The book is a great read. It provides insights into how things came to be in the context of history, especially art history. I do graphic designs so it's particularly interesting to learn, for instance, the origins of liturgical colors or how some colors evolved into their present form. (Important in explaining identity designs.) The book is written in very casual, and understandable style. The book provides ways to answer or explain certain matters of faith and Tradition in a very conversational tone. Johnson doesn't tackle anything new really nor does he delve deeply into any subject matter. Better to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. However, what he does accomplish is to explain many things in casual, conversational language that one can use in friendly, coffee-shop talk, perhaps even in explaining to young people or those who want some answer to trivia whys and hows of the Faith.

I coordinate a program for adults who want to become Catholic and this book has become an invaluable teaching tool. I have used it for years.

I have purchased this book over and over because when someone expresses interest in Catholicism I usually give them my copy. It is beautifully written and although it is not a new book, the information is still correct. One reason for that is that the author explains how practices evolved and as it is history, it does not become outdated.

Really great information for Catholics and Non-Catholics alike. Rich in history and easy to read. Pick this one up!

This is a handy and easy read organized into brief chapters dedicated to a particular distinctive of the Catholic faith. The organization of material is perfect for ready reference to a specific interest or to be read through in any order. Dr. Johnson organized the material into 4 parts under the headings, faith, worship, culture, and customs.

Each part is organized into brief chapters on focused topics. Part one on faith covers such topics as the formation of the canon of scripture, how the church makes laws, and how the church views other documents of the early church not included in the canon. Part two on worship provides material on topics such as the meaning of common symbols and order of the mass as well as background on the stations of the cross and the rosary prayer. Part three concerning culture delves into the pope and vocations in the church and provides background on apparitions and signs (Fatima, weeping images, etc). Part four on customs provides a wealth of information on the meaning of materials and symbols in worship including music, medals, sacramentals, incense, water, and even numbers.

Whether you are a Catholic who has wondered the significance of a given practice or a non-Catholic seeking to understand, you will find a treasure of information here. It is a fantastic introduction to many of the practices that have been wrongfully dismissed as mere superstition. The history and culture of the Catholic faith is rich with meaning and significance. It is an heritage Catholics too often neglect. This is not just a how-to of these practices but a well developed study in why we do them. All within a text that is easy and enjoyable to read. A great resource and part of that Catholic heritage to be cherished.

I was not impressed with this book. I felt that it put down other Christian denominations. I don't have a problem with the book explaining Catholic practice and beliefs, but I think the author should have been kinder to other Christians. I think he could have explained Catholic practice but left out the jabs at other Christians.

This is perhaps the single-best book I've read on the practices of the Catholic faith. It is rich in useful information and historic context for many of the main elements in the faith that Catholics see and use every day. From the origins of the rosary, to the colors of priestly vestments, to the history of the Bible, to the use of numbers as symbols in the Bible, to the cycle of redemption, its all here.

Written in a relaxed, easy-to-understand style, this book does a masterful job of instructing that is neither too erudite nor too simplistic. Much like the Faith itself, this is a book designed to reveal more and more to you each time you read it. Whether you are a cradle-Catholic, a convert, or simply someone who wants to understand, "Why do Catholics do that?" this book is for you.

If you were to only have three books in your Catholic library, I'd recommend the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and then this book. It truly is that good.

I am a life long Catholic and I learned a great deal from reading this book. The book is well written, informative, interesting, humorous. I would reccommend this book to anyone interested in the Catholic faith.

I grew up in a strict conservative Protestant church, then spent ten years describing as apathetically agnostic, before starting to explore Catholicism. When I went to a Catholic bookstore and asked for a book that's an introduction to the Church for the non-Catholic, this is what they gave me.

Pros: It's an excellent primer -- it answers a lot of the 'Why' questions I had that my Catholic friends weren't able to answer to my full satisfaction. It covers the basics while encouraging the reader to seek out clergy and other literature for more information.

Cons: The author is somewhat arrogant in his writing style, but not enough so to be obnoxious; he also assumes the reader knows more than the average Catholic-ignorameous does, and I'd have liked to see a glossary in the back with short definitions of Church-specific words and phrases. One thing that annoyed me was the constant references to biblical passages without providing the text of those in the back of the book -- if you don't have a Catholic bible, you're SOL.

I walked into a Catholic Church once after 40+ years of frustration with the doctrinal inconsistencies and contradictions I lived with as an Evangelical lay leader. After three Sundays of going to Mass I realized there was A LOT I didn't understand about the Catholic Church, and even more I discovered I had been lied to by Protestant leaders. Two weeks later I picked up WHY DO CATHOLICS DO THAT at an airport bookstore. The historical perspective of this book, Johnson is an Art History professor, made a lot of sense to me, and placed the Roman Church in history, a history that was ignored by my Evangelical teachers. After 6 more months of reading a lot of Catholic material, I could hardly wait for Easter 1998 when I came into the Church. It's now 2007, and I'm producing television and writing Catholic projects in an attempt to tell others of the beauty I've found in Catholicism. It's wonderful...the book and the Church.

I found this book more informational than other books on Catholicism I read, but I was looking for unbiased info on the religion, and I hard time with some of the things in the book. For example, the author explains that the hierarchy of the Church prevents "innovations" from being introduced into the teachings, which I understood. But then he adds, "and they've done a pretty superhuman job of it." He also states that some early Catholic figures were "some of the smartest people to ever have lived." I would find this book much more informative if it weren't peppered with statements like these. I thought from other reviews that I had finally found a good, solid book on the doctrine of catholicism. I wish it were more factual and unbiased. It is also important to know that you should have a Bible on hand when reading this book. The author frequently includes Bible verses to back his writing, and if you don't own a Bible (like me), you may get a little frustrated.

This book is very complete and educational. However, it is historical and gives complex antecedents for topics such as: Faith, Worship, Culture and Customs. I do not recommended if you want simple, brief and easy to read explanations for Catholic Practices, but it is a good reference book for research purposes.

This book is one of the great books that explained why Catholic people do certain things. It explains the tradition in the Catholic Church. As Catholic, the book helped me to understand why we believe in certain things, and why we do certain things. It is similar to the Catholic Answer books.
I recommend that book to any catholic who is trying to understand the church and faith more. It helps to have stronger faith.I also recommend it to non Catholics to know that the Catholic Church did not invent the tradition. It has been like that since Peter, and it will go on forever.

Book given as a gift. Can't comment on book's contents.

When I read this book, it was mostly as a joke. I had decided to read it because I thought the title was humorous. However, I read it seriously, not half-heartedly. This is one of two books (the other being Greg Tobin's "The Wisdom of St. Patrick") that helped to begin and solidify my thought processes toward converting to Catholicism. The author really pulls you in and forces you to look at not just what the Church does, but why it does those things and whether or not that is what we all should be doing. As a protestant reading this, it made me really analyze my protestant roots and question them like I've never questioned them before. This book was really my first step. I fought it all the way, but there are things about both Protestantism and Catholicism that this book makes you realize deep in your soul and heart. Another must read for the Protestant, either with Catholic friends, with an interest in the history and tradition of the Church, or one thinking of converting... This book will take one through an amazing spiritual journey whether you wish to go or not.

This is full of information that every Catholic should know.

We are really being attacked on many fronts. This book explains issues that are clouded in controversy. It tackles criticism with facts.

I felt my faith and understanding strengthen with each chapter. I am reading it for my 3rd time now.

This is my favorite "Why do Catholics" book, and I have read quite a few, as I was raised Catholic and had to learn to defend my beliefs when my parents moved to the Bible belt in my late teens. If I had known about this book then, my life would have been much easier.

Dr. Johnson's book is much more entertaining and thorough than work of a similar nature, such as Karl Keating's better known books. Dr. Johnson converses with the reader, which makes the writing style engaging and memorable; he does not say use the dry approach of "some people think this," but rather uses and approach of "We Catholics believe." He does not discuss beliefs of other religions, except when comparing the different approach used for compilations of scriptures. This makes me more comfortable in recommending to books to other Christians, unlike Keating's work, in which the terms used sometimes appeal slanderous to people from denominations such as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses.

This is a book of Catholic practices and religious beliefs and explores illustrates from where they came. It does not address moral theology, but is more concerned with issues such as "why does the Old Testament comprise these books," "why is there a Pope," "what is the official stances on alleged apparitions," "what is the roles of saints," ect. But is also has fun tid bits of information that many Catholic information guides fail to address, like the use of incense, the dress of clergy, and terms used for the religious. It also explains popular devotions and their history; such as The Way of the Cross and the rosary.

Amazon recommended it to me for some time. I wish I bought it sooner, but I thought that it looked too basic to be a wise investment for me. Then some one gave me a gift certificate for Christmas and this book was at the store; I flipped though it and found so much entertaining trivia, that I purchased it on the spot- wishing I had listened to Amazon sooner.

I have since given them as gifts to people who wanted to learn more about Catholicism, and contrary to a few opinions expressed form other reviews here, they did not find the book offensive, but appreciated it. I highly recommend it. The broad range of information it contains makes it an ideal reference for the uninitiated and curious, as well as for the person who has had much experience and education in Catholicism seeking to fill in any gaps of knowledge.