GLASGOW, Scotland (PRWEB) July 03, 2016
GLASGOW, Scotland. (PRWEB) July 3, 2016, Holy Fire Publishing (http://www.holyfirepublishing.com) releases “Theology in Education & Political Culture” (Paperback, U.S. $12.98,
ISBN# 978-1-60383-511-4). Donald S. Gillespie’s essays present the nature, scope and benefits of a Christian classical education.
Mr. Gillespie’s essays began as an analysis of the trends in Catholic education quarantined in modernity’s secular “cordon sanitaire.” His prime purpose is to show the importance and far-reaching implications of integrating sacred science with all other sciences, an indispensable process for sound social teaching and collective political action. Faced with the distractions of a progressively intrusive pagan society, his subsidiary object is to clearly outline the nature, scope and benefits of a Christian classical education in accordance with the guidelines of the Holy See.
Normative and orthodox Catholic identity radiates in its education and political culture, as manifest in the Ex Cordia Ecclesiae and Sapientia Christiana encyclicals. To that end, Gillespie’s volume is divided into four parts. Part I treats of the optimistic epistemic principles supporting Catholic education for integral character development and the syllabuses taught. They follow the heuristic guidelines laid down by St Thomas and Cardinal J. H. Newman in his “The Idea of a University.”
Part II and III apply this framework to Catholic higher education, specifically to the nature and scope of theological training in evangelising culture, and serving the Church’s mission. The fatal fatalities of liberalism, with its operose collection of opinions and fabulous fables, are exposed, stamping their peril instantly and indelibly on the mind.
Part IV is a codicil, less didactic than narrative, in response to anti-Catholic criticisms in the US media, with a view to demonstrating the Church’s crucial function at the order of political culture. It resolves to put church-state relations into realistic and historical perspective, especially regarding theology’s role in renewing and humanising society.
The book’s modest intent is to restore systematic theology as a credible and integral part of higher education; to show that Catholic teaching not only serves the Church, but gives Christians a unique identity that enables them to contribute positively to society at large.
In political culture, its practical value is in scrutinising church-state relations and confirming how theological doctrines have profound personal and social consequences: not that theology is utilitarian and therefore true, but because it is true it is utilitarian.
Withal, the lay apostolate will develop a wariness of specious political innovations that ultimately have iniquitous ethical and moral implications. By maturing their understanding theology’s true nature and scope as a sacred science, they will cultivate a real sense of personal worth and so elicit its practical value for daily living.
Donald S. Gillespie was born and educated in Scotland. An abbreviated CV of Mr. Gillespie's qualifications and background experience is provided in the appendix of the book. His personal charity for autistic children receives all royalties from his writings.
Holy Fire Publishing (http://www.christianpublish.com), publisher of hundreds of Christian books, helps Christian authors reach the world through the printed word.
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