Title: Choosing a World-View and Value-System: An Ecumenical Apologetics  Author: Benedict M. Ashley, O.P.  ISBN: 0-8189-0829-7  Paperback: x + 326 pp.  Price: $18.95 + shipping  To Order call:  1 800-343-ALBA (2522)  Please have your Master, Visa  or American Express card ready To order online click here.

This work attempts to consider the chief apparent differences between a variety of world-views and value-systems to determine how real these differences are and where they can be shown to have much in common on which to build a culture worthy of humankind. Thus the humanistic philosophies of life prevalent in the West today, the mythological religions largely found in isolated parts of Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Siberia and the Americas, the emanation religions of the East (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism), and the creation religions of the West (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) are all dealt with at some length in these pages. Since it is the task of Christian apologetics to disclose Jesus Christ as the Truth in which all truth, from whatever source it comes, can be honestly acknowledged and reconciled, this work is designed to help all those who seek a world-view and value-system by which they can live their lives to find everything they are looking for in Christ and in the Church which He founded.

 

Benedict M. Ashley, O.P., professor at the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, is a highly respected author of several texts and countless articles on moral theology, including Living the Truth in Love (Alba House, 1996), Theologies of the Body: Humanist and Christian (Pope John Center, 1985) and with Kevin D. O'Rourke, O.P., Healthcare Ethics: A Theological Analysis (Catholic Health Association of the United States, 1989). A consultant for the Committee on Doctrine of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, he was recently honored with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal from Pope John Paul II.  Reviews On values: A put-on-the-thinking-cap kind of book for over the summer (or getting ready for the first fall/winter season of this new millennium) -- a fascinating book for serious Christians living in an age of pluralism. Title: Choosing a World-View and Value-System (An Ecumenical Apologetics) by moral theologian (a consultant for the US Bishops Committee on Doctrine), Fr. Benedict M. Ashley, O.P. Major issue: Doing justice to Evangelization and Ecumenism (and asking how/why that may be God's will). Premise: It is important to know/present major options to be considered before making a world-view choice and then to examine how truths found in each can be ecumenically unified in Jesus Christ. Covered: Humanistic philosophies of the West, Mythological (Natural) religions (largely now in isolated parts of Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Siberia, Americas), the Emanation Religions of the East (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism), and Creation Religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). Among the books 10 chapters -- Dialogue between belief and non-belief, Ecumenism (Sign of God's Self-Communication), and Cosmic Evil and Christian Hope. 336 pages, soft cover with notes (no index). --Crux of the News, July 3, 2000 "Benedict Ashley, professor at the Aquinas Institute of Theology, presents a number of world-views and... [in this] thorough, well-written presentation... reveals the heart of these different belief systems: humanism, mythological religions, emanation religions (Buddhism, Hinduism), creation religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity). The main theme that Ashley investigates is evangelization, bringing the faith of Jesus to those who believe differently [than we]. The God who revealed himself on the Cross as the God of Love 'demands nothing less than the gift of self in love, the love of God and neighbor, the love of God's whole creation and especially of all other human persons, even our enemies.' This is a richly researched volume that accurately portrays the kinds of problems that faithful Christians face as a matter of course." --The Book Reader, Fall/Winter 2000/2001 Top of Page