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Christianity for Modern Pagans: Pascal's Pensées - Edited, Outlined & Explained
Peter Kreeft believes that Baise Pascal is the first post-medieval apologist. No writer in history, claims Kreeft, is a more effective Christian apologist and evangelist to today's uprooted, confused, secularized pagans (inside and outside the Church) than Pascal. He was a brilliant man--a great scientist who did major work in physics and mathematics, as well as an inventor--whom Kreeft thinks was three centuries ahead of his time. His apologetics found in his Pensees are ideal for the modern, sophisticated skeptic.
341 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
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1439 people want to read
About the author
Peter Kreeft
189 books1,047 followersPeter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 6, 2015
This is Peter Kreeft’s abridged commentary on Blaise Pascal’s Pensees. How shall one evaluate this? Pascal stands or falls on his own, so the majority of this review will focus on Kreeft’s project. To borrow Chalcedonian categories, Kreeft is 100% brilliant and 100% naive.
Scope
Kreeft suggests that Pascal is the first post-medieval apologist, and there is something to that observation. The medieval synthesis is irreparably destroyed. Modern man has moved from place to space. It is Pascal’s genius to see that. As such, the arguments are not so much arguments for God’s existence et al, but arguments for faith within the Christian system. With Pascal apologetics takes on a keen psychological turn.
Throughout we get a number of incisive comments on the mind-body problem, universals, and tips for good writing. Kreeft includes Pascal’s perceptive (and quite modern) comments on the Jews. Of course, Pascal’s Wager is legendary and Kreeft does a good job with it. Space forbids a full review, unfortunately.
Structure
This book is a psychological prolegomena to theology.
My problem with the book’s format is sometimes I forget if I am reading Kreeft or Pascal (Pascal’s text is in bold-print) and sometimes Pascal’s comments get lost in Kreeft’s explanations.
Evaluation
[A]
Kreeft is the master of the well-turned phrase. And when you juxtapose him with Pascal, himself a pithy wordsmith, the effect is something else.
[B]
However, while Kreeft is a master communicator, he is not a master at historical theology. I do not fault him because he holds to Roman catholicism. His problem is playing fast and loose with issues that are painfully complex. It’s not simply sloppy scholarship. It’s historically irresponsible (since souls are on the line).
[C]
Kreeft writes, “Contrary to Calvinism, Catholicism teaches that our first nature remains good beneath our sin nature” (Kreeft 161). But Confessional Protestantism does not teach that our human nature is one blob of sin. It is good. The sin is in the accidens and relatio (schizein; Formula of Concord, I:24-25).
[D]
I understand that as a Roman apologist Kreeft holds to Purgatory. That is his prerogative. What is troubling is the pithy way he tries to prove it while ignoring close to 1,000 years of strike and counter-strike against purgatorial arguments (see Mark of Ephesus in Eastern Orthodoxy). Kreeft writes, “That is why we need Purgatory: to become the kind of creature that would not wither and die when we meet God...Do you really think you are ready to stand in that light? If you do, then you are proud and not ready” (254).
[~D]
Here is a thought: what if when God sees me he sees Jesus? Is Jesus good enough? Jesus + 0, right? I realize this isn’t a full-orbed defense of Christ’s active obedience, but it is a sufficient rebuttal to Kreeft’s arguments for Purgatory.
[E]
How are the post-Vatican II liturgies working out for you?
Scope
Kreeft suggests that Pascal is the first post-medieval apologist, and there is something to that observation. The medieval synthesis is irreparably destroyed. Modern man has moved from place to space. It is Pascal’s genius to see that. As such, the arguments are not so much arguments for God’s existence et al, but arguments for faith within the Christian system. With Pascal apologetics takes on a keen psychological turn.
Throughout we get a number of incisive comments on the mind-body problem, universals, and tips for good writing. Kreeft includes Pascal’s perceptive (and quite modern) comments on the Jews. Of course, Pascal’s Wager is legendary and Kreeft does a good job with it. Space forbids a full review, unfortunately.
Structure
This book is a psychological prolegomena to theology.
My problem with the book’s format is sometimes I forget if I am reading Kreeft or Pascal (Pascal’s text is in bold-print) and sometimes Pascal’s comments get lost in Kreeft’s explanations.
Evaluation
[A]
Kreeft is the master of the well-turned phrase. And when you juxtapose him with Pascal, himself a pithy wordsmith, the effect is something else.
[B]
However, while Kreeft is a master communicator, he is not a master at historical theology. I do not fault him because he holds to Roman catholicism. His problem is playing fast and loose with issues that are painfully complex. It’s not simply sloppy scholarship. It’s historically irresponsible (since souls are on the line).
[C]
Kreeft writes, “Contrary to Calvinism, Catholicism teaches that our first nature remains good beneath our sin nature” (Kreeft 161). But Confessional Protestantism does not teach that our human nature is one blob of sin. It is good. The sin is in the accidens and relatio (schizein; Formula of Concord, I:24-25).
[D]
I understand that as a Roman apologist Kreeft holds to Purgatory. That is his prerogative. What is troubling is the pithy way he tries to prove it while ignoring close to 1,000 years of strike and counter-strike against purgatorial arguments (see Mark of Ephesus in Eastern Orthodoxy). Kreeft writes, “That is why we need Purgatory: to become the kind of creature that would not wither and die when we meet God...Do you really think you are ready to stand in that light? If you do, then you are proud and not ready” (254).
[~D]
Here is a thought: what if when God sees me he sees Jesus? Is Jesus good enough? Jesus + 0, right? I realize this isn’t a full-orbed defense of Christ’s active obedience, but it is a sufficient rebuttal to Kreeft’s arguments for Purgatory.
[E]
How are the post-Vatican II liturgies working out for you?
February 10, 2014
Mr. Kreeft does it again in this book about Pascal's Pensees. He picks up Pascal's best or most important 'pensees' and gives us his view on them. He does not intend to explain or interpret them, since they are to be interpreted individually by each of us, but he expands on them, he adds to them what a modern reader -living in a neo-pagan world- might not have thought of but, actually, is very much relevant.
Mr. Kreeft is a masterful teacher. For those who are afraid of delving into the original authors like Pascal, Thomas Aquinas, etc, we have Mr. Kreeft to introduce us to them.
And for the Christian person this book is almost mandatory, it is a fresh air on old thoughts that keeps on the right track, fighting, not for its own sake, but with a reason. An important and satisfying read, specially so when we are living in a neo-pagan world.
Mr. Kreeft is a masterful teacher. For those who are afraid of delving into the original authors like Pascal, Thomas Aquinas, etc, we have Mr. Kreeft to introduce us to them.
And for the Christian person this book is almost mandatory, it is a fresh air on old thoughts that keeps on the right track, fighting, not for its own sake, but with a reason. An important and satisfying read, specially so when we are living in a neo-pagan world.
July 14, 2008
Peter Kreeft has edited, outlined and explained Pascal's "Pensees" in this book. This was my first Peter Kreeft book and I loved his getting to the point quickly and clearly. He points out how ahead of his times Pascal was. Also Kreeft takes Pascals word and clarifies them in addition to relating them to issues of our day. Overall a great book of apologetics of which you will need to read with a highlighter on hand!!!
July 19, 2008
An excellent commentary on the Pensees. Made clear a few matters of idiom and usage with Pascal (what he meant by "heart," for example) that had previously tripped me up. I am tempted to give this five stars, except that I've promised I reserve that rating for transcendently good classics. Kreeft is a clear and enthusiastic proponent of Pascal. He is correct about Pascal being a good three centuries ahead of his time. He seems to be addressing our own culture at least as much or more than that of his own time. Kreeft also explained a number of Scriptural references that had been unclear to me. One of the four or five most worthwhile books in the last year for me.
December 30, 2018
This book is an exposition of Blaise Pascal's "Pensees." Pascal wrote in the 17th century as a contemporary of Descartes and the modernist movement, and some of his Pensees are quite thought-provoking and telling of the times. I've read "Pensees" before, so Kreeft's book was nothing earth shattering for me. It was nice to immerse myself a bit deeper into the Pensees, and Kreeft focused on portions that I had previously skimmed over. I do think after reading this book, I appreciate the "Pensees" just a little bit more.
November 15, 2022
I very rarely give a book 10/10 – but this book, recommended to me by my good friend John Ellis thoroughly deserves it. I stopped highlighting it because the whole book is basically a highlight. What Kreeft, a Roman Catholic scholar does, is systematise Pascal’s Pensees and show how it is a great manual for communicating Christ to modern pagans. It is utterly brilliant….I have taken so many insights from it. Perhaps the one I repeat to people in helping them to think about how to communicate the Good News is that we first have to show it is reasonable, then beautiful, and then true. I would add to that trilogy we must also show that it is good.
This description sums up the book – “Kreeft has selected the parts of Pascal’s Pensées which best respond to the needs of modern man, and offers his own comments on applying Pascal’s wisdom to today’s problems. Addressed to modern skeptics and unbelievers, as well as to modern Christians for apologetics and self-examination, Pascal and Kreeft combine to provide a powerful witness to Christian truth.”
Here are just a few of the highlights to give you a wee taste:
“We are metaphysically very good because we are created in the image of the absolutely good God. But we are morally very bad because we have despised our Creator. Modern paganism says we are not metaphysically very good at all, because we are merely trousered apes; and not morally very bad at all because there is no divine law to judge us as very bad. There is only man-made societal law, that is, our own pagan society’s expectations, and these are quite low, negotiable and revisable. “Here, kid. Take a condom. We know you’re incapable of free choice and self-control. We expect you to play Russian roulette with AIDS, so we’re giving you a gun with twelve chambers instead of six.”
“If we seek the truth without realizing how far we are from it, we will be dogmatists. If we realize how far we are from it but do not seek it, we will be skeptics. If we both seek the truth and realize how far we are from it, we will be wise.”
“Here are the three essential truths that we must admit as our data and explain in our religion: First, the eternal truth about God: that he is our summum bonum, our end. Second, the bad news about us: that we are fallen away from God. Third, the good news about us: how we can be saved. We find the same essential strategy and structure in all orthodox Christian apologetics, from Sts. Peter and Paul in their sermons in Acts to C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity.”
“The golden key that alone unlocks the closed door of the riddle of the paradoxical greatness and wretchedness of man—the key the world will not accept—is right here: that God alone can tell us what we are. To understand and repair any machine, you must read the repair manual written by the inventor. The world judges what is natural and normal to man empirically, from observing his present state. This is the world’s base line. Christianity begins with a completely different base line and therefore judges everything differently. Its assumption is that what we see is not normal but abnormal; not natural but unnatural, inhuman, fallen. The reason it judges so differently is that it judges human experience by divine revelation, while the world judges divine revelation by human experience. Christianity sees the present experience of human behavior as abnormal, while the world judges this religion as abnormal. Each implicates the other’s standard. The key to all anthropology, for Christianity, is the sentence: “You are no longer in the state in which I made you.”
“The two truths of man’s greatness and wretchedness are not only true together simultaneously, but each includes the other. Each can be “concluded” from the other—not by deduction but by seeing, by insight. The height of the mountain and the depth of the valley measure each other.”
https://theweeflea.com/2020/12/30/com...
This description sums up the book – “Kreeft has selected the parts of Pascal’s Pensées which best respond to the needs of modern man, and offers his own comments on applying Pascal’s wisdom to today’s problems. Addressed to modern skeptics and unbelievers, as well as to modern Christians for apologetics and self-examination, Pascal and Kreeft combine to provide a powerful witness to Christian truth.”
Here are just a few of the highlights to give you a wee taste:
“We are metaphysically very good because we are created in the image of the absolutely good God. But we are morally very bad because we have despised our Creator. Modern paganism says we are not metaphysically very good at all, because we are merely trousered apes; and not morally very bad at all because there is no divine law to judge us as very bad. There is only man-made societal law, that is, our own pagan society’s expectations, and these are quite low, negotiable and revisable. “Here, kid. Take a condom. We know you’re incapable of free choice and self-control. We expect you to play Russian roulette with AIDS, so we’re giving you a gun with twelve chambers instead of six.”
“If we seek the truth without realizing how far we are from it, we will be dogmatists. If we realize how far we are from it but do not seek it, we will be skeptics. If we both seek the truth and realize how far we are from it, we will be wise.”
“Here are the three essential truths that we must admit as our data and explain in our religion: First, the eternal truth about God: that he is our summum bonum, our end. Second, the bad news about us: that we are fallen away from God. Third, the good news about us: how we can be saved. We find the same essential strategy and structure in all orthodox Christian apologetics, from Sts. Peter and Paul in their sermons in Acts to C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity.”
“The golden key that alone unlocks the closed door of the riddle of the paradoxical greatness and wretchedness of man—the key the world will not accept—is right here: that God alone can tell us what we are. To understand and repair any machine, you must read the repair manual written by the inventor. The world judges what is natural and normal to man empirically, from observing his present state. This is the world’s base line. Christianity begins with a completely different base line and therefore judges everything differently. Its assumption is that what we see is not normal but abnormal; not natural but unnatural, inhuman, fallen. The reason it judges so differently is that it judges human experience by divine revelation, while the world judges divine revelation by human experience. Christianity sees the present experience of human behavior as abnormal, while the world judges this religion as abnormal. Each implicates the other’s standard. The key to all anthropology, for Christianity, is the sentence: “You are no longer in the state in which I made you.”
“The two truths of man’s greatness and wretchedness are not only true together simultaneously, but each includes the other. Each can be “concluded” from the other—not by deduction but by seeing, by insight. The height of the mountain and the depth of the valley measure each other.”
https://theweeflea.com/2020/12/30/com...
August 11, 2015
This is a deeply enriching book. It is my first experience with both Pascal and Kreeft, and I'm leaving it eager to explore more of both. Pascal's Pensées are remarkably insightful for today (particularly, I found, his thoughts on "self-love") and Kreeft's analyses are helpful and mostly minimal. They don't take away from Pascal, thankfully. I don't fully endorse or align completely with the theology of either of these men, but nonetheless am thankful for the minds of both and the insight they provide. A book to recommend, a book to be read slowly, a book to chew on. Requires perseverance at times, but is deeply rewarding.
October 19, 2015
Maybe I'm a snob, but I didn't think Kreeft's gloss did too much for Pascal. I enjoyed reading Pensées unaccompanied, like whisky neat.
May 4, 2016
Pascal takes a unique approach to apologetics. Although he admits that metaphysical arguments for the existence of God are sound, he claims they are not psychologically effective and they don't necessarily lead one to Jesus Christ. He notes that the Bible doesn't argue that way.
Pascal's approach focuses on the human condition, the greatness and wretchedness of man, who desires truth and goodness, but is unable to completely attain it. Unfortunately, Pascal died before he could write his book, so all we have are his notes, the Pensées ("thoughts"). Peter Kreeft takes the Pensées and arranges them in a logical order, and adds notes. I tried reading the Pensées a few years ago, and I found Kreeft's book to be a much better way of approaching this classic.
Pascal's approach focuses on the human condition, the greatness and wretchedness of man, who desires truth and goodness, but is unable to completely attain it. Unfortunately, Pascal died before he could write his book, so all we have are his notes, the Pensées ("thoughts"). Peter Kreeft takes the Pensées and arranges them in a logical order, and adds notes. I tried reading the Pensées a few years ago, and I found Kreeft's book to be a much better way of approaching this classic.
June 30, 2014
Honestly not the best or most helpful of Kreeft's books, though the idea certainly seemed worthy. I recommend reading an unedited and unorganized copy of Pascal's Pensees.
August 27, 2016
The next best thing to taking Professor Kreeft's class on the Pensees. Delicious!
July 5, 2021
Dr. Kreeft has done a fine service organizing Pascal's often disorganized thoughts into very clear categories. He has helped to make Pascal Pensees comprehensible in the 21st century.
My objections revolve around the fact that Kreeft holds a rather conservative position regarding all sorts of thought since the time of publication. He makes wholesale condemnations of the Enlightenment, scientific inquiry, philosophers, theologians (other than Augustine, Aquinas and C.S. Lewis) and anyone in the slightest way influenced by modernism. I really don't like anyone who engages in such wholesale dismissals.
My objections revolve around the fact that Kreeft holds a rather conservative position regarding all sorts of thought since the time of publication. He makes wholesale condemnations of the Enlightenment, scientific inquiry, philosophers, theologians (other than Augustine, Aquinas and C.S. Lewis) and anyone in the slightest way influenced by modernism. I really don't like anyone who engages in such wholesale dismissals.
November 18, 2023
Finally finished my slow burn college read. Highly recommend this as an intro to Pascal and how Christians engage with the world on the big modern (post enlightenment) questions about what the self is, what’s knowable, and what is human nature. Pascal is awesome and Kreeft has his moments, despite some dumb + inaccurate quips on Protestant theology.
July 9, 2022
Outstanding!
June 5, 2023
Sometimes you find yourself in possession of a book that has merely wandered into your life along the way; unsure of how it has arrived there you no less decide to give a go. While it does not match with your current understanding of yourself, you think perhaps it means something to some part of you or some former you and you persist, and oh boy when all of 3 pages into this one starts with, isn't X a hearsay and wasn't the subject of the book an X, and the response is yes X is a heresy but don't worry he wasn't one, you know it's going to be good.
Not your average Christian Apologetics Trash, this one gets words on the page, in real sentences. A lot of words it has to be said. If only they could be compressed into a draught of meaning, or pressed into service to say anything useful. (It does suffer from the problem of many christian authors of just repeating Lewis, Chesterton, Aquinas, or Augustine as if everything they said was true because they said it. Just go read the originals and decide for yourself! Plus you can enjoy some actually talented writing that way even if you disagree with them.)
Not one to give up easily I preceded to just read the quotes from Pascal, thankfully highlighted in bold. They provide an image of interesting man, trying to figure out a multitude of unknowns, and range from the profound to seeming complete self absorption, but such would be the case for many of us if all the writings of our life were picked over. One could hope to have a better literary surgeon for the body of one's own literary work though. (If these few paragraphs are too pretentious you might like this book even less than I did)
Though I don't know every medieval theologian so would not consider myself adequately qualified, I would accept the thesis that Pascal is one of the first Christian writers who is writing for an audience that won't just assume Christianity is true by default. If only the author did the same instead of just pretending to perhaps this would have been a much better work. I hope the word pagan was just thrown in there by an editor looking to grab headlines. But given the author just dismisses anything he doesn't like as "modernism" perhaps he didn't intend to distinguish between modern secular skeptics and modern pagans. Or remembering the inner working of Christianity perhaps, anything the author doesn't like just has the label pagan slapped on as a pejorative.
And since this is Pascal, it would be remiss to not end without a false dichotomy. The constant contrast between modernism/secularism/paganism or Christianity with no other options is just another false choice and also ignores the majority of humanity that has lived without either.
Not your average Christian Apologetics Trash, this one gets words on the page, in real sentences. A lot of words it has to be said. If only they could be compressed into a draught of meaning, or pressed into service to say anything useful. (It does suffer from the problem of many christian authors of just repeating Lewis, Chesterton, Aquinas, or Augustine as if everything they said was true because they said it. Just go read the originals and decide for yourself! Plus you can enjoy some actually talented writing that way even if you disagree with them.)
Not one to give up easily I preceded to just read the quotes from Pascal, thankfully highlighted in bold. They provide an image of interesting man, trying to figure out a multitude of unknowns, and range from the profound to seeming complete self absorption, but such would be the case for many of us if all the writings of our life were picked over. One could hope to have a better literary surgeon for the body of one's own literary work though. (If these few paragraphs are too pretentious you might like this book even less than I did)
Though I don't know every medieval theologian so would not consider myself adequately qualified, I would accept the thesis that Pascal is one of the first Christian writers who is writing for an audience that won't just assume Christianity is true by default. If only the author did the same instead of just pretending to perhaps this would have been a much better work. I hope the word pagan was just thrown in there by an editor looking to grab headlines. But given the author just dismisses anything he doesn't like as "modernism" perhaps he didn't intend to distinguish between modern secular skeptics and modern pagans. Or remembering the inner working of Christianity perhaps, anything the author doesn't like just has the label pagan slapped on as a pejorative.
And since this is Pascal, it would be remiss to not end without a false dichotomy. The constant contrast between modernism/secularism/paganism or Christianity with no other options is just another false choice and also ignores the majority of humanity that has lived without either.
January 19, 2022
This is my, now third, read through Kreeft's edited and explained version of Pascal's Pensées, the first being 7 years ago, the second 5. It is a treasure trove of wisdom, like taking a class about a great period of history from an excellent and engaging teacher. So is Kreeft with Pascal. Much of the book is now marked with my outlining, highlighting, and sideways writing in available spaces.
Surprisingly, what struck me the most this read through was a little comment by Kreeft that pride "is essentially competitive." This new understanding unlocked much for me, including the religious leaders' attitude toward Jesus, wanting to kill him, as well as why certain people I love concern me. They are consumed with comparison to other people and wanting to be "better than." It is the way of the world and, frankly, wicked. But, I also thought of playing basketball and how one type of competitiveness is very different from another type. A great friend of mine was a fierce competitor on the basketball court, but he was not prideful. He simply loved the game for the sake of it. However, others I've played with are competitive in a bad way, caring only about "respect" and wanting to beat others at almost any cost. Hence the latter types like to stack the teams in their favor, while my friend and those who are just want equality to make for a good game.
This division is also seen in the hit anime series, Dragonball Z. Goku is the best fighter because he is good natured and simply loves the sport, while Vegeta, the 2nd best, is only concerned about beating Goku.
The above is just a sample of the ample lessons to be drawn from Pascal. I especially appreciate his explanation of the heart in relation to the head when it comes to acknowledging God. Two years later, I still rate this book at four stars for its quality and benefit to my soul. I recommend this book to anyone, though those most benefitting might be agnostics or those who wish to help encourage agnostics toward the kingdom of the heavens.
Surprisingly, what struck me the most this read through was a little comment by Kreeft that pride "is essentially competitive." This new understanding unlocked much for me, including the religious leaders' attitude toward Jesus, wanting to kill him, as well as why certain people I love concern me. They are consumed with comparison to other people and wanting to be "better than." It is the way of the world and, frankly, wicked. But, I also thought of playing basketball and how one type of competitiveness is very different from another type. A great friend of mine was a fierce competitor on the basketball court, but he was not prideful. He simply loved the game for the sake of it. However, others I've played with are competitive in a bad way, caring only about "respect" and wanting to beat others at almost any cost. Hence the latter types like to stack the teams in their favor, while my friend and those who are just want equality to make for a good game.
This division is also seen in the hit anime series, Dragonball Z. Goku is the best fighter because he is good natured and simply loves the sport, while Vegeta, the 2nd best, is only concerned about beating Goku.
The above is just a sample of the ample lessons to be drawn from Pascal. I especially appreciate his explanation of the heart in relation to the head when it comes to acknowledging God. Two years later, I still rate this book at four stars for its quality and benefit to my soul. I recommend this book to anyone, though those most benefitting might be agnostics or those who wish to help encourage agnostics toward the kingdom of the heavens.
September 10, 2017
Having tried reading Pensees before, and getting lost in the unorganized fragmentary thoughts that is Pascal's unfinished work (a "jigsaw puzzle of jewels", as Kreeft opines in the preface), Kreeft's work served two extremely helpful functions for me: he organized them into a logical order, and offered insightful commentary on each of Pascal's selected thoughts. Not speaking French, and not having read the unabridged translation, I can't speak as to the adequacy of the translation or Kreeft's editorial prowess in choosing what to skip over. The translation is from Krailsheimer, and so uses Krailsheimer's numbering of the Pensees, but Kreeft dutifully provides Brunschvigc's numbers, both in each Pensee, and in a cross-reference at the end, if you're more familiar with that translation and arrangement. As for his editing, he notes in the preface that he only included 203 of the 993 original pensees, or about half the original page count. As he says, all of the "good ones" are here. I don't know if he skipped over anything that should've been included, but what was included was indeed good. One can also notice from the difference between quantity of pensees and page count, that the ones he included in this edition are more of the well-developed of Pascal's, and less of the really short fragments and the passing comments on contemporary culture of his time. While Kreeft is quick to point out in the preface that Pascal hardly needs commentary, I, for one, was glad for some commentary on some passages. All in all, I thought Kreeft really highlighted the applicability of Pascal to our modern times, and brought some of the deeper aspects of Pascal to the surface. I would recommend it as an introduction to Pascal, to give a new generation a respect and appreciation for Pascal, and serve as a springboard for investigating the reasonableness of Christianity.
November 18, 2011
Kreeft writes in delightful professorial style, guiding one through the Pensees of Pascal. He chooses the passages, annotates and comments upon them. As with all good philosophy - or journeys - you go through initial stages of blisters and realizations that you brought excess baggage (or forgot some essentials): How do we know what we know? About what can we be certain, if uncertainty is inescapable? What assumptions am I making that may be false, or at least unprovable? This sounds like Bill Cosby's lampoon of his college girlfriend, the philosophy major, "Why is there air?" (Cosby the PE major's rejoinder: "To blow up volleyballs!") But Pascal takes you quickly beyond this freshman's conundrum to some bracingly fresh air.
It is also not a hammer to the head of the atheist or skeptic, rather an apologetic from the perspective of a well-trained believer's mind, inviting one to find flaws in his thinking, or join him in his inquiry, even at a distance.
It is also not a hammer to the head of the atheist or skeptic, rather an apologetic from the perspective of a well-trained believer's mind, inviting one to find flaws in his thinking, or join him in his inquiry, even at a distance.
May 5, 2014
What's the difference between a sound bite and a proverb? I think I would define a sound bite as a morsel of information that one can ingest and will probably soon forget. A proverb, on the other hand, is an idea that you can ingest and then contemplate, embrace, or even follow. It's a reminder of deeper things. Blaise Pascal's Pensées definitely fall into the "proverb" category. They are a series of notes written down for a book that he never lived to write. This book is Professor Peter Kreeft's collection, translation and commentary on Pascal's Pensées. He adds the organization and humor to make these profound thoughts into a delightful read.
July 12, 2011
Ok, I didn't read most of Kreeft's commentary. I read just the ones when the pensee needed more explanation. So what I'm actually rating is Pascal's Pensees.
It was worth reading just to put Pascal's Wager into perspective - the wager always sounds so calculating and cold-hearted, but in the context of his other pensees, this is a man with passion for God, not merely looking to ensure a ticket to heaven.
The pensees are passionately written but also logical and wonderfully concise and dense. Definitely something I plan to flip through again and again in the future.
It was worth reading just to put Pascal's Wager into perspective - the wager always sounds so calculating and cold-hearted, but in the context of his other pensees, this is a man with passion for God, not merely looking to ensure a ticket to heaven.
The pensees are passionately written but also logical and wonderfully concise and dense. Definitely something I plan to flip through again and again in the future.
June 18, 2010
This is a fabulous introduction to Pascal. Peter Kreeft is a masterful guide 2mthe great ocean of Pascal's Pensees. In this book Kreeft never leaves us to flounder in the depths, proving to be an apt teacher for the novice.
Bravo Dr. Kreeft! You're sure to awaken this generation to the glories of Pascal!
Bravo Dr. Kreeft! You're sure to awaken this generation to the glories of Pascal!
September 24, 2008
The single best book for why Christianity is worth considering. The title is odd. The content is not. This is Peter Kreeft (Philosopher at Boston College) at his best.
January 7, 2010
Included in the "Catholicism Explained/Theology" section of Fr. John McCloskey's 100-book Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.
April 16, 2009
This is a very compelling book; very challenging.
August 28, 2009
I keep picking this back up and rereading parts. It is an outstanding work. The comments by Kreeft keep you focused and help you understand what is being put forth by Pascal.
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June 30, 2010This really just Pascal's Pence's.
July 29, 2010
Good companion to the Pensees, but, by all means, read the Pensees.
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November 4, 2010 Wonderful book, well written, and inciteful. Pascal is great, and Kreeft brings out his genius in a sort of clarity that causes both self-reflection and love of Jesus.
August 8, 2011
Another great read by Kreeft, easy, or at least easier to understand.
March 2, 2012
If you're interested in Blaise Bascal's Pensees, this is a good place to start. Peter Kreeft select the most important pensees and offers helpful insights.
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