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Disarming Beauty: Essays on Faith, Truth, and Freedom
In 2005, Father Julián Carrón became the leader of the global ecclesial movement Communion and Liberation, following the death of the movement's founder, Father Luigi Giussani. Disarming Beauty is the English translation of an engaging and thought-provoking collection of essays by one of the principal Catholic leaders and intellectuals in the world today. Adapted from talks given by Fr. Carrón, these essays have been thoroughly reworked by the author to offer an organic presentation of a decade-long journey. They present the content of his elaboration of the gospel message in light of the tradition of Fr. Giussani, the teachings of the popes, and the urgent needs of contemporary people. Carrón offers a broad diagnosis of challenges in society and then introduces their implications in contexts such as families, schools, workplaces, and political communities. In a dialogue with his listeners, he inspires and encourages them to lay out a new path for the Catholic church and the world. Throughout his essays, Carrón addresses the most pressing questions facing theologians today and provides insights that will interest everyone, from the most devout to the firm nonbeliever. Grappling with the interaction of Christian faith and modern culture, Carrón treats in very real and concrete ways what is essential to maintaining and developing Christian faith, and he invites an ongoing conversation about the meaning of faith, truth, and freedom.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2015
About the author
Julián Carrón
34 books11 followersJulián Carrón (born 25 February 1950) is a Spanish Catholic priest, and theologian and the former leader of the Italian Communion and Liberation movement.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 23, 2020
A beautiful series of essays on how to revive faith in the 21st century. Carron says the source of the 21st century human malaise is the loss of the human, of the "I". He focuses his call to action on the need of Catholics to demonstrate the transforming nature of faith, saying it's only in the human and her expression of radical change and joy that a religion can demonstrate its newness, or its relevance to the ills, sorrows, and struggles of each generation, thus attracting new people to the faith.
I disagreed with a LOT of the claims in this book, but that should come as no surprise. (What am I doing reading a book about reviving Catholic faith?!, you might rightly ask. I bought the book a year or so ago when I saw another person reading it and when my beliefs were more aligned with the views in the book.) Quickly, my three disagreements: Carron is not clear about what constitutes "true" experience, he fails to address seriously the heinous pedophilia problem in the leadership of the Catholic church when saying the church is the solution for suffering (what about when the church is the *source* of suffering?), and his views on marriage, virginity, homosexuality, and the necessity of religious belief for a good and deeply fulfilled life are quite opposed to my way of thinking. Those aside, the writing is beautiful, the ideas coherent within the Catholic framework, the logic mostly sound (with his Catholic assumptions acknowledged), and the way he talks about being human is lovely and quite touching at times.
I disagreed with a LOT of the claims in this book, but that should come as no surprise. (What am I doing reading a book about reviving Catholic faith?!, you might rightly ask. I bought the book a year or so ago when I saw another person reading it and when my beliefs were more aligned with the views in the book.) Quickly, my three disagreements: Carron is not clear about what constitutes "true" experience, he fails to address seriously the heinous pedophilia problem in the leadership of the Catholic church when saying the church is the solution for suffering (what about when the church is the *source* of suffering?), and his views on marriage, virginity, homosexuality, and the necessity of religious belief for a good and deeply fulfilled life are quite opposed to my way of thinking. Those aside, the writing is beautiful, the ideas coherent within the Catholic framework, the logic mostly sound (with his Catholic assumptions acknowledged), and the way he talks about being human is lovely and quite touching at times.
July 6, 2020
"Faith is 'verficiation' when it shows its ability to illuminate and bring to fullness the typically human dynamics of reason, affection, and freedom, and so increases the existential certainty essential to an adult in all of life's circumstances."
According to Carron, Christianity should be attractive and appealing to humanity because Christian's should live rich, full, beautiful lives of affection, reason, and freedom.
I don't remember how this book entered my to-read list, probably something in The Christian Century a few years ago. The author is a Spanish Catholic theologian supporting the witness of Pope Francis while also embracing the theology of Pope Benedict. There were a number of areas where I disagreed about the particulars of an ethical and faithful life (marriage for instance) but the broad ideas were engaging and resonated with some of my other theological reading such as Wendell Berry and Stanley Hauerwas. I think I'll make use of some of the ideas and sentences, and always good to keep a little theological diversity in one's reading.
According to Carron, Christianity should be attractive and appealing to humanity because Christian's should live rich, full, beautiful lives of affection, reason, and freedom.
I don't remember how this book entered my to-read list, probably something in The Christian Century a few years ago. The author is a Spanish Catholic theologian supporting the witness of Pope Francis while also embracing the theology of Pope Benedict. There were a number of areas where I disagreed about the particulars of an ethical and faithful life (marriage for instance) but the broad ideas were engaging and resonated with some of my other theological reading such as Wendell Berry and Stanley Hauerwas. I think I'll make use of some of the ideas and sentences, and always good to keep a little theological diversity in one's reading.
September 17, 2019
This is a collection of essays by a Spanish Catholic priest and ecclesiastical leader. He is trying to address how Catholics can thrive in a secular world. I would probably agree with most of what is in the book, but I found the writing style too philosophical and hard to follow or understand what was meant in many cases.
March 21, 2021
An introduction to the thought of Fr. Giussani & the ecclesial movement he founded: Communion & Liberation. Much of what is addressed is what ails our world and how the event of the Incarnation, our encounter with Jesus Christ and his acting in our lives as part of a community can bring about change.
April 5, 2021
GENIUS!! took me so so long to read but worth every moment to treasure and meditate on. Fr. Carron delves into what it means to be human in this liberating and insightful book. Well structured, it builds slowly on human reason and then tackles questions from everyday joys to lifetime struggles. This book points to our great & glorious God
November 12, 2017
Highlights: "'The Eternal Mystery of our Being'" , "Freedom is the Most Precious Gift Heaven Gave to Humanity" and the conclusion
December 18, 2017
This is a very important book for Christians living in the current culture. It can be appreciated by anyone regardless of your exposure to CL.
June 21, 2018
A beautiful and necessary book
July 22, 2018
Beautiful Book for our age and ultimately a treatise for being human- the only struggles of the book arise from Carrons syntax, which I assume arise from translation issues.
May 15, 2019
Great book, every christian should ready it, specially teachers and leaders
March 30, 2024
I could not finish this book. It failed to captivate me enough to spend the time. Got through page 76.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews