Light of the World - Ch 4

 Light of the World  - Pope Benedict XVl, Published by CTS

Chapter 4 - The Global Catastrophe

This chapter addresses both the practical and the moral and spiritual state of the world, and the links between them.  At the practical level, the Holy Father discusses issues like global warming and global debt, but all the time he takes the conversation back to the more fundamental moral and spiritual issues.

He addresses the false notion that sees progress as simply an increase in knowledge and power, and reminds us of the urgent necessity of re-introducing fundamental moral and spiritual considerations. "This is the question: what is good?  Where should knowledge be leading power?"

He also looks at the way in which our thinking is disconnected: we may all agree that a problem is serious, at a global level (eg the global financial problems) but we are reluctant to take any action individually which might diminish our own comfort, however necessary that might be.  The pope sees religious communities as able to offer an example here: they can thrive, not just survive, despite not indulging in consumerism

He concludes by suggesting that many live their lives as practical atheists.  While they may accept that there is a God who started the whole thing going, they do not see him as interested in us here and now.  The Holy Father says: That is why it is so urgent also to bring the question about God back into the centre.

And that is what is notable throughout this book so far: God is the centre of the Pope's thinking: everything is seen with the eyes of super -nature as well as the eyes of nature.  It is good to spend time in such intellectual and spiritual company.