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Pope Benedict XVI

Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam Paperback – January 30, 2007

by Joseph Ratzinger (Author)

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On May 12, 2004, Pope Benedict XVI - then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger-addressed the Italian Senate on the state of the West; the very same day, Joseph Pera, President of the Italian Senate, spoke before the Lateran College of the Papal University. Together they called upon the West to confront the spiritual, cultural, and political malaise that have afflicted it in the earliest years of the 21st century. In the months that ensued, before Cardinal Ratzinger's election to the papacy, they developed their ideas into the eloquent dialogue that is Without Roots - a book that quickly became an Italian bestseller and is even more timely today than ever. With Europe shaken by the war in Iraq, terrorism, security, Israel, relations with the U.S., immigration, and the rejection of the EU constitution in both France and the Netherlands, the issue of European identity has profound implications for the rest of the world. Bringing together their unique vantage points as leaders of Church and State, Pope Benedict XVI and Pera challenge us to imagine what can be the future of a civilization that has abandoned its history for a relativist secularism. They call on the West to embrace a spiritual rather than political renewal-and to accept the moral beliefs that alone can help us to make sense of changes in technology, economics, and society. Pope Benedict XVI joins the President of the Italian Senate to offer a provocative critique of the spiritual, cultural, and political crisis afflicting the West.

Print length

175 pages
Language

English
Publication date

January 30, 2007
Dimensions

5 x 0.44 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0465006272
ISBN-13

978-0465006274
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the late Pope John Paul II, and has long been regarded as one of the most profound Catholic theological and spiritual writers of our times. His numerous books include God and the World, Introduction to Christianity, Salt of the Earth, and The Spirit of Liturgy.

Marcello Pera, a professor of the philosophy of science at the University of Pisa, is also President of the Italian Senate. He lives in Italy.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books (January 30, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 175 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465006272
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465006274
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.44 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,176,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,388 in History of Christianity (Books)
- #10,859 in Catholicism (Books)
- #12,012 in Christian Inspirational

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61 ratings

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Peter E. Gallaher

Very Interesting

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2020

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Both parts of this little text are well written, argued, supported and presented by two very, very intelligent men. It was a pleasure, an enlightening pleasure, especially now when relativism, a kind of disease of plague dimensions of mind and soul the way I see it, has swept across the West. About all that is left which isn't loosened by the disease are the dual threats to live in earth of Communism and radical Islam. And, that ain't much.

4 people found this helpful

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Scott Walker

A joy to read, outstanding

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2006

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The authors address what faces our world, bridging the gap between secularists and Christians. A joy to read, outstanding.

Marcello Pera: He tackles relativism, Christianity, the west, political correctness, and the clash of Islam. His thesis is a comparison of cultures; the deconstruction: to prove its purpose or foundation; the weakening of the church and Christianity; the paralyzed west. Pera is a professor and philosopher, and amazingly enough, agnostic. "In the age of relativism and silent apostasy belief in the true no longer exists; the mission of the true is considered fundamentalism, and the very affirmation of the true creates or raised fears."

Joseph Ratzinger: He discusses Europe and its borders; the failings, birth, influence and outflow of Christianity; the rise of secularism; God and Christ the foundation. Ratzinger sees the world clearly, and his boldness is refreshing. Is Europe on the decline and is the U.S. following suite?

Letter to Joseph Ratzinger from Marcello Pera: Marcello praises Joseph, and brings forth important questions, such as: Europe choosing a religious identity over a Christian; fearing intolerance; the double standards.

Letter to Marcello Pera from Joseph Ratzinger: Joseph answers some of Marcello's questions: the Catholic/Protestant secularism; the struggles of the church, losing their way; ethics and society. A look at problems from a different angle.

Wish you well

Scott

14 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mrs. F

Without Roots: Fantastic analysis of the Grey Doom of Relativism that afflicts our society

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2008

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We discussed this book in our Church discussion group, and it generated a ton of excitement as it nailed the major problems in politics, religion and government today, not to mention daily life. Basically, at least one major party in the U.S., operating out of a religion of relativism, is ready to lay down and let Islamic Fascists take over our country. Mr Perea says there is a similar group of people in Europe who think all war is evil, and is unwilling to defend itself. War is not intrinsically evil anymore than death is. He said there is a moral death (natural) and an immoral death (murder). The same principle applies to war, which can be moral if it is defensive. We enjoyed the book, and plan to read the Sadness of Christ by St. Thomas More The Sadness of Christ (Yale University Press Translation) next as a form of anti-relativism, as St.Thomas More, former Chancellor of England, put his head on a chopping block rather than sign a piece of paper saying King Henry VIII was the head of the Roman Catholic Church of England. Christ in "The Sadness of Christ" evidenced similar courage. IT is More's commentary on the Agony in the Garden Passages from Scripture. More wrote it during the 15 months he was in the Tower of London awaiting execution. Anyway, Without Roots addresses the liberal malaise in Europe today, but guess what the same problem afflicts the U.S. today, although to a lesser degree. God bless you. Susan Fox

10 people found this helpful

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Matthew K. Minerd

Phenomenal Reflection for a Culture on the Edge of Death

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2007

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This collection of essays stands as a testimony on behalf of the West as it drills itself into the ground of Relativism and apathy. Marcello Pera's lecture stands for me as a refreshing breeze coming from the heart of a Europe which has nearly completely bought into the destructive force of Philosophical Relativism. The very dangers of this school of thought are laid out well, as Pera reflects upon how it is freezing the West and is giving it atrophy as conviction dies. Surprisingly, the philosopher-senator also answers the problem of Islamic extremism and the need for response against it. However, Pera's primary focus is the refutation of relativism and the exposition of the ossifying dangers inherent therein.

The speech given by Pope Benedict (then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) focuses more on the cultural heritage of the West and its roots in the Mediterranean. In the face of the decline of the West, the Pope offers a positive assessment of the hopes for development by means of "energetic minorities," a topic which is fleshed out in somewhat greater detail in the correspondence included as an appendix to the essays. This idea remains as a hopeful focus against the semi-biologicistic view of culture as a birth-growth-death process which has no hope of breaking out of a death spiral. The continuity of Ratzinger's understanding of the West through history, a continuity which historically has braved storms of philosophical uncertainty by means of energetic groups (be they monastic, academic, or familial).

In view of the grim realities reflected on by both Ratzinger and Pera as they speak of the West's Fall, they both build a staunchly Christian-underpinning for Europe, an under-pinning which is necessary to have roots for the survival. This discussion is all-the-more convincing in light of Pera's atheism which still acknowledges the philosophical necessity of Christianity to combat relativism and restore the roots of the West.

This strong, sober, yet hopeful vision for the West which is a necessary read for us living in a crucial period of history for not only the Church, Europe, and the Extended West but for the entire world.

15 people found this helpful

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C. S. Godwin

Fantastic book. We are essentially undergoing an irrational crisis ...

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2017

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Fantastic book. We are essentially undergoing an irrational crisis of confidence. We all live by faith in one thing or another. It is the most rational thing to do to live by faith in the revealed truths of our culture, before the last remnants of it are completely destroyed.

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Mark A. Renholzberger

As one would expect of Pope Benedict, well written ...

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2016

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As one would expect of Pope Benedict, well written and keen insights as to what we are seeing in the world today.

One person found this helpful

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Christopher Shivers

Very Enlightening

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2012

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Without Roots came to be because of the chance encounter of Joseph Ratzinger and Marcello Pera as they both gave lectures at the Pontifical Lateran University. Once each read the others lectures they realized that they were arriving at the same conclusion for the restitution of Europe's future but coming from very different backgrounds. The conclusion is, "the only thing worse than living without roots is struggling to get by without a future." (Pera: xii)

The theme of the book is judging Europe's past as a cohesive identifier of the culture that was once so great. European culture was born out of Christianity, namely Catholicism, and the current idea of culture is to wipe away any vestiges of a Christian past. To do this, argues Pera and Ratzinger, would be for Europe to lose its identity entirely. Both men speak to issues such as politics, philosophy, and the American model of the separation between Church and State. Pera talks at length about Islam and its unrelenting nature in the face of relativism and political pressure. The audience is those interested in European politics, culture, and Christianity.

The strength of the book has to be the resounding authority and diversity of background with which both men approach the subject at hand. Joseph Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI, perhaps the most authoritative voice on Catholicism in Europe. Marcello Pera is a secularist and the President of the Italian Senate. The challenges might be that Joseph Ratzinger does not give a rebuttal to all the thoughts posed by Pera, claiming his scope lies only in Theology and not politics-for this I respect him and also would love to know what he thinks on subjects like American politics and Islam.

I highly recommend this book. It is enlightening and rare because of the secularist and Catholic arriving at the same conclusion concerning Europe's roots. Also, as an American, if gives me a lot to ponder on our own system of government and the affects Europe has had on the USA.

4 people found this helpful

Martin Oliver

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2016

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As years go by, I feel this book gains in importance and relevance. It's accessible too - easy to dip into. It's structure of alternating essays doesn't break up the "flow" of the book, but adds to it, and helps to digest the book's ideas.

2 people found this helpful

Dr. C Vecchione

Faith is uppermost

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2021

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In a time of relative apostacy< this book is food for thought

Susanne

a book worth reading

Reviewed in Germany on June 27, 2013

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this book gives an insight about historical and cultural reasons for relativism in the western world and its effects on living faith or neglecting necessity of believing into transcendental influences and eternal life. It is a book written for average readers with some intellectual background but not only for religios people but also for readers interested in culture, history and philosophy

Amazon Customer

Good read

Reviewed in Canada on July 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great book

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