Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam
by Joseph Ratzinger (Author), Marcello Pera (Author)
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This is Ratzinger's first book as Pope. Written in conjunction with President of the Italian Senate, Marcello Pera--a partnering of the statesman and the holy man--the book is a reassessment of the European "West" and its struggle to define itself in the wake of war, terrorism, diplomatic and spiritual crisis. Pope Benedict reveals a thorough grasp of the contemporary global climate and the tentative and fractious bonds that tie Europe to the rest of the world. Though critical and show more cautionary, the new Pope ultimately offers an assertive message of hope to mend the West's fractured identity and reconnect with its spiritual roots.--From publisher description. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Without Roots is a collection of two essays and two letters, one by each author, about the existential crisis facing Western societies, particularly in Europe. Written by a future Pope and a President of the Italian Senate, the book approaches the major issues from both the religious and secular viewpoints. What is the role of Christianity in today's society? How dangerous is relativism? and Whither Europe? are just a few of the questions they seek to answer, and their answers are still very relevant today. With the exceptions of a few chestnuts like the European Constitution, the book has aged very well in its first decade. Those with an interest in Western civilization, moral relativism, and the roles and church and state will want to show more pick it up. Highly recommended. show less
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Apr 26, 2021Catalan
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Books translated from Romance Languages into English
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Author Information
Joseph Ratzinger was born on April 16, 1927 in Marktl am Inn in the state of Bavaria, Germany. Ratzinger entered the minor seminary in Traunstein, in 1939 and in 1943 along with the rest of his seminary class he was drafted into the Flak [anti-aircraft corps]. In 1944 he was released from the Flak and returned home only to be drafted into labor show more detail under the infamous Austrian Legion. In the spring of 1945 Ratzinger deserted the army and headed home but when the Americans arrive at his village shortly thereafter, he was identified as a German soldier and incarcerated in a POW camp for a brief time. Following his release he re-entered the seminary. In 1951 Joseph was ordained into the priesthood and began lectures as a full professor of fundamental theology at the University of Bonn. From 1962-65 Ratzinger was present during all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council as a peritus, or chief theological advisor to Cardinal Joseph Frings of Cologne, Germany. . In 1977 Joseph Ratzinger was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising and on June 27 elevated to Cardinal of Munich by Pope Paul VI. In 1981 Ratzinger accepted Pope John Paul II's invitation to take over as Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and in 1986 he was appointed head of a 12-member commission responsible for drafting the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Ratzinger was elected vice dean of the College of Cardinals in 1988. In 2002 Pope John Paul II, approved his election as dean of the College of Cardinals. On April 8, 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger presided over the funeral of Pope John Paul II. On April 19, 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Bishop of Rome on the fourth ballot of the conclave and took the name Benedict XVI. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam
- Original title
- Senza radici. Europa, relativismo, cristianesimo, islam
- Original publication date
- 2004
- People/Characters
- Benedict XVI, Pope (Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, 1927-2022); Marcello Pera
- First words
- At the beginning of his famous essay, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber raised the following question: "A product of modern European civilization, studying any problem of universal history, i... (show all)s bound to ask himself to what combination of circumstances the fact should be attributed that in Western civilization, and in Western civilization only, cultural phenomena have appeared which (as we like to think) lie in a line of development having universal significance and value."
- Original language
- Italian
Classifications
- Genres
- Religion & Spirituality, Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 909.09821 — History & geography History World history Other Geographic Classifications Other Classifications Ocean And Sea Basins The West; the Atlantic region
- LCC
- D2021 .B46 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania History (General) Europe (General) History
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 359
- Popularity
- 88,116
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English, German, Italian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 2
