Teach Yourself Catholicism is a comprehensive guide to the Catholic faith. It begins by focusing on the essential beliefs of Catholicism (the sacraments, transubstantiation, pro-life) before delving into the history of the Catholic church and the roots of its traditions and practices. Considering the key influences in over 2000 years of fascinating history, you will soon have a good understanding of, amongst other things, the role of Jesus and Mary, the Papacy, the Great Schism and the Reformation. Peter Stanford then goes on to focus on the church in the modern world, assessing the Second Vatican Council and the key debates and questions that surround the religion today. Why has the Catholic church been so riled by the Da Vinci Code? How does Catholicism relate to our world today? Is there such a thing as a Catholic morality? Never shying away from difficult questions, Teach Yourself Catholicism is an informative and engaging read. Each title in the religion sub-series of Teach Yourself aims to present all the essential information required by a reader who has little or no previous knowledge of the religion. Perhaps you are a student studying the religion in question?Perhaps your job brings you into contact with members of a particular faith community and you want to feel confident that you are treating them with sensitivity and respect? Perhaps you have a serious spiritual interest in the religion yourself? Whether you have a particular goal in mind or are simply interested in learning more about any one of the fascinating religions covered by this series, you are certain to find these books useful and informative. Other titles in this series: Teach Yourself Christianity, Teach Yourself Judaism, Teach Yourself Islam, Teach Yourself Sikhism, Teach Yourself Buddhism, Teach Yourself Hinduism, Teach Yourself World Faiths.