The Revenge of Conscience: Politics and the Fall of Man [Hardcover]

J. Budziszewski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

A depraved conscience -- not merely ignorant but willfully corrupt -- is the most destructive force in political life. In an incisive reflection on politics and original sin, a relentlessly perceptive political philosopher demonstrates that modern ideologies all deny the fallen nature that is source of the three great problems of public life: we do wrong, our thinking about the wrong we do is clouded, and our efforts to rectify that wrong are themselves deformed by sin. Blinded to this truth about ourselves, we habitually suppress our conscience until it is corrupted, and, taking its revenge, leads us to cultural calamity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A few times in a generation, if we are fortunate, moral intelligence finds a voice as lucid, engaging, and relentless as that of J. Budziszewski. Let readers be forewarned: they are in for an "aha experience." "Aha, I never thought of that before!" And then on a second thought, "But of course, I knew that all along. Why didn't I ever think of it before?" That's the way it is when perennial wisdom is so freshly proposed. -- Richard John Neuhaus

A former nihilist, J. Budziszewski writes on conscience -- its masks, its evasions, and its willful self-deceptions -- better than anyone in our time. A book to reread and reread. -- Michael Novak

A masterpiece, astonishing in its clarity, powerful in its argumentation. The case for a Christian perspective in our time has rarely been made so effectively. -- Thomas Reeves

Professor Budziszewski presents a compelling case for both the pervasive effects of original sin in human affairs and the reality of a general moral knowledge. In a time when we are so often given the false choice of either cursing or celebrating the present moral darkness, it is refreshing to read an author who courageously points us to the unextinguishable Source of moral light. -- Richard J. Mouw

The Revenge of Conscience is a brilliant and timely critique of secular political attempts to provide a satisfactory and satisfying notion of human good. By showing why they have and always will fail, Budziszewski has performed a great service to Christian and unbeliever alike. The Revenge of Conscience gives the Christian a clear path to understanding the difference between the City of Man and the City of God - and our obligations to each. But he also speaks to the one who stands where all of us once were, powerfully and compellingly demonstrating the inadequacy of any attempts to substitute for what may only be found in Christ. -- Chuck Colson

From the Publisher

J. BUDZISZEWSKI, a native of Milwaukee, holds joint appointments in government and philosophy at the University of Texas, where he has taught since 1981. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida and his doctorate from Yale. Dr. Budziszewski is the author of Written on the Heart: The Case for Natural Law and four other books. His articles have appeared in First Things, National Review, the Journal of Politics, and numerous other journals, and he writes a monthly column for Boundless webzine and World magazine.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 162 pages
• Publisher: Spence Pub; 1st edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890626163
• ISBN-13: 978-1890626167
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #925,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's the fall, stupid!, January 27, 2000

By 

Michael T. Harris (Lansing, Mi. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Revenge of Conscience: Politics and the Fall of Man (Hardcover)

The best and most readable book yet on the cultural freefall of America. With his customary humor and clarity, the good Professor traces the roots of our national rebellion against authority and of the decay of our political system to--well--to our roots.

But he doesn't leave us there, at the fall, with the typical incoherent or impractical solution that so many of the prophet-type writers do today. Nor does Dr. Budziszewski pose his solutions in terms only understandable to the chattering class. Indeed, the value of this book is in the simplicity with which it deals with issues that often become hopelessly complex to the modern mind. Even I could understand it!

I won't give away any of the analysis or the author's proposal of how to deal with the brokenness of society, but suffice it to say that a careful reader will wind up with a clear understanding of the problem, how we got there, and of the way out.

Excellent material highly recommended.

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eloquent and truly Christian perspective on politics, December 15, 1999

By 

Jeff Taylor (Jacksonville, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Revenge of Conscience: Politics and the Fall of Man (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book. Speaking as both a Christian and a political scientist, it's the best single volume I've come across on this subject. Its depth far exceeds books put out by better-known, more-lightweight thinkers (e.g., Pat Robertson, Ralph Reed, Rush Limbaugh). There's really no comparison. Budziszewski (!) consistently gets to the heart of the matter. He displays impressive philosophical knowledge and reasoning, without being boring, pretentious, or unintelligible. In other words, the book is interesting, down-to-earth, and understable...while also being brilliant. His even-handed (transcendent) analysis of communitarianism, liberalism, and [yes, even that sacred cow of most evangelicals] conservatism is refreshing. By way of comparison, I'd say that while _Blinded By Might_ (Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson) does a good job of pointing out the dangers of politicizing Christianity, _The Revenge of Conscience_ goes much deeper and comes from a consistently Christian perspective. Cal Thomas may have regrets about his role of blurring the lines between religion and politics, but he continues to uphold the major myths of secular conservatism and to praise its political exponents. If you're receiving direct guidance from the Spirit of God, then maybe you don't need a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows. It could be that the Spirit will use this book to help remove cultural blinders and dispel ideological prejudices. _The Revenge of Conscience_ is so well-written and thought-provoking that people of whatever religious persuasion (or lack thereof) will enjoy the book. It's like nothing else I've read on the subject.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece of Christian Psychology, April 11, 2003

By 

Steven R. Seim "Steve Seim" (Beaver Dam, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Revenge of Conscience: Politics and the Fall of Man (Paperback)

A number of other reviewers have summarized the general theme of "The Revenge of Conscience," as well as commenting on Prof. Budziszewski's considerable gifts as a writer. In short, his basic thesis is that the underlying cause of many of the battlegrounds in our modern "culture wars" can be traced back to mankind's Fall (i.e. sin) and continuing unwillingness to face the reality and consequences of that Fall.

However, while this book is a classic on its own political/sociological terms, what really struck this writer is how Prof. Budziszewski has - perhaps unwittingly - set forth perhaps the most convincing Christian answer to modern psychology. Most branches of secular psychology, assuming that Man is essentially a complex animal, identify primal needs and urges as the underlying foundation of the personality or soul. A la Freud, the repression of those primal urges, which is necessary for civil society, is also the source of psychological quirks and emotional suffering. By contrast, Budziszewski, viewing Man from the Christian perspective as created in God's image, asserts that one's inner nature is dominated by an innate knowledge of right and wrong, good and evil (i.e. natural law or "conscience"). However, because man is fallen/sinful, that natural knowledge reveals guilt, which man then tries to repress. According to Budziszewski, it is that repression (or denial) of the reality of guilt and sin which results in psychological suffering - and irrational beliefs and actions in response to that suffering.

In a strange way, Budziszewski's Christian perspective turns Freudian psychology on its head. Instead of the animalistic id, we have a divine conscience. Instead of repressing primal urges, we repress the knowledge of our own sin. Instead of ridding ourselves of false guilt, we need to acknowledge and confess our true guilt. These diametrically opposed views of reality clearly illustrate the fact that ideas do matter - that one's knowledge (or ignorance) of reality will have profound effects on individual, societal, and even geo-political levels.

"The Revenge of Conscience," quite simply, has the potential to change the debate in a variety of contexts. It is a masterpiece of "Christian worldview" theory, a powerful treatise in defense of traditional conservatism, a thought-provoking commentary on American politics and culture - a perhaps a foundational work in developing a truly Christian alternative to atheistic psychology.