The Weight of Belief: Essays on Faith in the Modern Age

by Josef Pieper

Foremost among the problems peculiar to modernity is that of belief in an age when the study and speech pertaining to God is frequently performed without faith—a pseudo-theology that “threatens to deprive the average man of any possibility of experiencing faith.”

In The Weight of Belief, Josef Pieper harmonizes philosophy and theology to show the relationship between God and man, grace and nature, revelation and reason, ultimately rebutting the notion that “the purpose of human existence lies in man’s liberation from his own nature and past, and his consequent freedom to make his own choices.”With essays spanning from 1965 to 1973—including “What Does It Mean to Say ‘God Speaks’?”; “The Art of Not Yielding to Despair”; and “The Abuse of Language and the Abuse of Power”—The Weight of Belief is Pieper at his percipient, piquant best.

Genres: Philosophy, Faith

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Josef Pieper was a German Catholic philosopher and an important figure in the resurgence of interest in the thought of Thomas Aquinas in early-to-mid 20th-century philosophy. Among his most notable works are The Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance; Leisure, the Basis of Culture; and Guide to Thomas Aquinas (published in England as Introduction to Thomas Aquinas).

Reviews

[Jeffrey Kahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of essay showcase some of Pieper’s finest thinking. Originally written almost forty years ago, and written from a traditional Catholic (Thomist) perspective, these essays are surprisingly relevant to many current cultural conversations. One of the most insightful chapters is “Abuse of Language, Abuse of Power” — a profound reflection on the importance of proper language and the tendency of those in power to manipulate words for their own ends. Highly recommended!

[Erik]

Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Intro to Part Three, as one of Fourteen Books by Josef Pieper.

Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Chapter 15, as one of Twelve Collections of Lectures and Reflections.

Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Chapter 19, as one of Sixteen Books on Belief and Disbelief.