Christianity and the crisis of cultures pdf

In practical application, the rights of the unborn are denied in favor of other's rights, resulting in a contradiction. Human rights are assumed to be assigned by the state and not belong to humans by their very nature.

When the state assumes this power, it betrays the democratic ideals of the rationalistic culture since it allows the weak, powerless, and voiceless to lose their rights in favor of others in a position of power over those defenseless people. That's the law of the jungle masquerading as the law of reason. Recognizing the fundamental equality of all men and women requires a higher commitment than reason can demand. I can acquiesce in reducing the other to a thing that I use and destroy; but by the same token, I must accept the consequences of the way I use my eyes here.

These consequences fall back on my own head: "You will yourselves be measured by the measure with which you measure. I can treat him quite simply like a thing, forgetting my dignity and his, forgetting that both he and I are made in the image and likeness of God. The other is the custodian of my own dignity. This is why morality, which begins with this look directed to the other, is the custodian of the truth and the dignity of man: man needs morality in order to be himself and not lose his dignity in the world of things.

The social order should both acknowledge the achievements made since the Enlightenment and recognizes the importance of the Christian principles which enabled and still enliven those achievements. The book is a good read and a valuable contribution to the current discussions of contemporary culture and society.

Sample Quote, on the need for social interdependence as related to faith This is what we might call the social aspect of the phenomenon of faith. No one knows everything, but all of us together know what it is necessary to know; faith constitutes a network of reciprocal dependence that at the same time is a network of mutual solidarity, where each one sustains the other and is sustained by him.

This fundamental anthropological structure can also be seen in our relationship with God, where it finds its original form and its integrating center.

May 13, Franklin Peach rated it liked it Shelves: own. This was actually a talk given while he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. This was a very interesting little book in which our current pontiff shares a fair amount of wisdom.

One of the more controversial thoughts at least it is most likely to be controversial to atheists was that atheists need to live veluti si Deus daretur as if God does exist.

Why does B16 ask this of atheists? The reasons for this seems to be more and more self-evident as the West expunges God from their everyday lives. Of course B16 touches on abortion and the right-to-live, but he presents it in a way not generally used by the pro-life crowd "every legalization of abortion implies the idea that law is based on power" and therefore threatens democracy itself.

It was a very powerful speech, and I would expect atheism to find it difficult to ignore this new take on Pascal's wager, not for the afterlife, but for the current civilization that is being threatened by a new atheism Apr 06, Bojan Tunguz rated it it was amazing.

Pope Benedict has been a keen and precise critic of the cultural clashes that have been shaking the West over the last half a century. He doesn't kowtow to the latest politically correct fad, nor does he mince words to state the truth. In this book he clearly outlines the what the greatest threats are to the Christian culture and the civilization which is based upon it.

This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand better the position of the Catholic Church in the ongoing global culture Pope Benedict has been a keen and precise critic of the cultural clashes that have been shaking the West over the last half a century. This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand better the position of the Catholic Church in the ongoing global culture wars.

Dec 12, Santeri Marjokorpi rated it really liked it Shelves: teologia , filosofia. May 18, Gregory rated it really liked it Shelves: culture , apologetics. A profound little book. Takes on a wide range of contemporary issues from a European perspective, which is helpful--sometimes we Americans forget there is more to the world than the USA!

Jun 17, Conor rated it it was amazing. Incredible book full of insights and nuggets. As a friend said to me yesterday, Ratzinger doesn't waste words.

This book deal well with questions of secularity, faith, reason, and the ultimate reasonableness of faith. I would give this 6 out 5 if I could! Jul 16, Lisa rated it liked it. Is it bad to only give three stars to a book written by the Pope? Yet, while I genuinely liked the book, I can't go far enough to say that I really liked it.

I didn't feel like it produced a lot of new insights for me. I enjoyed the strength and convention with which he spoke, and I found the section on creating a culture of life to be instructive, but I didn't come away from the book thinking more deeply about my faith or considering new ideas.

In that sense, it was a bit of a disappointment. Sep 19, Frank Roberts rated it really liked it Shelves: theology-philosophy. I picked this up predominantly to read Benedict's take on the "conflict of cultures"--meaning the crossroads that the West seems to be at, with a choice of Secularism or a Return to Christianity. Though that section was interesting, the part I most enjoyed was the third section, where Benedict talks about Faith and what it means to an intellectually active person.

Excellent and very satisfying. Aug 02, Roxanne added it. Print version of a lecture. Aug 29, Beth Lynch rated it really liked it Shelves: christian , spiritual. Jan 12, Eduardo Garcia-Gaspar rated it liked it Shelves: moral-religion. Dec 10, Kody Masteller rated it really liked it. Such a state imperils the very basis on which it governs.

Ronan Winkels rated it it was amazing Jul 19, Sharon Williams rated it it was amazing Jun 05, Carlos rated it it was amazing Jan 25, Carlos rated it it was amazing Dec 10, Cyndie Courtney rated it it was ok Feb 09, By: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Defenders of the Faith in Word and Deed.

By: Fr. Charles P. A Turning Point for Europe 2nd Ed. Man, The Image of God. By: Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn. Beginning At Jerusalem. By: Glenn W. The Catholic Church and the Bible. Peter M. By: Cardinal Alfons Stickler. Credo for Today. Christianity and American Freemasonry. By: William J. Celebrating the Holy Eucharist. By: Francis Cardinal Arinze. Drink of the Stream. By: Penny Hickey. Easter at Ephesus. Escape from Scepticism.

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