The book has the great advantage of placing the slave in the center of the history not simply as a type of labor; but as an actor whose culture; actions and decisions influenced the operation of the system… written with verve and grace for a general readership.
#952349 in Books Catholic University of America Press 2001-08-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .51 x 5.51l; .69 #File Name: 0813210151226 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy R. HolvastFascinating reading for those working on the relation culture and christianity. A classic and indispensable for understanding Dawson.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The Story of EverythingBy Canadian JoeDawson's magnum opus and (completely non-polemical) alternative to more presumptuous historians like Wells and Toynbee: a simple narrative of human history from its prehistorical roots in shamanism (discovered via anthropology) through the "immense debt" owed to the Archaic Civilizations of the great rivers; through the great migrations of the late second millennium and mankind's consequential spiritual great awakening; into historic times; up to and including the rise and fall of the 19th Century Religion of Progress. The narrative is compelling.39 of 39 people found the following review helpful. BrilliantBy Steve JacksonChristopher Dawson (1889-1970) was one the premier Roman Catholic thinkers of this century. Dawson's central concern was the relationship between religion and culture. Dawson drew on an extensive knowledge of history; philosophy; sociology and theology to illuminate this connection from the beginnings of history to the modern age.Although some of his books remain in print; Catholic University of America Press is printing new editions of his most important works. This edition of Progress Religion contains a forward by Dawson's daughter Christina (1922-2001) and an introduction by the well-known sociologist Mary Douglas.Progress Religion; which came out in 1929; is perhaps Dawson's most important work. Dawson argues that at the center of any great civilization is its religion; and this religion animates and gives it a sense of purpose. This is particularly the case with Christianity. "[T]he victory of the Church in the 4th century was not; as so many modern critics would have us believe; the natural culmination of the religious evolution of the ancient world. It was; on the contrary; a violent interruption of that process which forced European civilization out of its own orbit . . . ." [p. 126.] The Western Church vivified society by breaking with oriental spiritualism and showing that "human intelligence . . . finds its natural activity in the sphere of the sensible and particular." [p. 137.]It would make an interesting study to compare the work of Dawson with that of Robert Nisbet. Like Nisbet; Dawson was learned in the area of sociology and drew upon an extensive knowledge of sociologists such as Le Play; Comte and Durkheim. They both saw Rousseau as one the chief villains. As Dawson said; Rousseau effected a "new Reformation" and was the ideological godfather of the French Revolution. They both wrote extensively on the idea of progress. However; whereas Nisbet was "pious skeptic" (according to Prof. Gottfried); Dawson was a believer and his work contains a greater sense of urgency. Indeed; some of his writings between the wars were quite prophetic.
