Aug 19 2008
Review: A Civilization of Love
Full disclosure: When asked to pick a book to review for the Catholic Company, I chose A Civilization of Love because I thought it would be an easy read. The author, Carl Anderson, is the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus - and to me, the K of C has always meant a bunch of hard-working guys who love a lot and do a lot. When Chris Cash read to me that the subtitle was “What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World”, I figured it would be a how-to book on community-building.
It is, but not in the way I thought.
A Civilization of Love is a great book, a book of contrasts and connections. Anderson traces the call for universal values of equality and human dignity from Paul’s address to the people of Athens* into modern times. His title comes from an encyclical of Pope John Paul II, and the book incorporates ideas from John Locke, Thomas Macauly, Pope Leo XIII, and other sources. I very much appreciated the notes section and excellent bibliography.
Anderson characterizes the source of division in our current civilization as primarily a split between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death. The former places intrinsic value on the individual, while the latter takes a utilitarian view.
Too often, people are treated as nothing more than objects - of value only because they are seen as being useful to achieve some purpose, whether it is personal, social, or economic. But the person who is the object of our love is of value because he or she is loved, not because he or she is useful or productive. - p. 14
I was impressed by the examples he chose to show the contrast: two 1964 Noble Prize winners, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jean-Paul Sartre. The first chapters are dense with history and the effect of attempts to negate Christianity (and, by extension, its values).
However, Anderson isn’t just informative. At the end of each chapter, he includes a section based on the chapter’s theme, called ”Suggestions for Contemplation and Action”. He calls for people to change their ways of thinking and paying attention to others. Anderson really hits his stride in Chapter 4, when he gives poignant examples of why it’s important to volunteer and not just donate money. Instead of waiting for political solutions to economic and educational problems, Catholics in particular and Christians in general must take personal initiative to make opportunities for the disadvantaged.
Final Note: This excellent book belongs on the shelf with the social commentary of Fr. Benedict Groeschel and George Weigel.
*See The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 17.
This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on A Civilization of Love - What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World.
