completely obscure book titled, Surprised by Joy ;)
Thanks for taking the time to read and engage.