Will Catholics Be Left Behind?

With so many people around me reading the "Left Behind" series, I wanted to find out what the Catholic understanding of the "Rapture" is. This book delivers in spades... Mr. Olson begins with describing what the "Rapture" is as it is presented in the "Left Behind" books. Then he elaborates on the different kinds of dispensationalists, pre, post and a millennialism, as well as the differences between pre, post, and mid tribulationist. He goes on to explore each of these and their logical (or illogical) conclusions. He traces the history of each train of thought and presents the historical Catholic position and response to these ideas, even outlining how a Catholic could be said to agree with different parts of each of the positions simultaneously yet not agreeing with any one position as it is understood by the predominately "fundamentalist" preachers who espouse them. What I like about this book is the clarity in which he describes the Catholic understanding of eschatology and where that understanding comes from. Unfortunately I believe very few "joe-six-pack in the pew" Catholics understand the differences and for that reason I believe anyone (non-Catholics included) who has read the "Left Behind" series would benefit greatly from this well researched, even handed approach to other points of view.

.... this is a great book.That may seem a little strange, especially since Olson has some less than charitable comments about the Reformation and our beliefs, but I've found that Olson and I are on the same page on far more issues than we disagreed.This isn't just a book for Catholics, even though it's written from a Catholic perspective and mostly so Catholics will see the difference between the dispensational premillennialists and the RCC. This book is valuable to anyone with an interest in eschatology, especially if you're curious about what's out there besides dispensational premillennialism (since they dominate the market and make the most noise).Buy this book now!

I've no interest whatsoever in reading the preposterous "Left Behind" books, but I must confess that I got swept up in the "Late, Great Planet Earth" fervor many years ago. Plus I spent untold hours listening to evangelical radio when that was my prime source of Christian formation -- and it was brimming with dispensationalists and various other apocalyptic, self-anointed "prophets" whose Scripture-quoting screeds succeeded, at least, in putting the fear of God into me. Having long since reverted to the Catholic faith of my childhood, I'm confident that the Catholic Church is the lone voice of wisdom, sanity -- and truth -- on the subject of eschatology. Exhibit A: Carl E. Olson's "Will Catholics Be Left Behind?", which I've just finished reading. The lasting impression I'll remember from this book's packed pages is the juxtaposition of the biblical literalists' slick, innovative, off-the-top-of-the-head interpretations with the ancient, richly seasoned approach of the Catholic Church. Deftly drawing from the Church's rich theological patrimony, Olson systematically exposes the outlandishness of the thinking of the literalists, such as LaHaye and Lindsey, who scrupulously memorize Scripture while assiduously ignoring 2,000 years of Scripture scholarship. It's a bit like examining the overheated rantings of a half-cocked teenager who only read the Cliff's notes through the eyes of the teen's patient, but spry, great-grandfather -- who co-authored the book in question. "Will Catholics Be Left Behind"? is a must-read for Catholics growing deeper in their faith -- and an indispensable resource for those who've fallen prey to the silly, but seductive (and dangerous) sales pitches of the popular eschatologists of our day.

In his recent book "Will Catholics Be Left Behind," Carl Olsen has perhaps written the modern standard on not only combating the errors of pre-millennial dispensationalism, but for clearly and completely answering questions that the ordinary Catholic has about the Last Things in general, and the "Rapture" in particular. In the past, Catholics who were exposed to "Rapture Theology" were faced with the double whammy of being attracted to an esoteric yet fascinating teaching that has the form and appearance of orthodoxy, while having no clear, accessible teaching from their own Church on why this teaching is wrong and in fact a danger to their faith. Olsen leaves no stone unturned, no argument unanswered, and no attack on the Church left unchallenged as he thoroughly, yet charitably, exposes pre-millennial dispensationalism for what it is: a non-biblical, unhistorical, illogical conglomeration of selective Scripture literalism and anti-Catholic polemics designed to feed the addictions of those who prefer gnosticism and sensationalism with their Christianity. Active in adult education at the parish level, I have found Olsen's material on this topic invaluable in explaining to fellow Catholics the pitfalls of buying into the "Left Behind" series and it's world-view and heartily recommend this highly readable book. Buy one for yourself and one to loan out to friends and relatives who ask the question: "Will Catholics Be Left Behind."

This is a prodigious work, both in scale and scholarship. Olson patiently ushers the reader through the intellectual funhouse of dispensationalism, tracing the claims of historicity whose tendrils snake all the way back to the Early Church Fathers. He is able to patiently unravel the Gordian tangle that is "the Rapture" - with premillennialists vying with chiliasts, amillennialists, postribulationalists and pretribulationalists - until, thanks to the author's water-clear prose and relentless logic, you actually are able to come to an understanding of this complex and, often, exasperating view.And it's *very* important that you do. Belief in "the Rapture" is a tremendous influence in America - witness the whopping sales total of more than 43 million books in the 'Left Behind' series. So it is no surprise when Olson assiduously traces the intellectual, theological - and even literary - inheritance of co-author Tim LaHaye, explaining how and why the 'Left Behind' series is a dangerous stealth attack on Catholic belief.But we also see extended treatments of the positions of others besides LaHaye - I'm talking about popular and prominent Protestant thinkers like Hal Lindsay, Jack Van Impe, Dave Hunt, Charles Ryrie, Cyrus Scofield and the father of "the Rapture," John Nelson Darby, complete with extended quotes as they explain their points in their own voices.That is a vital point, by the way. Olson is not duking it out with straw men here. He states his opponents' positions straightforwardly, and in detail. Nor is he the least bit condescending. He is honest and respectful - and the fact that he spent his early years in these fundamentalist Protestant circles no doubt helps.Best of all, Olson gives us the benefit of an overview of Catholic thought on the end times, with liberal contributions from such eminences grises as Karl Adam, Jean Danielou, Louis Bouyer and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. One can only hope that Olson's citations will result in greater readership for these giants of Catholic orthodoxy, and for the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well. For the Catholic position on the end times can be a source of great unity and peace for the faithful, in contrast with the Us vs. Them desperation that "the Rapture" tends to encourage.In all, this is a wonderful, very readable treatment of a complex and hitherto largely unexamined (from the Catholic point of view anyway) topic. And Mr. Olson is a very welcome addition to the pantheon of intellectually rigorous, scripture-steeped and historically minded converts to the Catholic faith who are today sharing their wonder at the glories of the Church. I believe we are in the midst of the greatest blossoming of Catholic scholarship and thought ever to take place in America. And Olson's book deserves a spot on Catholic bookshelves, side-by-side with those of George Weigel, Scott Hahn, Stephen Ray, Marcus Grodi, Dave Armstrong, Thomas Howard, Mark Shea and so many others.If you're looking for the last word