Customer Reviews

The Modern Age

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This panoptic view of modernity is sobering. The most clear-headed aspect of Fr. Schall's new book, as with his other works, is that it is grounded in reality. Modernity screeches at us today in `ideology' and has a disorienting effect on those brave enough to enter the caves of higher education, not to mention the masses subjected to compulsory public education. Add to this the 24/7 assault on our humanity the mass media inflict with hysterical sound bites of socialistic propaganda completely disconnected from any kind of relevant definition of what it is to be "human". The new values propelled by progressive/scientistic ideology propagated by today's "teachers" at the behest of the likes of Hegel, Marx, Freud, Dewey et al. have catapulted us into an unprecedented age of horror. We are left as C.S. Lewis described in Abolition of Man "We castrate and then bid the geldings to be fruitful."

In reflecting on History Fr. Schall makes the point "If what we think is "past" did not actually happen or was different from what took place, we are dealing with ideology, not reality". (p.1) Fr. Schall has a clarity of mind just right for calling things what they are. He is able to restore order to ideas that have been distorted by modern thinking. In his essay "The Brighter side of Hell" he notes the modern "concerted efforts" to eliminate hell altogether. He explains that "Forgiveness in theory becomes not sacramental, but sociological." He brings the reality of eternal punishment back to the forefront and urges us to put things back into their proper order.
He does not work alone, but in communion with the Church Fathers, Saints, Popes and greatest thinkers and philosophers in Western History. As usual, he has a book list Schall's Twenty Books on Understanding The Modern Age. Though certainly not exhaustive, a very strong core of great thinkers that could instruct all (but the PhD's) on the roots, causes and manifestations of modernity. An extension of this excellent book list is the Bibliography which I imagine is somewhat like looking back though one of Schall's old yearbooks.

If you are yearning for ultimate reality I implore you to take Fr. Schall up on his offering of meditations on Art and Philosophy, Why we exist, Politics, Revelation, Hell, Orthodoxy, Theology and much more. If you have already discerned that "truth is the convergence of the mind and reality" (JPII Fides et Ratio) then this is soul food and a great pleasure to read because it will edify. If you find this "dark age" a golden age of illumination, progress and prosperity propelling man towards heaven on earth, this work will be very painful for you. However, even an ounce of humility and Fr. Schall's work just might disabuse you of some of your errors in thinking. It is most highly recommended!