Lexington Books
Pages: 160
Trim: 6¼ x 9
978-0-7391-4280-6 • Hardback • January 2010 • $101.00 • (£78.00)
978-0-7391-4281-3 • Paperback • April 2011 • $47.99 • (£37.00)
978-0-7391-4282-0 • eBook • January 2010 • $45.50 • (£35.00)
Thomas R. Rourke is chair of the Political Science and Philosophy Department at Clarion University.
1 Table of Contents
Chapter 2 1. Introduction
Chapter 3 2. Anthropological Foundations
Chapter 4 3. Revelation, Reason, and Politics
Chapter 5 4. Special Topics
Chapter 6 5. Culture and Society
Chapter 7 Conclusion
This is a superb exposition of Pope Benedict's social thought in all its richness, beginning with the Christian anthropology on which it is founded and ending with a vision of culture. Conscious of rising secularism and the political apathy of the young, Rourke seeks to demonstrate the fine balance of reason and faith in the Pope's thought, and succeeds admirably. Benedict is one of the most important intellectual leaders of our time, and he is well served by this introduction.
— Stratford Caldecott, editor, Second Spring: A Journal of Faith of Culture
A valuable study in political theory and religion, this book should be read by those interested in Catholic social and political thought.
— Reading Benedict Xvi Blog, December 2009
Rourke combs through the pre-papal writings of Joseph Ratzinger and some of his statements since his elevation to the papacy and presents him as a deep and important thinker about social and political questions. . . . This volume is a very accessible and largely comprehensive survey of Benedict's political ideas.
— Review of Metaphysics, June 2010