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| Book Review: A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do To Transform the World | ||
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March 26, 2008
Is it possible for our Catholic faith to transform our increasingly secular culture? Carl Anderson answers that question with a resounding "Yes!" in his new book A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do To Transform the World . Anderson is the leader of the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal group. He has worked closely with both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and has served on several Vatican committees. In A Civilization of Love, he relies heavily on the teachings of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, especially the theology of the body and Pope Benedict's recent encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God is Love).
Anderson begins with St. Paul's visit to Athens between 50 - 58 AD to illustrate how one person could begin to change a culture. The Greeks believed in many gods, but they had a shrine to an "unknown god." While this was primarily to make sure that they were not angering any gods that they might have forgotten, St. Paul used this as a jumping off point to begin to introduce them to the Judeo-Christian God. Anderson argues that "the responsibility of Christians in our own time remains as it was in Paul's — to radically transform culture, not by imposing values from above, but through a subtler yet more powerful process — living a vocation of love in the day-to-day reality of our lives."
Our world has become increasingly secular. A faith in God has been replaced by a faith in progress. The belief in a creator who has endowed us all with certain unalienable rights is falling by the wayside. "Human life is reduced to a meaning and purpose only in reference to this world, which is asking of this world something that it does not have the power to give." In contrast, Jesus' great commandment was to love God and one another. "It is the vocation to love that not only makes each person, but makes each person human."
A Civilization to Love focuses on Catholic social values, what it means to love our neighbor. Especially as lay persons, we are called to work in the world. We are called to change society by the way we raise our families and conduct our business affairs. We are called to witness to what it means to be a people rooted in faith. Everything we possess has been given by God. "Every talent is given as a gift. Every moment is a chance and an opportunity for conveying love.... Fundamentally, one of the only ways in which we can show our love for God physically is through service to him through people."
Anderson focuses on the ways we can serve in our families, our workplaces, and the global economy. He discusses many of the social ills that face Catholics and the world today such as the breakdown of the family, the reality of abortion, the increase in working hours, the loss of the Sabbath rest, the need for more ethical behavior in the workplace and government, and adjusting to a changing Church. He offers concrete ways Catholics can make a difference.
Catholics do have the power to transform the world. "They will do so by their actions, by their attitudes, and by their influence. But above all, they will do so by their love. This love is a matter not of mere high-minded sentimentality but of genuine compassion tempered with a well-grounded realism. It is a love that offers hope not only for eternity but for a better way of life on this earth." A Civilization of Love invites us all to be part of that transformation. It is up to us to answer the call.
But this can only come about when Catholics become truly Catholic. When Abortion stays legal in a country with a block of voters large enough to end it tomorrow we have a serious problem.
When same sex marriages are shoved down the throats of a predominantly Catholic state like Massachusetts we have a problem.
When most Catholics are such in name only there is a problem.
With leadership, the Bishops, so divided they can't come together to unequivocally denounce the errors and sins of our time we have a problem. When was the last time you heard a sermon about the sinfulness of contraception, abortion, gay sex etc.? For many Catholics never.
Catholicism is a remnant amongst both the clergy and the laity.
Submitted by kent4jmj on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 2:53pm.
It used to be Our Lady of the Elms a Catholic College. Now in name only. It has become completely secularized while still appealing to older alumni, who are unaware, as still being catholic.
Submitted by kent4jmj on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 3:06pm.
Oh, I didn't know...
Thanks, kent4jmj, I've changed my mind.
- Fie on Carl Anderson!
- Who does he think he's fooling?
- Catholics are a bunch of hypocrites!
- The king is a fink!
Submitted by Protect the Rock on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 6:17pm.
I feel the need to defend my alma mater. I agree, Elms College is certainly not the most conservative of Catholic Colleges. However, it still retains a strong Catholic identity and has chosen to express that identity through its emphasis on social justice. In my Master's Program, I studied great classics such as writings by Augustine and Aquinas, as well as more recent documents such as papal encyclicals and the documents of Vatican II. In the seven years since I graduated, I have continued my study on my own. I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to study theology part-time over four years while being able to work and care for my husband (my children weren't born yet).
Submitted by Patrice Fagnant... on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 6:55pm.
The book may or may not be good. I do not know. But from the review it sounds like fluff, good sounding fluff, but still fluff.
We are on the brink of legislation that will outlaw many of our most fundamental beliefs.
Our churches are empty or declining in numbers fast. Etc. The list is long.
But the review says that we are supposed to focus on Catholic social values as the antidote. No. I don't think so.
We are to focus on Jesus Christ. To repent and believe the good news. Also to enter into the serious work of a lifetime commitment to do spiritual warfare so that through final perseverence we may be rewarded with ... come good and faithful ...
And we are to do this in the humility that realizes only by God's Grace is this possible and not by our own effort.
I do not recall any saint past or present that focused on social values, which is not to say they were unconcerned, just not focused on.
Submitted by kent4jmj on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 7:00pm.
How about bl.Mother Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul the Great?
I think both were very concerned about social values in their ways...
One cannot claim to love God if one doesn't love (actively!)his or her neighbour.
Submitted by plisto on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 3:53am.
Um, Catholics social values are not focused on following Jesus?
Did I miss the memo?
Submitted by Protect the Rock on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 12:44pm.
I am pointing out that there is a hierarchy of values. Yes JPII and Mother Theresa were concerned about social value.
But what was there primary focus?
Taking care of physical or spiritual condition of souls? Obviously it was the spiritual. They had internalized something St. Ignatius wrote about. The need to grow in personal holiness before attempting any kind of apostolate.
Grow in Holiness first and the rest will follow. There will be concern for social values. But the reverse frequently has devastating consequences.
I believe that the call to grow in personal holiness as our first responsibility has been neglected.
My analysis of the review may be at fault. If it is I apologize..
Submitted by kent4jmj on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:26pm.
I don't think we necessarily disagree here. And I have no special insight on this, but I have an opinion.
Haven't we seen the fruit of Catholics who approach life with the view that if we can just work on becoming holier, that's good. They don't have to do anything. So they don't.
Today, on God's green earth, in this world which produces plenty of food, 25,000 human beings will starve to death. And the vast majority of us Catholics do nothing about it.
Today, in the most economically and technically developed country in the history of humanity, 3,600 babies will be murdered in the place where they should be the safest — in their mother's wombs. And the vast majority of us Catholics do nothing about it.
Well, there are thousands and thousaands more situations in which God's will is not being done, and we darn well know it.
When our Lord described Judgement Day, He didn't tell us it's going to be about who grew the most in personal holiness. He said it would be about who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, comforted the sick, and visited those in prison. Not to say we shouldn't work on becoming holy, but these are not just interior actions that need to take place.
Love is not just an interior change, and creating a culture of love will require social action.
Submitted by Protect the Rock on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 2:49pm.
Rock
Yes their is a danger of Faith without works and vice versa.
Good point.
As for food production check out following.
http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=24439
http://mschaut.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/feast-or-famine-inflationary-recession-affecting-food/
Weed out the superfluous stuff but the basic story is we are headed toward some real shortages. These are only two stories there are lots more. I find the first one about the Global seedbank to be very ominous. Just look at the names involved.
Submitted by kent4jmj on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 5:52pm.
Sounds like a book that is sorely needed these days.