Reviews for Critics on Trial: An Introduction to the Catholic Modernist Crisis

The average rating for Critics on Trial: An Introduction to the Catholic Modernist Crisis based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-12-26 00:00:00 Mary Hasty San Juan de La Cruz attempts to teach the indescribable glory of Catholic mysticism. Similar to St. Teresa of Avila's autobiography in purpose, (BTW He was her confessor) this book gives insight to what can be attained through a spiritually driven life. Amazing. This is not quackery. The empirical mind-set dominating the world today cannot tolerate what it cannot explain and hence the methods of spiritual enlightenment are ridiculed. Too bad. They know not what they do. Mankind is suffering because it is divorced from its spirituality. Abandoning his spiritual nature, the animal man concentrates on satisfying appetites. This leads to empty lives, unbearable suffering, appalling inhumanity and an inability to distinguish good from evil. Whoever wishes to avoid a similar life should read this book and others like it.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-02-20 00:00:00 Francis Brenner I found a number of positive things about this text; the biographical information about San Juan de la Cruz's captivity was engaging (though this information could just as easily be gleaned online). The poems of the saint were also sometimes engaging and moving. This being said, the book was heavy on academic nonsense supplied by Nicholas that was repetitive and silly in its loftiness. Much of the text read like the silly verbal masturbation of a man too at home in an ivory tower, and happy to listen to the echo of his own droning, pedantic voice. Thanks to Nicholas for his translations of San Juan's poetry and prose, but his commentary needs some heavy editing. Perhaps a session with Hemingway would help this book?