"Church and age unite!"
Book Description
At the dawn of the twentieth century, American Catholic intellectuals found themselves at a crossroads between ancient faith and modern thought. R. Scott Appleby illuminates this pivotal moment when progressive priests, scientists, and scholars dared to bridge the gap between Catholic tradition and contemporary ideas that were reshaping society.
This scholarly exploration traces fifteen transformative years, from 1895 to 1910, when American Catholic thinkers grappled with evolution, democracy, and the nature of faith itself. These pioneers looked beyond the rigid boundaries of Roman neo-scholasticism, drawing inspiration from the earliest centuries of Christianity to craft a theology that could speak meaningfully to American experiences.
Appleby reveals how figures like priest John Zahm sought to harmonize Darwin's theories with Catholic belief, while others explored how democratic principles might strengthen rather than threaten religious life. Their bold experiment represented the first attempt to embrace diverse theological methods and sources within American Catholicism, creating an apologetics that resonated with the lived reality of American believers.
Yet this intellectual courage came at a cost. Like their European counterparts who faced condemnation, these American modernists encountered suspicion from Rome, ultimately silencing original theological research for an entire generation. This comprehensive study offers readers insight into a forgotten chapter of spiritual and intellectual courage, examining what happens when faith encounters the challenge of new ideas.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 296 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Modernism (Christian theology) -- Catholic
- ✓ Explore Church
- ✓ Explore Modernismus
- ✓ Explore Catholic Church
- ✓ Explore Geschichte (1895-1910)
- ✓ Explore Catholic church, united states
- ✓ Explore Modernism (Christian theology)
- ✓ Explore Katholizismus
