Fides et Ratio

Cmekve@aol.com
Fri, 23 Jul 1999 20:56:18 EDT

I doubt many of us regularly read papal encyclicals, but the recently
relaeased Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) seems to have been warmly
received by a variety of Christian groups. The document is available at the
Vatican web site http://www.vatican.va and has much to say that is of
interest to ASA-types.

It was effusively summarized and lauded by Richard John Neuhaus in the
December 1998 issue of First Things http://www.firstthings.com , but then
John Paul II can do no wrong for Fr. Neuhaus. (RJN seems to save his
criticism and sarcasm for the editorial board at Commonweal!) More recently,
F. et R. was reviewed in the July/Ausgust 1999 issue of Books and Culture
http://www.christianity.net/bc/current by evangelical Calvinists Nick
Wolterstorff (Yale) and Alvin Plantinga (Notre Dame). Wolterstorff describes
the issuance of F. et R. as an "extraordinary event". He says: "Those of us
who are not members [of the Church of Rome] will find a good dose of envy
mixed in with our awe and astonishment". And "Fides et Ratio is an
extraordinarily rich and dialectically subtle encyclical...[with whose]
central argument...I am in full agreement".

Plantinga's review is a little more critical than that of his former
colleague at Calvin College, but overall is positive as well.

The encyclical as well as the various reviews are well worth the time spent
on them.

Karl
********************
Karl V. Evans
cmekve@aol.com