Disarming Beauty: Essays on Faith, Truth, and Freedom (Catholic Ideas for a Secular World)

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. Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Part 1 The Context and the Challenges -- Chapter 1: Is a New Beginning Possible? -- Chapter 2: Truth and Freedom: A Paradigm -- Chapter 3: In the Collapse of the Self-Evident, a Subject Is Generated -- Chapter 4: The Challenge of True Dialogue after the Charlie Hebdo Attacks -- Part 2 An Event of Rebirth -- Chapter 5: Christianity Faced with the Challenges of the Present -- Chapter 6: The Religious Sense, Verification of the Faith -- Chapter 7: The "Eternal Mystery of Our Being" -- Chapter 8: Broadening Reason -- Chapter 9: Freedom Is the Most Precious Gift Heaven Gave to Humanity -- Part 3 An Educational Emergency -- Chapter 10: Introduction to Total Reality -- Chapter 11: The "Hot Point" -- Chapter 12: A Communication of Yourself -- Part 4 A New Protagonist on the World Scene -- Chapter 13: "Lady, Your Beauty Was a Ray of Heavenly / Light to My Thinking" -- Chapter 14: With the Audacity of Realism -- Chapter 15: Crisis: A Challenge to Change -- Chapter 16: In Politics, Too, the Other Is a Good -- Conclusion: How Does a Presence Come to Be? -- Notes -- Sources -- Index Cover Disarming Beauty Title Copyright CONTENTS Foreword PART 1 The Context and the Challenges CHAPTER 1 Is a New Beginning Possible? CHAPTER 2 Truth and Freedom: A Paradigm CHAPTER 3 In the Collapse of the Self-Evident, a Subject Is Generated CHAPTER 4 The Challenge of True Dialogue after the Charlie Hebdo Attacks PART 2 An Event of Rebirth CHAPTER 5 Christianity Faced with the Challenges of the Present CHAPTER 6 The Religious Sense, Verification of the Faith CHAPTER 7 The “Eternal Mystery of Our Being” CHAPTER 8 Broadening Reason CHAPTER 9 Freedom Is the Most Precious Gift Heaven Gave to Humanity PART 3 An Educational Emergency CHAPTER 10 Introduction to Total Reality CHAPTER 11 The “Hot Point” CHAPTER 12 A Communication of Yourself PART 4 A New Protagonist on the World Scene CHAPTER 13 “Lady, Your Beauty Was a Ray of Heavenly / Light to My Thinking” CHAPTER 14 With the Audacity of Realism CHAPTER 15 Crisis: A Challenge to Change CHAPTER 16 In Politics, Too, the Other Is a Good Conclusion: How Does a Presence Come to Be? Notes Sources Index The Context And The Challenges -- Is A New Beginning Possible? -- Truth And Freedom: A Paradigm -- In The Collapse Of The Self-evident, A Subject Is Generated -- The Challenge Of True Dialogue After The Charlie Hebdo Attacks -- An Event Of Rebirth -- Christianity Faced With The Challenges Of The Present -- The Religious Sense, Verification Of The Faith -- The Eternal Mystery Of Our Being -- Broadening Reason -- Freedom Is The Most Precious Gift Heaven Gave To Humanity -- An Educational Emergency -- Introduction To Total Reality -- The Hot Point -- A Communication Of Yourself -- A New Protagonist On The World Scene -- Lady, Your Beauty Seemed To Me / Like A Divine Light In My Mind -- With The Audacity Of Realism -- Crisis: A Challenge To Change -- In Politics, Too, The Other Is A Good -- How Does A Presence Come To Be? Julián Carrón ; Foreword By Javier Prades. Translated From The Italian. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.