ICSA VII. World Congress: Christianity & Democracy:
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Gavin T. Colvert
Jul 3, 2008, 10:08:14 AM7/3/08
to jacquesmaritain
Posted on behalf of:
Dr Raymond L Dennehy [denn...@usfca.edu]
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ICSA VII. World Congress: Christianity & Democracy:
Jacques Maritain in Perspective
Institute for Interdisciplinary Research & International Christian
Studies Association
Dates: 30 October - 2 November 2008
Call for Papers Deadline: 15 September 2008
Location: Pasadena, California
Website: www.JIS3.org/icsavii.htm
In an era Richard John Neuhaus designates as The Naked Public Square,
where some perceive Christian symbols as violating the separation
between church and state, it is timely to recall Jacques Maritain's
thesis of the compatibility between Christianity and democracy, and
explore his notion of Christianity as a necessary moral and spiritual
underpinning of liberal democracy. Maritain's Thomistic synthesis of
liberty and tradition focuses on the transcendent dignity of the human
person, universal human rights, the slow building of institutions of
liberty, reform, and gradual progress. Maritain's Christian humanism
and personalism thus span two poles–liberal and conservative–rooted in
the natural law and natural rights traditions. Maritain was
optimistic concerning democratic prospects for humanity provided that
a society's cultural habits were grounded in a theistic conception of
human personhood, consociality, the moral "ought," and spiritual
growth. He was impressed particularly by the American experiment and
hopeful for the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights which he
helped draft. The question arises: Can Maritain's integral humanism
bridge the gap between liberal and conservative, secular and faith-
based visions of the good life, individual fulfillment, and a more
perfect commonwealth in the twenty-first century? In brief, does
liberal democracy require a transcendent moral-spiritual vision? Fully-
developed papers will be considered for publication in the Journal of
Interdisciplinary Studies.
Dr Raymond L Dennehy [denn...@usfca.edu]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICSA VII. World Congress: Christianity & Democracy:
Jacques Maritain in Perspective
Institute for Interdisciplinary Research & International Christian
Studies Association
Dates: 30 October - 2 November 2008
Call for Papers Deadline: 15 September 2008
Location: Pasadena, California
Website: www.JIS3.org/icsavii.htm
In an era Richard John Neuhaus designates as The Naked Public Square,
where some perceive Christian symbols as violating the separation
between church and state, it is timely to recall Jacques Maritain's
thesis of the compatibility between Christianity and democracy, and
explore his notion of Christianity as a necessary moral and spiritual
underpinning of liberal democracy. Maritain's Thomistic synthesis of
liberty and tradition focuses on the transcendent dignity of the human
person, universal human rights, the slow building of institutions of
liberty, reform, and gradual progress. Maritain's Christian humanism
and personalism thus span two poles–liberal and conservative–rooted in
the natural law and natural rights traditions. Maritain was
optimistic concerning democratic prospects for humanity provided that
a society's cultural habits were grounded in a theistic conception of
human personhood, consociality, the moral "ought," and spiritual
growth. He was impressed particularly by the American experiment and
hopeful for the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights which he
helped draft. The question arises: Can Maritain's integral humanism
bridge the gap between liberal and conservative, secular and faith-
based visions of the good life, individual fulfillment, and a more
perfect commonwealth in the twenty-first century? In brief, does
liberal democracy require a transcendent moral-spiritual vision? Fully-
developed papers will be considered for publication in the Journal of
Interdisciplinary Studies.
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