Rev. Dr Anthony Abela : Laying the foundations for an alternate humanism

Abstract

A brief "compendium theologie" is the description that imposed itself upon the reviewer as he leafed his way through this dense, slow moving synthesis of speculative and spiritual theology. Its author identifies the literat)' genre of his work as "una meditazione suI mistero di Dio amore e dell'uomo amore nel Verbo", generated by reflection on his own spiritual experience within the framework of the Focolare Movement spirituality of Unity (p.5 cfr p.173). Z steers the "poche pagine di questo libro" away from the reahn of a "manuale di teologia" or of an "opera scientific a nel senso specialistico del termine" by leaving out "un apparato scientifico" usually required for offering adequate discussions of theological topics. This "testimonianza d'amore" as the book presents itself is nothing less than a profound, thickly written, beautifully printed, deeply theological, essay into the acute crisis that European and Western culture finds itself in. This essay merits close and considered perusal and discussion by anyone with responsibility or pretension of influencing the cultural formation of any country in the western hemisphere.