La perspectiva cristiana

by Julián Marías

El cristianismo es ante todo una religión, sin embargo también proporciona una perspectiva de la realidad, una visión del mundo totalmente original. Y este el punto de partida del lúcido análisis escrito por Julián Marías. Un pequeño gran libro que sale al paso con valentía de los tópicos al uso, escrito con claridad y con dosis de buen humor. El filósofo reflexiona, a lo largo de 17 breves capítulos, sobre la creación, la providencia, la encarnación, el pecado, la salvación y la condenación, la condición de persona, la libertad y la responsabilidad.

Genres: Religion

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

As one of the most remarkable spanish philosophers on the XX century, he wrote several books about philosofy, politics and social matters. After Spanish civil war, he left Spain with his family because, as oppositor of Franco's dictatorship, he was banned from teaching in the university and he couldn't appear in the media. The Marías traveled to the United States and there he taught at numerous institutions including Harvard University, Yale University, Wellesley College, and UCLA.

Marías wrote on a wide variety of subjects during his long career. A subject of particular interest was Cervantes's Don Quixote. In 1964 he was elected into the Real Academia Española, and he won a Prince of Asturias award in 1996. From 1.977 to 1.979 he was senator in the Spanish General Courts.

He is the father of the famous novelist Javier Marías

Reviews

[Jose Luis]

I found this book some weeks ago at Grey Matter Books while roaming around New Haven, CT. Firstly, don’t miss this bookshop if you are ever in the area. It has a superb selection of books across multiple genres. There are also large sections of $1.00 books! I only wish I could go back soon and spend more time browsing. It’s a dangerous place for people like me.

Julian Marias offers a broad philosophical survey of “the Christian perspective,” covering big ideas (in short three to five page sections) pertaining to how Christianity views human life. It was a treat, and it peaked my interest to read more from him. He seems like a thoughtful and orthodox Catholic philosopher.

Marias puts a weighted emphasis on further exploring human personhood to better understand our relationship to the Trinity. He defines man as a “loving creature” which is an interesting and more nuanced definition than what I got at uni of “rational animal.”