Editing Left Behind (section)

==== Anti-Catholicism ====
The books are written from a Protestant viewpoint.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} Some believe the books are [[anti-Catholic]], noting that many Catholics were not raptured, concluding that no religion is free of false converts<ref name="Anti-Catholics">{{Cite magazine |last=Olson |first=Carl E. |date=November 2000 |title=No Rapture for Rome |url=http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2000/0011fea2.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706152802/http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2000/0011fea2.asp |archive-date=July 6, 2007 |website=This Rock |publisher=[[Catholic Answers]] |volume=11 |issue=11}}</ref> and that the new pope establishes a false religion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chastain |first=Mary Ann |date=March 31, 2004 |title='Left Behind' Authors Begin Tour of the South |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2004-03-31-left-behind-authors_x.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103090813/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2004-03-31-left-behind-authors_x.htm |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |work=[[USA Today]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> While the fictional [[Pope]], John XXIV, was raptured, he is described as "promoting Lutheran reform", and it is implied that he was raptured for this reason.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gribben |first=Crawford |title=Writing the Rapture: Prophecy Fiction in Evangelical America |date=2009 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=9780199870257 |chapter=6: The Left Behind Phenomenon}}</ref> His successor, Pope [[Peter Mathews (Left Behind)|Peter II]], becomes [[Pontifex Maximus]] of Enigma Babylon One World Faith, an amalgam of all remaining world faiths and religions. ''[[Catholic Answers]]'' describes the series as anti-Catholic.<ref name="Anti-Catholics" /><ref name="Money">{{cite web |last1=Akin |first1=Jimmy |date=2008 |title=False Profit: Money, Prejudice, and Bad Theology in Tim LaHaye's 'Left Behind' Series |url=http://www.catholic.com/library/false_profit.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080711172106/http://www.catholic.com/library/false_profit.asp |archive-date=July 11, 2008 |website=[[Catholic Answers]]}}</ref>

The co-author of the book, Jerry B. Jenkins, as well as LaHaye, stated that their books are not anti-Catholic and that they have many faithful Catholic readers and friends.<ref name="Apologetic">{{cite web |last=Olson |first=Carl E. |date=December 2004 |title=Tim LaHaye: The Left Behind Series |url=http://www.catholicleague.org/rer.php?topic=Book+Reviews&id=33 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629105048/http://www.catholicleague.org/rer.php?topic=Book%2BReviews&id=33 |archive-date=June 29, 2007 |access-date=December 31, 2007 |website=Catalyst |publisher=[[Catholic League (U.S.)|Catholic League]] |quote=When a reader complained online that Tribulation Force was anti-Catholic, Left Behind co-author Jerry B. Jenkins vehemently insisted that the books are "not anti-Catholic" and that "almost every person in the book who was left behind was Protestant. Astute readers will understand where we're coming from. True believers in Christ, regardless of their church 'brand' will be raptured" (Amazon.com, August 26, 1999). LaHaye responded by insisting that "our books are not anti-Catholic. In fact, we have many faithful Catholic readers and friends" (Religion News Service, June 26, 2003). "The books don't suggest any particular theology," he said, "but try to introduce people to a more personal relationship with Jesus."}}</ref> According to LaHaye, "the books don't suggest any particular [[theology]], but try to introduce people to a more [[personal relationship with Jesus Christ|personal relationship with Jesus]]".<ref name="Apologetic" />