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The Church Confronts Modernity: Catholic Intellectuals and the Progressive Era
As the twentieth century opened, American intellectuals grew increasingly sympathetic to Pragmatism and empirical methods in the social sciences. The Progressive program as a whole―in the form of Pragmatism, education, modern sociology, and nationalism―seemed to be in agreement on one everything was in flux. The dogma and "absolute truth" of the Church were archaisms, unsuited to modern American citizenship and at odds with the new public philosophy being forged by such intellectuals as John Dewey, William James, and the New Republic magazine. Catholics saw this new public philosophy as at least partly an attack on them.
Focusing on the Catholic intellectual critique of modernity during the period immediately before and after the turn of the twentieth century, this provocative and original book examines how the Catholic Church attempted to retain its identity in an age of pluralism. It shows a Church fundamentally united on major issues―quite unlike the present-day Catholic Church, which has been the site of a low-intensity civil war since the close of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. Defenders of the faith opposed James, Dewey, and other representatives of Pragmatism as it played out in ethics, education, and nationalism. Their goals were to found an economic and political philosophy based on natural law, to appropriate what good they could find in Progressivism to the benefit of the Church, and to make America a Catholic country.
The Church Confronts Modernity explores how the decidedly nonpluralistic institution of Christianity responded to an increasingly pluralistic intellectual environment. In a culture whose chief value was pluralism, they insisted on the uniqueness of the Church and the need for making value judgments based on what they considered a sound philosophy of humanity. In neither capitulating to the new creed nor retreating into a self-righteous isolation, American Catholic intellectuals thus laid the groundwork for a half-century of intellectual vitality.
Focusing on the Catholic intellectual critique of modernity during the period immediately before and after the turn of the twentieth century, this provocative and original book examines how the Catholic Church attempted to retain its identity in an age of pluralism. It shows a Church fundamentally united on major issues―quite unlike the present-day Catholic Church, which has been the site of a low-intensity civil war since the close of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. Defenders of the faith opposed James, Dewey, and other representatives of Pragmatism as it played out in ethics, education, and nationalism. Their goals were to found an economic and political philosophy based on natural law, to appropriate what good they could find in Progressivism to the benefit of the Church, and to make America a Catholic country.
The Church Confronts Modernity explores how the decidedly nonpluralistic institution of Christianity responded to an increasingly pluralistic intellectual environment. In a culture whose chief value was pluralism, they insisted on the uniqueness of the Church and the need for making value judgments based on what they considered a sound philosophy of humanity. In neither capitulating to the new creed nor retreating into a self-righteous isolation, American Catholic intellectuals thus laid the groundwork for a half-century of intellectual vitality.
228 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Thomas E. Woods Jr.
48 books477 followersThomas Ernest Woods Jr. is an American author, podcast host, and libertarian commentator who is currently a senior fellow at the Mises Institute. A proponent of the Austrian School of economics, Woods hosts a daily podcast, The Tom Woods Show, and formerly co-hosted the weekly podcast Contra Krugman.
Woods' The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History in 2004 interpreted U.S. history through a paleoconservative and, as described by some writers, pro-Confederate lens. This, and his 2009 book Meltdown on the financial crisis of 2007–2008, became New York Times bestsellers. His subsequent writing has focused on promoting libertarianism and libertarian leaning political figures such as former Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul. Woods also teaches homeschooling courses on Western civilization and government called The Liberty Homeschooler as part of the Ron Paul Curriculum.
In 1994, Woods was a founding member of the League of the South, but he no longer associates with it.
Woods' The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History in 2004 interpreted U.S. history through a paleoconservative and, as described by some writers, pro-Confederate lens. This, and his 2009 book Meltdown on the financial crisis of 2007–2008, became New York Times bestsellers. His subsequent writing has focused on promoting libertarianism and libertarian leaning political figures such as former Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul. Woods also teaches homeschooling courses on Western civilization and government called The Liberty Homeschooler as part of the Ron Paul Curriculum.
In 1994, Woods was a founding member of the League of the South, but he no longer associates with it.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 26, 2014
This book was written by Thomas Woods Jr. prior to his more hardcore libertarian stance he now professes. It was Thomas Woods Jr who brought me back to the Faith in part and so I looked forward to reading this book because of a shared ideological history, yet one that happened as an inverse: I was once more Libertarian and became more Traditionalist; whereas he was once more Traditionalist and became more Libertarian. Yet despite this inversion, I do respect the man's work and credit him a lot for it.
With this said, the book itself is impeccable. In all its chapters it discusses The Traditional Catholic Position and the Progressive position, as it elucidates from the first chapter the Progressive Philosophy in a fair manner. The remaining content of the book describes various issues (e.g. Education, Economics, Sociology and Politics, etc...) from the two sides and shows where there was common action but also common disagreement:
In most cases it would seem that Catholics and Progressives may have agreed with Means but not with Ends, seeing that Progressives saw things from a Naturalistic and Impersonal Humanitarianism whereas Catholics saw things in light of Supernatural and Personal Charity.
I think this book is highly recommended for every Practicing Catholic, or those who are reconsidering practicing the Faith again. If said reader is more well-read in current events today we could almost see a clear line from The Era this book was focused on to where we are today, the author does have an Epilogue as well, but for those of us who are aware of the current Zeitgeist one can see its birth in the Progressive Era:
For example, today we often hear the phrase, "Well it doesn't matter what one believes, so long as one is simply a Good Person." This notion is discussed throughout the book, and it would appear this notion being a Progressive Notion had its birth in the Intellectual climate that the author is writing on.
My only criticism in this book, is that I feel it could have been better broken up within chapters, the book while transitioning from the Progressive position to the Catholic position smoothly, makes it feel like its just running on at times, if each chapter had clearly marked sub-sections this book would have been an easier read, for me at least.
With this said, the book itself is impeccable. In all its chapters it discusses The Traditional Catholic Position and the Progressive position, as it elucidates from the first chapter the Progressive Philosophy in a fair manner. The remaining content of the book describes various issues (e.g. Education, Economics, Sociology and Politics, etc...) from the two sides and shows where there was common action but also common disagreement:
In most cases it would seem that Catholics and Progressives may have agreed with Means but not with Ends, seeing that Progressives saw things from a Naturalistic and Impersonal Humanitarianism whereas Catholics saw things in light of Supernatural and Personal Charity.
I think this book is highly recommended for every Practicing Catholic, or those who are reconsidering practicing the Faith again. If said reader is more well-read in current events today we could almost see a clear line from The Era this book was focused on to where we are today, the author does have an Epilogue as well, but for those of us who are aware of the current Zeitgeist one can see its birth in the Progressive Era:
For example, today we often hear the phrase, "Well it doesn't matter what one believes, so long as one is simply a Good Person." This notion is discussed throughout the book, and it would appear this notion being a Progressive Notion had its birth in the Intellectual climate that the author is writing on.
My only criticism in this book, is that I feel it could have been better broken up within chapters, the book while transitioning from the Progressive position to the Catholic position smoothly, makes it feel like its just running on at times, if each chapter had clearly marked sub-sections this book would have been an easier read, for me at least.
September 4, 2019
Seems to me to be a thorough work discussing Progressivism/Modernism and its relationship and effects on the society, particularly on Catholicism. The chapters are quite long and sometimes the philosophical points were a bit difficult to understand right away. A book that should be read by Catholics.
April 21, 2013
Gave it a "4" as an average--content and subject matter was a five, ease of read was a three, but only due to the "academic" writing style. This is a book for the "serious" reader, one that wishes to delve into the Church and its answer to the Progressive movement of the early 1900's. Very informative and enlightening, but keep a good dictionary handy while you read. Woods is a great author, and intellectual.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews