Books

Catholic Thought Since the Enlightenment, by Aidan Nichols OP

Reviewed by Michael Daniel

Contents - Apr 2007 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Benedict XVI's document on the Eucharist - Michael Gilchrist Book Launch: B.A. Santamaria and Australian Catholicism: Cardinal Pell's tribute - Cardinal George Pell News: The Church Around the World 'Equal opportunity' legislation threatens Christian teachings - Babette Francis Catholicism and secularism in Britain: a test of strength on same-sex adoption - Joanna Bogle History: How much do Catholics know about ecumenical councils? - Frank Mobbs Vocations: New survey of successful US dioceses: lessons for Australia - Michael Gilchrist Rockhampton Lenten program: 'whatever that might mean' - AD2000 Report St Faustina: The Divine Mercy apostolate: a spirituality to transform the world - Eva Kimnes Belief: Christian-Muslim dialogue: major stumbling blocks - Fr Richard Umbers Letters: Liturgy: what next? - Franklin J. Wood Letters: Church leadership - P.W. English Letters: Money talks - Richard Stokes Letters: Saints needed - Arthur N. Ballingall National Church Life Survey clarification - Bob Dixon Letters: Catholic schools Letters: Catholic atmosphere - Stuart Paterson Letters: Free and fair markets and the Church's social doctrine - Chris Hilder Letters: Capital punishment - John Gallagher Letters: Scourge of the West - Kevin McManus Letters: African prisoners seek correspondents - Len Clark Letters: Contraception - Tim Coyle Books: The Way of Love: Reflections on Deus Caritas Est, Livio Melina and Carl Anderson - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: Catholic Thought Since the Enlightenment, by Aidan Nichols OP - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Aspects of Authentic Church Teaching, by Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) DOES YOUR PARISH STOCK AD2000? Books: Books available from AD2000 and Freedom Publishing Reflection: Benedict XVI on the transforming power of the Resurrection - Pope Benedict XVI

(Gracewing, 1998, 198pp, $33.00. Available from Freedom Publishing)

Australia is not unique amongst Western nations in having a significant proportion of its population who are atheists, along with a large number of agnostics, those who are either uncertain as to whether God exists or who may believe in a higher force but deny or question the concept of divine revelation that a revealed religion such as Christianity proclaims.

By contrast, 300 years ago, those who did not believe in a supreme being were a tiny minority. Renowned English Catholic scholar, Fr Aidan Nichols, traces the development of Catholic thought over the last two centuries, particularly in relation to its responses to the Enlightenment and its derivative philosophies, which challenged the bases of Catholic faith, particularly revelation.

Beginning with intellectual antecedents to the Enlightenment, Nichols traces the Catholic response to the movement in the latter part of the 18th century before studying the Catholic intellectual movements of the 19th century, such as romanticism, ultramontanism and the Thomistic revival. He then considers 20th century movements, such as modernism, the development of the Church's social teaching, the liturgical revival and 'Lonerganism'. The work of significant thinkers, such as Newman, is also analysed.

Problems

While various movements embraced contemporary philosophical move- ments, others were defined by their reaction to them. Nichols does not hesitate to evaluate problems inherent in the various ideas analysed, particul- arly when they are in opposition to the Catholic Church's teaching.

Fr Nichols concludes by arguing that the Catholic Church, then led by John Paul II with Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as his assistant, ended the millennium 'with its intellectual house relatively in order' (p. 193). This was reflected, for example, in the publication of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. However, he argues that the biggest challenge is for Catholics to see their faith as 'a unitary vision of the world' (p. 197).

Catholic Thought Since the Enlightenment provides a good survey of Catholic philosophical and theological thought in the modern era. However, given the fact that the author attempts to explain complex theological and philosophical concepts, some understanding of philosophy is presumed on the part of the reader.

Michael E. Daniel teaches at a Melbourne secondary school.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 20 No 3 (April 2007), p. 18