Comments on: Thomas Merton: a poster boy? http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/2010/01/20/hello-world/ Under the Forest Flier Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:03:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jhforest http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/2010/01/20/hello-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3 jhforest Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:20:42 +0000 http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/?p=1#comment-3 If you decide to buy and read Shaw’s book, my guess is that you will be as disappointed as I was -- badly written, many errors of fact, and dismissive of whatever doesn’t fit his thesis. My only hope is that it will have the benefit of bringing readers who are made curious to explore Merton own writings. Re the “poster boy” issue: Shaw argues that Merton’s abbot, his agent and his editor -- and possibly various popes -- all tried to cram Merton into a saint suit, the ideal happy monk, all problems solved by donning the habit, etc. It’s simply not true. All Merton’s journal-based books, beginning with “The Sign of Jonas,” made clear the problems he had being a Trappist. Yes, there were readers who saw him as a model -- these would include not only progressive/liberal Catholics but many conservatives. They all had their disillusionments as Merton didn’t live up to expectations in any of these camps: too traditional for the liberals, too politically radical for the traditionalists. One might compare him to Thoreau, who also didn’t quite fit in any group. friendly greetings, Jim Forest If you decide to buy and read Shaw’s book, my guess is that you will be as disappointed as I was — badly written, many errors of fact, and dismissive of whatever doesn’t fit his thesis. My only hope is that it will have the benefit of bringing readers who are made curious to explore Merton own writings.

Re the “poster boy” issue: Shaw argues that Merton’s abbot, his agent and his editor — and possibly various popes — all tried to cram Merton into a saint suit, the ideal happy monk, all problems solved by donning the habit, etc. It’s simply not true. All Merton’s journal-based books, beginning with “The Sign of Jonas,” made clear the problems he had being a Trappist. Yes, there were readers who saw him as a model — these would include not only progressive/liberal Catholics but many conservatives. They all had their disillusionments as Merton didn’t live up to expectations in any of these camps: too traditional for the liberals, too politically radical for the traditionalists. One might compare him to Thoreau, who also didn’t quite fit in any group.

friendly greetings,

Jim Forest

]]> By: Manaus http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/2010/01/20/hello-world/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Manaus Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:58:05 +0000 http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/?p=1#comment-2 With a title like that you've got to know you're asking for it. I learned of this book on another blog a few weeks ago. Personally, as much as I like Merton, I find a new approach to him refreshing, even if it is of the sensationalistic variety. As assiduously as he tried to avoid becoming some kind of Catholic Poster Boy, I fear it has happened, at least on the left/progressive Christianity side. Because so many grant him a pseudo-saintly status, it begs for someone to come in and mess around in the china shop. What's it Voltaire said - discretion is owed to the living, not the dead, or something like that. Tabloid Merton - who'd a thought? With a title like that you’ve got to know you’re asking for it. I learned of this book on another blog a few weeks ago. Personally, as much as I like Merton, I find a new approach to him refreshing, even if it is of the sensationalistic variety. As assiduously as he tried to avoid becoming some kind of Catholic Poster Boy, I fear it has happened, at least on the left/progressive Christianity side. Because so many grant him a pseudo-saintly status, it begs for someone to come in and mess around in the china shop. What’s it Voltaire said – discretion is owed to the living, not the dead, or something like that. Tabloid Merton – who’d a thought?

]]>