| |
Review
Belief or Nonbelief is a rare collection of exchanges between noted philosopher-novelist Umberto Eco and the Bishop-scholar Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini of Milan. Their letters, published in the Italian newspaper La Correra de la Serra, focused on a variety of religious and theological issues, including: fears of the Apocalypse, when life begins, the ordination of women in the Church, ethics without god, and violence and intolerance. Their positions do not reflect the conventional dichotomy between believer and non-believer -- Umberto Eco, who left the Church when he was twenty-two, typifies the open skeptic, respecting but questioning the positions of the Catholic Church. Likewise, Martini remains open to the skepticism of non-believers and searches for ways to find common ground. Eco and Martini engage in a lively, frank, and intelligent discussion, offering a rare exploration of the place of religion and belief in the modern world.
|
|
