At last!
I've had a lot of people ask when the book would be available for pre-order, and now it is!
In fact, I'm pleased to tell you how to get your very own, autographed copy of the book–together with an exclusive audio interview that will not be available anywhere else.
Catholic Answers is doing a fundraising appeal based on the book because printing and properly promoting a book is expensive–particularly in the orthodox Catholic, non-profit world of niche publishing.
As Karl Keating explains in a recent letter,
I want to launch this book with a bang, not a whimper
The book is ready for the printer. The text has been finished, proofed, and typeset. But this is a big book
Jimmy, I enjoyed your interview with Pat Coffin on Catholic Answers (broadcast Monday, Oct. 11, 2010) about this work, and you and Pat were very gracious to allow me to ask a rather long-winded question on air about church fathers St. Ambrose and St. John Chrysostom.
You’ll recall that I am reading Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll and he recounts an incident in which a Christian mob burnt a synagogue in or near Milan and the then- presiding Roman emperor decreed it be rebuilt. Ambrose was infuriated and, according to the story as told there, stopped Mass with the emperor present and refused to continue until the emperor backed down from the royal decree. I then touched briefly upon the writings of John Chrysostom against Jews and Judaizers in the church and, though I may not have asked it clearly enough, I wondered if these were the sorts of moral exemplars the Catholic Church is proud of, and if Catholics are, in fact, no longer to learn from these acts and speeches, what has changed to prompt that modern approach?
You offered a thoughtful response that, if I remember correctly, drew a distinction between being anti-Semitic based on race, and anti-Judaism, based on opposition to religion, and that the ancients—Jews, Christians and pagans—had fairly sharp elbows.
Fair enough, I guess. But I still don’t understand how moral exemplars of the church could in any way speak and act in what we can surely all agree is a vicious and nasty way. After all, did not Jesus of Nazareth instruct his followers to ‘love their enemies,’ and ‘pray for their persecutors’? Did he not ask God as he was dying to forgive the Jews, ‘for they know not what they do’? Sharp elbows or not, shouldn’t Jesus’ directives overcome any animosity against the Jews? Why, then, as outstanding disciples of Jesus, did his words not carry the day? As Carroll’s book makes abundantly clear, we are confronted by 1900 years of Christian animus against the Jews. How in the world can Christians call themselves followers of Jesus of Nazareth and yet hate and kill their enemies? I am completely confused by two millenia of Christian history and behavior. Didn’t Gandhi joke, ‘Christianity is a good idea,if only it were practiced,’ or words to that effect?
Finally, I am enjoying Carroll’s book immensely. I find it eye-opening. What, if anything, do you or Mr. Coffin find improper about the book?
Thanks for any follow up info you can share.
Hi Mr. Aiken! I listen to Catholic Answers Live every day on the way home from work and I love when you are Patrick’s guest. I responded to the special appeal (I work in publishing and I know of what you speak) and look forward to receiving my autographed copy, which I intend to make short work of.
My 3 year old was watching one of your videos over my shoulder and asked me if that was Santa Claus. (He totally means that as a compliment.)
Can’t wait to get my book!
Amy Smith
Ambrose excommunicated Theodosius for killing 7000 Christians on account of the riots. Not for rebuilding the synagogue. Did Carroll provide any source material for this? I did my honours thesis on St. Ambrose, and I never heard of this particular accusation, although I know of the incident.
Cheers,
Daniel
Found it. Carroll is quoting another Author by the name of Rosemary Ruether. I find it interesting that Carroll doesn’t bother to quote any primary sources, but relies exclusively on Ruether’s account. I wonder if Ruether provided any primary sources? I couldn’t find her on googlebooks. I would be interested in finding out what proof she provides.
Anyway, you can find Ambrose’s letters and books online. It makes for very interesting reading. In the research I did for my thesis, it was clear to me that Ambrose’s primary concerned was about the Emperor’s execution of the Christians, and that the repentance he demanded from the emperor was of this crime.
You should also bear in mind that Ambrose felt he was now dealing with Christian emperors. The concept of secularity, as we know if today, was not developed until much later. A Christian King was expected to act as a Christian king.
Ambrose also debated with members of the senate (for example Symmachus) to remove the pagan altar of to the God Victory. There were still some pagans who truly believed that the reverses suffered by the Roman empire were on account of the rejection of the pagan God. Symmachus wanted the altar of victory returned to the senate floor, while Ambrose opposed this. Ambrose, more reasonably, saw that war was an evil that one sometimes had to resort to, and that victory is not always guaranteed. He was one of the first Christian theologians to write on the just war doctrine.
If you are interested in the subject of Ambrose, I would choose a less polemic writer to learn about him.
Cheers,
Daniel
It looks like Carroll is confusing two events:
1-The burning of the Jewish Synagogue.
2-The sedition of a group of Christian Thessalonians, followed by their execution (over 7000).
Ambrose excommunicated Theodosius over #2. He wrote a letter on behalf of the Christians in #1. You can read the letter here, and draw your own conclusions (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/340940.htm).
it may be a great book and I’ll surely buy it when oppurtunity knocks but…why do I need your autograph?
Pax
Stephen
http://www.loyaltothemagisterium.wordpress.com
It’s your choice! Many people like having autographs. The autographed edition also comes with a bonus interview on CD which is not available elsewhere.
Is that St. Gregory Palamas in the bottom right hand corner?
Paul, see this book for info on Chrysostom:
http://www.amazon.com/John-Chrysostom-Jews-Rhetoric-Reality/dp/1592449425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293045007&sr=8-1
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