preface 7
I. America's religious panorama 9
II. basic differences between Catholicism and Protestantism 18
III. the Lutherans 25
IV. the Presbyterians 39
V. the Espiscopalians 49
VI. the Methodists 60
VII. the Baptists 72
VIII. the Disciples of Christ and the Churches of Christ 81
IX. the United Churchmen 89
X. the Quakers 96
XI. the Perfectionists 104
XII. the Pentacostals 108
XIII. the Seventh-Day Adventists 117
XIV. other Protestants 125
the Moravians 125
the Mennonites 127
the Reformed 130
the Christian Reformed 131
the Brethren 131
the Salvationists 134
the Convenanters 136
XV. the Unitarian Universalists 138
XVI. the Eastern Orthodox 145
XVII. the Old Catholics 152
XVIII. the Cultists 167
the Swedenborgians 168
the Spiritualists 169
the Unity School of Christianity 171
the New Thoughters 173
the Worldwide Church of God 175
the Hare Krishnas 177
the Scientologists 178
the Moonies 179
XIX. the Mormons 184
XX. the Jehovah's Witnesses 198
XXI. the Christian Scientists 207
XXII. the Jews 218
XXIII. the Muslims 226
XXIV. the Baha'is 230
XXV. the Buddists 238
church membership statistics 241
general bibliography 247
index 249

252 pages total

Of all the books on my shelf, Wm. Joseph Whalen's Separated Brethren is among the most instructive and the least dispensable. This is the first book I bought after converting to Catholicism, but that is not why I treasure it. Its pages are now yellowed and its cover worn, but I treasure it because it has everything I want in a book. It is concise, easy to read, gripping and addresses an issue that anyone who seeks truth should examine if he is truly sincere in his search. Which Church is the true one? Whalen answers this clearly by presenting the facts of history.

Whalen's Separated Brethren is not apologetic in style, but it is apologetic in effect as it enumerates with certainty the post-apostolic origins of non-Catholic, Christian religions. Like Foxe's Book of Martyrs? Read this. You will be blown away when you see the other side of the coin. Are you a Christian who would like to see the early Church restored? Read this and find that She never died. She is, perhaps, unrecognizable, but only because She has grown more wise and beautiful.

Whalen also brings together in one volume the teachings of all the mainline Protestant traditions, as well as some cults and some non-Christian traditions. I would like this book to be in the hands of every Catholic who thinks that it doesn't matter which church you go to. They are NOT all the same.

A quote from "Critic" on the back cover calls this book "a masterpiece of synthesis." Well said.

"Separated Brethren" was first published 40 years ago and has been revised and updated twice since then. That this book is still around is proof of its being an excellent one-volume reference guide on religious denominations in the United States; I myself found this title very instructive and well-written. The book mostly concerns Christian denominations not in union with the Roman Catholic Church, yet author William J. Whalen includes non-Christian religions as well, such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, the Baha'i faith, and the better-known cults. Given the fact that Mr. Whalen is Catholic and Our Sunday Visitor is a well-known Catholic publishing house, the book compares the beliefs of the "separated brethren" to Catholic teaching, yet it is remarkably objective at the same time. Mr. Whalen does not fall into a condescending or critical mode; he simply discusses the origins of the different churches and describes their beliefs. He will at times provide slightly droll commentary on teachings that appear odd to mainstream Christians, especially teachings from denominations that claim to be Christian such as the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses. A lot, though, has happened in the non-Catholic religious world since this third edition of "Separated Brethren" came out in 1979; take, for example, the merger of two major Lutheran churches in the United States; the establishment of ultra-traditionalist Catholic groups which have separated from Rome; the rise of Messianic Judaism; renewed debates in the larger Protestant denominations on matters of morality; increased defections of conservative Anglicans/Episcopalians into the Catholic Church; and the role of the Orthodox churches in a post-Communist Russia and Eastern Europe. All these events, plus the hopelessly outdated church figures some 20-plus years old, make it necessary for the book to be revised as soon as possible.

William Whalen provides a very straightforward and easy to read explanation of Freemasonry and its relation to Christianity without the alarmist hype so often found in books of this genre.

The book focusses on the Craft as practiced in America, but also touches upon the English and Grand Orient Lodges. He reviews the Blue Lodge Degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason)with just the right amount of detail -- neither glossing over, nor bogging down with the needless repetition often found in "exposes." (The full rituals are readily available from Masonic sources.)

He explains the history of the Blue Lodge, the Scottish and York Rites, the Shrine, Prince Hall Lodges, and other Allied Masonic Organizations. For the most part, he lets Masonry speak for itself; not only does he cite Masonic sources that claim Masonry as a religion of itself, but includes Masonic defenses of its compatibility with Christianity (and other religions).

In his chapter "Catholic Attitudes toward the Lodge," Mr. Whalen presents the objections of the Catholic Church to Freemasonry as consistently taught for nearly three hundred years. Freemasonry represents a belief system that is at best indifferent toward Christianity, and the unique plan of salvation revealed by Jesus Christ.

He also explains the confusion that resulted in the 1970s, after a Cannon Law revision removed the explicit reference to Freemasonry and its penalty of excommunication for Catholics who joined the Lodge. Many Catholics apparently became Masons during this time under the mistaken impression that Church Teaching had changed. (Rome has since clarified this misunderstanding.)

Whalen devotes a chapter to the Protestant and Eastern Orthodox criticisms of Freemasonry, which are virtually identical to the Catholic position.

In his closing chapter "The Christian and the Lodge," the author explores reasons for the decline of Freemasonry in our society, and insists that while "Christians must respect the decision of others to affiliate with the lodge,...[many] have come to realize that the Great Architect of the Universe is not the God Jesus taught them to call Our Father."

William Whalen gives an excellent description and history of freemasonry. Today when some might question what all the fuss is between Christianity and freemasonry, this book explains in extremely understanding detail. William Whalen tells everything from the secret "blood oaths" freemasons take to why freemasons vowed not to let the "enemy," the Catholic Church, continue succeeding in providing health care through Catholic Hospitals. A great book for understanding how egregiously mislead people are into believing freemasonry is just another fraternal organization. Exposes the evil of freemasonry at its most basic, as well as advanced levels.