A Turning Point for Europe?: The Church in the Modern World-Assessment and Forecast (Paperback)

~ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Author), (Author), Brian McNeil (Translator) "The image of man that dominates in modern literature, in visual arts, cinema and theater is primarily a gloomy image..." (more)
Key Phrases: evidential character, political messianism, robber band, Basic Law, Third World, Old Testament (more...)

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Product Description

Cardinal Ratzinger addresses the challenges and responsibilities that both the Church and society in Europe face after the collapse of Marxism. Both liberalism and Marxism have denied religion the right to have any influence on public affairs and the common future of humanity. Since there is also a great spiritual emptiness growing in the West with the increased secularization, consumerism and hedonism, Ratzinger's comments apply as much, if not more, to the United States as well.

With the downfall of Marxism, religion has been discovered anew as an ineradicable force for both the individual and society. While there is renewed interest in religion, the dangers also exist to lay hold of religion as an instrument to serve various political ideas. Ratzinger, whose theological work has often dealt with the "reasons for our faith," reflects upon the various problems facing humanity at this turning point of our history and offers genuine hope based upon a deep Christian faith. He also addresses the critical role that the Church has in relationship to the world and the essential task of bringing Christ back into our culture.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

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Product Details

• Paperback: 177 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898704618
• ISBN-13: 978-0898704617
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,052,601 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Key Concerns Set Forth in an Academic Context, November 18, 2005

By	Billyjack D'Urberville (USA) - See all my reviews

This little book collects some speeches of then-Cardinal Ratzinger in the late 1980s and early 1990s, concerning what are now obviously some of his key concerns as pope: the continued viability of European culture, and its derangement by a variety of intellectual currents in the past few hundred years.

Ratzinger of course is an intellectual, and believes ideas are important and effect the behavior of individuals and nations in a concrete manner. He focuses not only on Marxism, but also on relativism, science, rationalism, and secularism among other currents. In this respect, his grasp of present affairs much more resembles a modern European Catholic intellectual such as Milosz rather than John Paul II. His take is also somewhat cooler; he sees opportunities in situations some Catholics would dismiss as hopeless. But he also poses broad, provocative questions: is what is now called "terrorism" really a natural outgrowth of post-Enlightenment "intellectual terrorism"? are there good reasons some in Latin America turn to a Marxist rather than a European democratic model? are modern nation-states which reject faith anything more than mass barbarian hordes?

The style is not polemical or preachy, but what one would expect from a dispassionate group of intellectuals in discussion. Ratzinger speaks the Catholic position not in the nature of a sermon but as a necessary ingrediant without which, he maintains, no dialogue worth the meaning of the word can continue.

While obviously not tailored to a mass audience, nor even focusing on an audience of believers, the book obviously sets forth long-held views which the present pope will continue to hold. The book is also rather revealing regarding both his somewhat academic methodology, and his confidence in dialoguing with peers on that level.