The Fragility of Order: Catholic Reflections on Turbulent Times

by George Weigel

One of America's most prominent public intellectuals brings thirty-five years of experience in Washington and Rome to bear in analyzing the turbulence that characterizes world politics, American public life, and the Catholic Church in the early twenty-first century. In these bracing essays, George Weigel reads such events as the First World War, the collapse of Communism, and the Obama and Trump presidencies through a distinctive cultural and moral lens, even as he offers new insights into Pope Francis and his challenging pontificate. Throughout, two of Weigel's key convictions—that ideas have consequences for good and ill, and that the deepest currents of history flow through culture—illuminate political and economic life, and the life of the Church, in ways not often appreciated or understood. Many of the chapters in this book originated in George Weigel's annual William E. Simon Lecture, which since 2001 has become a major event in Washington, D.C. They are unique in their application of philosophical and theological perspectives to the issues of history and politics, enabling the reader to see current events in a deeper way.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, Catholic

223 pages, Hardcover

Published March 14, 2018

About the author

American author and political and social activist. Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Weigel was the Founding President of the James Madison Foundation.

Each summer, Weigel and several other Catholic intellectuals from the United States, Poland, and across Europe conduct the Tertio Millennio Seminar on the Free Society in Krakow, in which they and an assortment of students from the United States, Poland, and several other emerging democracies in Central and Eastern Europe discuss Christianity within the context of liberal democracy and capitalism, with the papal encyclical Centesimus Annus being the focal point.

He is a member of the advisory council of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Reviews

[Jim Milway · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Weigel offers his (and, he would assert I think, the Church's) views on various topics of today - ranging from foreign policy to the Catholic Church's recent debates on marriage and Communion. Along the way he provides an insight into Leo XIII who faced up to the challenges of the modern age and St Francis of Assisi. He digs into Pope Benedict's Regensburg speech which enraged various observers who hadn't bothered to read it carefully. He connects the secularism emerging from the Enlightenment with the bloodshed of the 20th century. And he describes the 2014 and 2015 Synods on the Family. He writes of the activities of the synods - but draws from publicly available sources. In so doing he shows the media to be not up to the job of following and reporting the real story if they don't fit a simplistic framework of conservatives-progressives; bad guys-good guys.

Lots of intellectual material, but very readable.

[Alla Kovalenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is definitely worth reading, although it is not easy to read, because the essays collected in it deal with very different problems. However, all these issues, problems, have one root: relativism and the general decline of morality.
The author does not portray everything in a black light, but rather analyzes and suggests ways to solve certain problems.

“Our Via Crucis will not be as dramatic as that which unfolded in ancient Mesopotamia in the first decades of the twenty-first century. But it will be persecution, and it will extract costs: financial, social, professional, and, likely, legal.”

“Vladimir Putin is doing what he's doing in Ukraine, Moldova, the Baltic states, and elsewhere, not because of anything Ukraine, Moldova, or other post-Soviet states did to him or to Russia, but because of who he is, what he believes, and what he seeks.”

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria's loving this book. She says she's been wanting to read a book like it for a long time and is reading bits of it aloud to me. Weigel has assembled essays and lectures written over the last twenty years, and revised them for this book. Ever wondered why the 20th century (and 21st) have been so catastrophic re wars & dictatorships? I'm loving the fact that it's only 202 pages long. These are concise chapters.

[Jacquie Stricklind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a lot of information about how the Catholic church was in the past and how it is now in our ever changing times. The only negative I have about the book is that the author uses words that are to technical, I feel that this book is more for the very educated not for the common person. That said, the reader will learn a lot reading this book.

[Thomas G. Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A guide to the problems continuing to be faced by all Christians

A great reflection on the church's past present and future challenges as only Weigle can define.
His analogy and incites are a thoroughly supported by his research and innate knowledge on the issues .

[Alfred C. Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter is a separate lecture but they hang together as if written all at once. Very thoughtful, Biblically grounded with a particular Catholic point of view. Serious problems face Western civilization in the 21st century and Weigel has some good ideas about what ails us and how to fix it.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essays covering history with a Catholic lens.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a light read but if you are up for some serious thinking about life in these times then this book is a keeper. You will be thinking about its content long after you put it down.

[Michal Paszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent analysis of recent events through the eyes of the excellent George Weigel. Very readable, smart and full of depth.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm nor sure I always agree with Weigel but he always gives me something to think about. His intelligence and erudition is over-the-top and his perspective is worth careful consideration.