By a Catholic for Catholics, May 2, 2008
Carl Anderson
Edit of 3 May 08: Just finished Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think and one point that jumped out at me was that the Pope heard from 100 Muslim scholars about basic mistakes in his reconciliation speech. We do NOT understand one another, and any civilization of love is going to have to start there, alone with tolerance.
This is a real gem. The author is learned, balanced, and other than managing to not recognize all the other religions in the world, has written an excellent testament for those of any faith who wish to follow in Gandhi's path, in Bonhoffer's path.
I am reminded of a Shi'ite that asked a question of me at the last Hackers on Planet Earth, he told me that Shi'ites in Saudi Arabia who seek to get government jobs, have to answer questions that put them into hell. We cannot go that route. Reconciliation at the community level, one man one bullet at the Dying to Win Logic of Suicide level.
The author provides reflective questions or suggestion actions for reflection at the end of each chapter, and these make the book worthy of more than one reading.
I like the other reviews so after a handful of notes I am going to do my duty by adding links.
+ Knights of Columbus an insurance business that is also committed to charity and unity
+ Vocation to love is the only power up to the tasks facing us. Here I want to link to The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People and A Power Governments Cannot Suppress
+ Human self-knowledge is not possible in the fullest sense without recognizing or receiving Christ. Here I would point to The Faiths of the Founding Fathers.
+ Popes have recognized that reconciliation is essential but from where I sit, the Catholic hierarchy in particular wants to have it boths ways: secret blood money from the Mafia, and Holier Than Thou on the pulpit.
+ The author explores the moral view of human dignity and I am totally with him. I like this book. As blatantly Catholic as it is, this is a thoughtful author who has done his homework can can hold his own with anyone.
Other books I recommend:
The Lessons of History
Fog Facts: Searching for Truth in the Land of Spin
The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead
Web of Deceit: The History of Western Complicity in Iraq, from Churchill to Kennedy to George W. Bush
Obama – The Postmodern Coup: Making of a Manchurian Candidate
Society's Breakthrough!: Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People
Am loading a few images from Earth Intelligence Network. There is plenty of money for peace and prosperity, we just have to eradicate government and Wall street and prison-medical industry corruption first.
