Crossing the Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historical Church

Steve had a problem. He knew Jesus was for real but he was beginning to find that his presuppositions about the church were not. This is the story of how he fought against the Tiber tide until he could fight no longer and gave in to that which he had persecuted for so long. ("Crossing the Tiber" or "Swimming the Tiber" is popular Catholic convert slang referring to the Tiber river in Rome with regard to joining the Roman Catholic church.) Steve is one of many Protestants who had realized their one defining principle was that they were not Catholic. Their search for the roots of their faith led them to see the internal contradictions in the Protestant worldview and the discoveries were frightening and life-altering. Steve was goaded on to the deep Tiber waters by his loving wife and it is clear that the changes have been a spiritual empowerment in their family.With extensive footnotes that do not distract from the primary text, Steve relays their story as he first wrote it down for friends and family. It is a heartfelt and appealing story that makes us want to join in the journey with them. The journey ends with their somewhat hesitant realization that Jesus was alive and well in the Catholic church they had distrusted. It was a conversion not far from that of the Apostle Paul in realizing the one whom they persecuted was calling them to His family.The brief overview of the Ray family conversion is just the beginning. Steve adds to that story an historical, scriptural, and enlightening study of Baptism and then of the Eucharist. Each of the three sections could stand alone in scope and depth of study, especially in light of the extensive footnotes and references. It is a conversion story that packs a theological wallop without skipping a beat. Emotionally and intellectually challenging and inspiring at the same time. You will not easily dismiss this incredible treatise of faith.

I really wanted this book to be terrible. I thought it was going to be completely biased towards Catholicism by displaying Protestantism in a negative light. What I found in this book instead was a very well-written, well-sourced (though I have some complains of the author's heavy quotations of Eusebius), and honest testimony for why Steve Ray became a Catholic.I currently find myself walking a similar path in my search for truth and have been glad to come across people like Steve Ray and Scott Hahn. Steve Ray is honest and passionate about what he writes and his writing style is both scholarly and easy to read.I wanted to be able to argue against many of the things he said and found myself agreeing with more things than not.I'm still learning and can't say I will become a Catholic today or tomorrow but this has helped me significantly on my journey.Thank you Steve and all honest Christians who have made an honest inquiry into their beliefs to arrive where they did and took the time to share their journey with us.

This is an excellent book, and a must read for anyone interested in the history of the Church, and the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist. It may be available on the Kindle, but trust me that this book is not formatted for Kindle. This book is heavily cited and most, if not all, notes are on the same page they are cited. I highly recommend the hard copy because reading the text simultaneously with the notes, is far better than reading the notes after you've completed the text, in the kindle version. Most books are not formatted like this which is why this is one of those books best in hard copy, regardless of your preference.

Such a great book with so much great info. Highly recommended!

Like other reviewers, I loved the detailed information about the Catholic faith as compared to Protestant theology. Likewise, I appreciated the tone of Steve Ray, at all times exercising charity toward protestant believers throughout his discussion. I'm sure that this was in large part due to his writing the book for his father and family, the original audience for the book/argument. As other reviewers point out, the format and extensive use of footnotes took some getting used to. But, it worked well for me. The main text of the book provided the general arguments and main details...easy to follow. In some cases, that was all I was interested in at the first reading, and I felt comfortable in letting the footnotes pass by unread. At other times, I appreciated being able to delve into the details of an issue, and I loved having detailed notes and explanations right at hand, complete with the citations. If a reader gives herself permission to make such decisions and release from having to read every single word, I believe you will enjoy the book and learn much about the important distinctions between Catholicism and Protestantism.

I found the tremendous amount of footnotes both enlightening and distracting. It is almost like reading two books at the same time. I wish Steve Ray had found a way to blend his book with the footnotes. And, I have said it before---seeing the your faith through the eyes of a former Protestant makes one appreciate the gifts one doesn't know one has. This book has helped me convert to my own faith.

Very clear, persuasive arguments utilizing scripture, writings of the church fathers and modern documents to explain the fullness of Catholic Theology. Endnotes provided many details and quite helpful.

A wonderful read and extremely good reference book. A must for people wishing to deepen their knowledge of the history of the bible, and its peoples.

Steve Ray is one of my favorite speakers and authors. The book is very easy to read and has a great structure to it. I know that some complain about the many footnotes that the book has. For me it only enriches the text and makes it trustworthy. If I want to read more from the original sources the author mentions in the book, I have all the tools and references to find them. With Kindle E-reader I have an option to not read the footnotes, so that they are less distracting while reading the main text. :)

reat condition but not packaged for wet weather so try not to leave the paxkade outside long

A great read. I would have loved to have been told more about their personal experiences but that may be for another time.

I give this book to many of my Evangelical Protestant brothers and sisters because it closely resembles my own conversion to Catholicism. It is packed with references from the early church fathers. If you are seeking the truth about Christianity (from its beginning... to today), you should read this book.