The Blackwell Companion to Catholicism offers an extensive survey of the history, doctrine, practices, and global circumstances of Roman Catholicism, written by a range of distinguished and experienced Catholic writers.* Engages its readers in an informed and informative conversation about Roman Catholic life and thought* Embraces the local and the global, the past and the present, life and the afterlife, and a broad range of institutions and activities* Considers both what is distinctive about Catholic life and thought, and how Catholicism overlaps with and transforms other ways of thinking and living* Topics covered include: peacemaking, violence and wars; money, the vow of poverty and socio-economic life; art by and about Catholics; and men, women and sex

Notes on Contributors ixIntroduction 1James J. Buckley, Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt, and Trent PomplunPart I Catholic Histories 51 The Old Testament 7Claire Mathews McGinnis2 The New Testament 22Luke Timothy Johnson3 The Early Church 36Angela Russell Christman4 The Middle Ages 49Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt5 The Reformation 63Carlos M.N. Eire6 Modernity and Post-Modernity 81Peter J. CasarellaPart II Catholic Cultures 977 The Holy Land 99David B. Burrell8 India 112Charles J. Borges9 Africa 127Emmanuel Katongole10 Europe 143Emmanuel Perrier11 Great Britain and Ireland 159Fergus Kerr and D. Vincent Twomey12 Latin America 173Angel F. Méndez Montoya13 North America 189Sandra Yocum Mize14 Asia 205Peter C. Phan15 Oceania 221Tracey RowlandPart III Catholic Doctrines 23516 The Practice of Catholic Theology 237Joseph A. DiNoia17 The Development of Doctrine 251John E. Thiel18 God 268Robert Barron19 Creation and Anthropology 282Mary Aquin O'Neill20 Jesus Christ 297Edward T. Oakes21 Mary 312Trent Pomplun22 Church 326Avery Cardinal Dulles23 The Liturgy and Sacraments 340Susan. K. Wood24 Moral Theology 354David Matzko McCarthy25 The End 371James J. BuckleyPart IV Catholic Practices 38726 Spirituality 389Wendy M. Wright27 Institutions 403John A. Coleman28 The Holy See 418Francis A. Sullivan29 Ecumenism 432Michael Root30 Inter-Religious Dialog 449Gavin D'Costa31 Art and Literature 463Patrick Sherry32 Science and Theology 477Michael Heller33 Justice and Peace 490Kelly JohnsonIndex 505