7 Quick Takes Friday - June 27, 2014 - Catholic Book RecommendationEdition

--- 1 ---

A friend of mine asked me for Catholic book recommendations. She's a cradle Catholic but fell away from the faith and now is re-examining it.

On my recommendation, she's already read "Something Other Than God" by Jennifer Fulwiler and is currently reading "Rediscovering Catholicism" by Matthew Kelly. 

What follows are more recommendations for her (in no particular order). Please leave a comment if you have a book recommendation that I didn't mention!

--- 2 ---

Pope Awesome and Other Stories by Cari Donaldson @ Clan Donaldson. A lovely romp through the adventures of a Catholic convert mom and her feisty, fun-loving family.


It's one of Peter's favorites. 

--- 3 ---

Style, Sex, and Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider the Things that Really Matter, edited by Hallie Lord. I actually haven't read this one yet (I know, I know, it's on my list!) but I've heard nothing but rave reviews from other Catholic women.

--- 4 ---

The Catholics Next Door: Adventures in Imperfect Living by Greg & Jennifer Willits. 

I've listened to Greg & Jennifer's podcast for years, and was thrilled when they released a book. It's a wonderful reflection on Catholic family life and practice. 

 

--- 5 ---

The Protestant's Dilemma: How the Reformation's Shocking Consequences Point to the Truth of Catholicism by Devin Rose at St. Joseph's Vanguard. I first read this book after Devin self-published it (it was then called "If Protestantism was True") and was thrilled when Catholic Answers Press decided to pick it up. It's an excellent analysis of how Protestant doctrine doesn't hold up to intense logical scrutiny as compared to Catholic doctrine.

--- 6 ---

From Atheism to Catholicism: How Scientists and Philosophers Led Me to the Truth by Dr. Kevin Vost. A truly outstanding conversion story rooted in science, logic, and reason.

--- 7 ---

The Sinner's Guide to NFP by Simcha Fisher of I Have to Sit Down. This book is, hands down, the best explanation regarding the Church's teaching on "pelvic issues" (birth control, contraception, NFP, etc.) that I've ever read.

--- Bonus #8 ---

I haven't yet read Answering Atheism: How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity by Trent Horn, but I know he's a fabulous writer so I feel confident recommending it.

 Also, while not a specifically Catholic book, a must-read (or, must-listen) is C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. It's available as a free audiobook here (last link in the post).

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Shocking Photo of a Mother Nursing in Public


photo courtesy of chrisroll @ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
SHE'S NOT EVEN WEARING A COVER. THE HORROR.

Seriously, though, I am really perplexed by all of the outrage about breastfeeding moms nursing in public.

For example, this person took a surreptitious picture of a breastfeeding mom (when interviewed, the mom, Kate White, said she forgot her cover, and asked her friends if they'd mind if she fed her child first):


Is anyone else confused? Why was this person outraged that a mother was feeding her child at lunchtime in a public restaurant? Isn't that what restaurants are for?

Then there was an Internet conniption over Karlesha Thurman's picture:


Again, I'm not seeing a problem. A nursing mom who just graduated from college is feeding her baby. And this is a problem... why? Apparently some people would prefer to hear her baby screeching throughout the ceremony instead? We should be applauding this woman for making it through college while parenting a kid, because that is HARD.

My question to all the people who clutch their pearls and shriek with horror at the above pictures:  are you also ranting and raving about pictures like these, all of which show up in public on a fairly regular basis?


What if you're at Chik-fil-a and someone is reading a copy of the above magazine? Do you ask them to put a cover over it, or to take it into the bathroom to read?


What if you see the following in the grocery store checkout line? Do you gasp in horror and grab the nearest issue of Good Housekeeping to shield your eyes? 


Oh wait. 


What if you're walking through a store and they happen to be playing the Oscars on a display TV screen? Do you declare how actresses need to stay at home if they can't cover themselves in public? (Okay, you may have a point, but we're talking about double standards here.)

I see a lot of condemnation and outrage directed at moms who nurse their babies in public, and yet I don't see similar levels directed at women who show as much boob (if not more) in magazines, advertisements, etc. 

Take the picture above (Brandi Glanville, 2013 Oscars). Did it go viral with complaints and judgement? I don't think it did. But why not? Ms. Glanville is showing just as much skin, if not more, than Kate White or Karlesha Thurman. 

The only difference is that she isn't feeding a baby in her picture. 

If you get up in arms about seeing a mom feeding her baby, I have a word of advice for you: 


I see a flash of white to my immediate right, but not a nipple to be seen
A mama is feeding her baby - hey that's that's awesome; she's a queen!
But the world is howling like a swirling storm outside
"Gotta keep it in, gotta run and hide!"

"Don't take them out, don't let them see
God forbid you feed your own baby
Conceal, don't reveal, don't let them know..."

WELL NOW THEY KNOW!

Let it go, let it go! Don't freak out anymore
Let it go, let it go! Even if you're at the store!
She's feeding a kid, don't make her hide away
Let the storm rage on
Some boob never bothered you anyway.

(profuse apologies to Disney et al, but I couldn't help myself)

I Like to Live Dangerously

Some people sky dive. Others go mountain climbing or bungee jumping. 

I go to Mass with my 7.5-month-old and NO DIAPER BAG.


(It went fine, although he made joyful noise unto the Lord for most of it.)

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