American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile

by Richard John Neuhaus

Book Overview

Christians are by their nature a people out of place. Their true home is with God; in civic life, they are alien citizens "in but not of the world." In American Babylon, eminent theologian Richard... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465013678
• ISBN13: 9780465013678
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Basic Books (AZ)
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.7" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

His final thoughts

This is Father Neuhaus' final book. It is an informal essay describing life in America as a Catholic. The tone is quite relaxed and laid back. Fr. Neuhaus discusses many facets of what it is like to be a Catholic in America in this day and age. Some topics that he addresses include the (false) notion of separation of Church and State, whether or not an atheist can be a good citizen, and the writings of Richard Rorty. I learned a lot from the chapter devoted to Rorty. I didn't know who he was before reading the book, but I learned that he is a huge name in what I might call "American skeptical intellectualism" but what he called "ironism." The book is an easy and relaxed read, one which should appeal to all traditional Christians and Jews alike.

A wonderful farewell

Father Richard John Neuhaus was one of the founders and a longtime editor-in-chief of the journal of religion, culture and politics "First Things." He was a giant of the promotion of religious discourse in the public sphere, and an unprecedented writer and public intellectual. His passing away in the early 2009 is a great loss to all of his many fans, as well as the readers of the First Things. The "American Babylon" is his last book, and it was published posthumously. It touches on all of the major themes from his long and prolific opus: the role of religion in public discourse, the position and the role of religious people in an open and democratic society, the attitude that Christians should have towards the secular order in general and towards America in particular. He touches upon two main models of conceptualizing America in the light of Christian view of history: America as a new Babylon (that is, as a new exile for the People of God), and America as a New Jerusalem (i.e., the new Promised Land and a beacon upon a hill for all the other nations). Both of these models have seen their popularity rise and fall over the centuries, and Father Neuhaus does not endorse either one of them wholeheartedly. However, from the title of this book, you can guess in which direction he was leaning towards the end of his life. This is a wonderful book by one of my favorite authors. Over the years I have learned a lot from him and am saddened that there won't be any more opportunities for him to put his invaluable insights into a written form. On the other hand, I cherish all that he had written that much more.

Defining Christianity in modern America and considering how Christians are a people 'out of place'

From the beginning of the Christian movement to modern times where's been arguments about what it means to say that Christians are 'in but not of the world'. AMERICAN BABYLON is the last work by theologian Richard Neuhaus and considers the sentiment, defining Christianity in modern America and considering how Christians are a people 'out of place' and alien in America. An intriguing discussion that any Christian or spirituality library will find thought-provoking.

A voice from the beyond

Fr.Neuhaus died Jan. 8, 2009. This is his last book and it read like a warning voice from the great beyond.. The "Babylon" of the title is not the "whore of Babylon" of excitable discussion but the place of Jewish exile from their home in Jerusalem. Fr. Neuhaus rolls his intellect over the question of how we should live as good citizens in exile from our true and promised home with our creator. You will find no better reflections on this question. Especially enlightening is the chapter devoted to examining the philosophy of Richard Rorty. For those, like myself, who haven't been able to unravel the obtuse philosopher this chapter will be extremely rewarding in helping you see into the moral and philosophical confusion that so dominates our age.

American Babylon

Anyone familiar with Father Neuhaus and his prior books and writing style will NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. He lays out the present situation facing all Christians in society and of course also every other member in relation to the declining moral and culture we are living thru. Truly thought provoking and would be an excellent choice for a Book Club discussion group.