ONE TRUTH, VARIOUS SIGNS
ONE TRUTH, VARIOUS SIGNS
I found this book stimulating and revealing. The reason is that it links the treasures of the Christian tradition - spiritual, philosophical, and artistic - with the universalist visions of the Perennial Philosophy. In fact, it shows that, in essence, both speak with one voice - the voice of the true, the good, and the beautiful - even though this "voice" necessarily has different accents and tones. As Ananda Coomaraswamy said: Una Veritas, in variis signis, varie resplendet ("The one truth, in various signs, shines variously.").
In the book I also found the best contemporary authors of philosophy of religion. Frithjof Schuon, René Guénon, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda Coomaraswamy. Not forgetting Martin Lings, William Stoddart, Marco Pallis, Whitall Perry, and a dozen more from places as diverse as the U.S., Italy, France, Greece, and Brazil. Some readers may be surprised to find C. S. Lewis among these authors, but it suffices to read his book "The Abolition of Man", with its references to the Tao, in order to understand the editor's choice. Highly recommended.
I thought this book was supposed to relate to the perennial philosophy?
I finally had to give up on this book after suffering through the first 100 pages. The book is a collection of articles supposedly linking certain tenets of Christianity to the perennial philosophy. Having read the perennial philosophy and having studied the eastern religions for several years, my expectations were high. I read the first few articles and just could not see their connections to the perennial philosophy. I also found the articles themselves to be of extremely limited usefulness on their own merits. If you are trying to find a glimmer of hope in the Christian world view, as I was, by seeking a connection to the perennial philosophy, particularly as it relates to the eastern practices, look elsewhere.
Truth in Advertising
As a Christian who has a certain sympathy with what is called by its followers the "Perennial Philosophy", taking its form primarily from Rene Guenon and Frithjof Schuon--neither of whom was a Christian--I just want to express a word of caution to the prospective reader. The emphasis in the title should be on "perennial philosophy", not on Christianity. The essays here were well worth collecting and reading, but the reader should know that there are very relatively few actual Christian authors represented here (hence only three stars). In particular, I wonder whether C.S. Lewis would have been entirely comfortable in this company--and I sincerely doubt it. The philosophy represented here is serious and worthy of consideration, let there be no doubt. But the Christian will need a certain reserve and, to put it bluntly, a certain critical perspective as well.
To be a really rounded account, this anthology should have carried the essay by Philip Sherrard--a Greek Orthodox lay-theologian who was deeply involved with the Perennial Philosophy--that expresses his hesitations about its value for Christians: "Christianity and the Metaphysics of Logic", published in the collection of his essays called "Christianity: Lineaments of a Sacred Tradition." This essay is quite critical, though appreciative, of Guenon in particular. Heady going, to be sure, and not for the faint of heart, but essential for a complete perspective. (One might also add the critical essays of Jean Borella.)
Let me just add that, as profound thinkers and believers, John Paul II and Benedict (Joseph Ratzinger)--whether you agree with them or not--are by no means to be slighted as at least one of the reviewers here seems to imply.
A MOST ORIGINAL ANTHOLOGY
This must be one of the most original anthologies ever devised. The breadth of the editor's reading is awesome and the selections he has made round and about an important theme are imaginative and eclectic.
The book lives up to its title: its chapters provide a wealth of information and insights on many aspects of Christian truth that we might otherwise have overlooked.
One matter of contemporary importance on which the book offers some encouraging perspectives is the question of relations between Christianity and Islam. Here too the editor has unearthed contributions which, often in unexpected ways, shed considerable light.
HIGHLY STIMULATING BOOK
I HAVE JUST FINNISHED READING THIS MOST STIMULATING BOOK.
I FEEL MYSELF NOW INTELLECTUALLY ENRICHED BY THE INSIGHTS FROM SUCH HIGH CALIBER CONTRIBUTORS SUCH AS THE PROTESTANT C. S. LEWIS, THE ORTHODOX BISHOP KALLISTOS WARE AND THE CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHER RAMA COOMARASWAMY.
AS A COMMITED CATHOLIC, ONE OF THE THINGS I BECAME INTERESTED WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE TEACHINGS CONTAINED IN THE BOOK TO THE SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE OF THE CHURCH OF TODAY.
ONE QUESTION I PUT TO MYSELF IS: HOW THE RECENT PONTIFICATES - FROM PAUL VI TO THE NEWLY ELECTED BENEDICT XVI -- ENVISAGE TO ANSWER THE CHALLENGES PUT BY THIS BOOK?
THAT IS, HOW TO APPROACH THE FAITH IN ITS "INTELLECTUALY CHALLENGING FORMS"? AND THIS BECAUSE, AS ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS OF THE VOLUME HAS WRITTEN:
"Today religion is presented in such a sentimental manner that it is not surprising that the best of the new generations rebel. The solution is once again to present religion in its intellectually challenging form."
THE AUTHORS IN THIS VOLUME - TALENTED WRITERS SUCH AS FRITHJOF SCHUON, TITUS BURCKHARDT, ANANDA COOMARASWAMY, MARTIN LINGS AND WILLIAM STODDART -- POINT IN THE DIRECTION OF DEALING WITH THE CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND IDEALS IN THE LIGHT OF ITS MOST UNIVERSAL AND INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGING DIMENSIONS, BE IT IN THE FIELD OF DOCTRINES, RITUALS, PRAYER, MORALITY AND ART.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS BOOK HELPS VERY MUCH THE INTERESTED READER TO REDISCOVER MUCH OF THE TREASURES OF THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION, ESPECIALLY ITS NOW UNFORTUNATELY ALMOST TOTALLY HIDDEN SPIRITUAL, PHILOSOPHICAL AND ARTISTIC LEGACY.
THE EDITOR OF THIS ANTHOLOGY HAS DONNE A VERY GOOD JOB IN UNHEARTING SOME ENCOURAGING PERSPECTIVES.
(8 reviews)
