Two Paths: Orthodoxy & Catholicism: Rome’s Claims of Papal Supremacy in the Light of Orthodox Christian Teaching Paperback – November 25, 2020

As an ex Roman Catholic who was able to experience in person the beauty, reverence, and truth found in the Orthodox Divine Liturgy- this book just made it even more clear from a historical perspective why the fullness of the faith can only be found in The Orthodox Church. I believe political and monetary campaigns due to roman corruption over hundreds of years pushed on the ignorant public the incorrect belief that the current “pope” is somehow indeed worthy of a role of complete authority and infallibility. This book is well researched and should be required reading for all. We would be sooner united in truth in the one true church of Christ, Orthodoxy. Thank you for this excellent read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the actual quotes of the early church fathers which shows beyond a doubt that our church was always overseen by bishops each responsible for their own territories and equal in power. Did you know that the bishop of Rome never attended the ecumenical councils and was not even invited to the second one? After learning more and more I am honestly shocked the Roman Catholic Church has not completely left for Orthodoxy.

I loved reading this book! As a convert from Methodism to Eastern Orthodoxy, this book helped unpack the history of Roman Catholicism prior to Her separation from the Eastern-half of Christendom all the way to the present day. Though aimed more at an Orthodox-Catholic audience and with me coming into Apostolic Christianity, this book helped shine light on some of the things that scared me as a Protestant such the Pope, the Mother of God, and the Church at large in their Catholic contexts. Laying out numerous issues in which Rome deviated, this book pointed me straight to continue on my path to joining Eastern Orthodoxy. Although this is an apologetic piece, this is a well-written, fair critique of the Roman church, and I highly recommend to those in all Christian traditions interested in the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue!

As an atheist to Catholic convert (2017), there has always been some issues I’ve taken with the Church that I love. Primarily I couldn’t grasp why a church that was 2000 years old insisted on following a manmade rite from 50 years ago that basically copy/pasted Protestant hymns.After attending an Orthodox Liturgy one day on a whim I found myself in a spiritual free-fall. I finally understood what a proper liturgy was supposed to look like, where the beauty of the Church wasn’t hidden or discarded, but was put on full display.I then went on a reading spree, of which this book came toward the end. Of all the works I have read from both Catholic and Orthodox apologetics on the issue of Papal Supremacy, this work was by far the most even balanced and convincing. I appreciated that Whelan used Catholic sources primarily to show the flaws with the claims of Papal Supremacy/Infallibility.I highly recommend this book for anyone that is looking for concrete scholarship that will break them free from Papal claims, and allow them to worship with a community that isn’t concerned with modernity and all its fashions.

Very good book in helping to consider/deconstruct Roman Catholic claims. If I remember correctly, according to this book, around 80% (or so) of early Christians did not accept Matthew 16:18-19 as it is interpreted by the Roman Catholic church today (not sure how the author quantified this percentage, however). Anyway, if you are Roman Catholic or thinking of crossing the Tiber, read this book.That praise being said, however, does not make the Eastern Orthodox church the correct "Church" either - disproving Roman claims does not automatically validate EO claims - but it does serve as a good correction to the grand claims of the Roman Catholic church.

I was inquiring Orthodoxy at the time but still skeptical of Roman Catholicism, the book worked so well I read less than a chapter and I was convinced Orthodoxy is the true church

Whelton dissects the history of the church and pulls the curtain back on the true history of Christianity and the Roman Catholic church. He reveals the questionable history and theology upon which the Roman church based it's claims of primacy, and the sometimes shocking machinations that Roman popes exercised to cement their monarchical power. As a cradle Catholic none of this was taught by the church, for no one would remain Catholic.Some would claim that I am excommunicated from the church for becoming Orthodox, to which I respond "So what?" I have no problem being excommunicated from a wayward church that has lost connection with its roots.

This is a fine, well-researched book about the differences between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, focusing on the differing interpretations of history and doctrine between them. The author is Orthodox but was formerly a Roman Catholic. As the author says, it would be good to see a Roman Catholic response to the points of difference enumerated here.

I have read this book first 2 years ago on Kindle and just now on paperback. The quality of both are fine. However I did prefer the paperback which says it is independently published. The book covers several areas of history including the ecumenical councils in the first half and concentrates on voices of opposition at Vatican 1. Although I expected a comparison of the 2 paths, this book is different. It relates to the author and his wife's journey from Roman Catholicism to Orthodoxy. Hence why Protestantism, does not constitue a third path, because as traditionalists, that isn't really a path so much a schism within the Western church. As an Anglican married to a Roman Catholic, the book made me rethink the traditionist viewpoint.