It feels like yesterday but it was actually back in October that I posted a review as part of the Catholic Company review program of the Faith Database. If you want to refresh your memory, you can click here. I was quite frankly very disappointed in the product and said so pretty bluntly. Well to make a long story short, I was contacted by the people who put the Faith Database together and asked if I would be willing to try a new version of the product and give my opinion on that. I agreed and they provided me with a new version. They did contact me very quickly and got the new copy to me quickly as well. I am afraid that the delay in getting this review up has been a swamped schedule. All that said, I am thrilled that they gave me this opportunity to re-review the Fath Database.
The last time around I said this:
First, let me start with what I love. The bible search function on this CD is worth the price of the CD if that is something that you need and use regularly. I have been using WTCC for my bible search needs and been hugely frustrated with the quality of the results on that. Is it too much to ask that the references be sorted in order? With all of the results in the Psalms in order and listed ahead of those in Matthew? So many times I would be looking for something in particular and know that what I was looking for was in the Psalms but would get 400 hits sorted in some order known only to God and the wisest of angels and as you might imagine that was not helpful. Cue the Hallelujah Chorus, the Faith Database sorts search results in order. Not only does it sort the results in order but you can switch from 10 different Bible translations including a Greek interlinear. Be still my geeky heart! There were some other things I liked as well. I like the (searchable, printable) collection of writings. I like the encyclopedia. Great stuff. Truly. Overall once you get the program started, it’s very easy to navigate and use.
That is still very true. But then I went on to detail difficulty I had in installing the product. Problem gone. This time it installed like a dreamed and started up much more quickly.
I was irritated that so many of the links to the on-line conversion stories didn’t work. In fact, I could only find a few that did work. This time I went looking and couldn’t find any that didn’t work. This is an incredibly valuable resource for those who are converting to the Catholic faith. So many times, I speak with converts about how they feel so alone on the journey and that the stories of others who swam the Tiber were very helpful. And this time it won’t sit there taunting you with ideas of how helpful it would be if it worked because, now it works!!
On the old version of the program, I was unhappy that clicking on links in the artwork section crashed my program and made me have to reinstall the program (including re-living the installation problems.) Another problem gone. I won’t claim to have done an extensive search but I did go through at random and click from the thumbnails of the artwork to their original sources on the internet and not one link failed to work and my program did not even think about crashing.
Last time, I also quickly discovered that the reference library of writings was not scholarly in depth. It still isn’t. Don’t get me wrong. It’s GOOD! But there are some major popes that are not represented and if you are a serious student, this will not be your only resource. I also took issue with some “snarkiness” in the apologetics tests. References to “Jack Chick and the Death Cookie” and “Invincible Ignorance (You Hope!)” still remain. Based on that I would rather recommend this product to someone I knew more personally to avoid the possibility of giving offense to someone converting from a Church that kept Jack Chick tracts in the entryway. BUT based on the improvements from version 1 to version 2 (or whatever numbers I was comparing) and my personal correspondence with those who represent Faith Database, I am confident that they will continue to incorporate improvements based on feedback from their customers….so if you don’t like something, let them know.
Overall, this improved version is a GREAT product and I plan to demonstrate it to my RCIA class this coming week.
I think it would make a terrific Christmas Gift….and the Catholic Company has been running some great specials lately.
This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit Catholic Company to find more information on Faith Database.
