The Experiment of Faith: Pope Benedict XVI on Living the Theological Virtues in a Secular Age

Pope Benedict XVI memorably remarked that the Christian faith is a lot like a Gothic cathedral with its stained-glass windows. From the outside, the Church can appear dark, dreary, and worn with agethe crumbling relic of an institution that no longer speaks to men and women living in our modern world. Indeed, for many people today, Christian morality with all of its commandments appears to be a source not of life and joy but instead of suffering and oppression. Even within the Church, many wonder: why should I submit to ancient doctrines and outdated practices that restrict my freedom and impede my happiness?

In this timely and original book, his third exploring the riches of Benedict XVIs vast corpus, theologian Matthew Ramage sets out to meet this challenge with an in-depth study of the emeritus pontiffs wisdom on how to live Christian discipleship in todays increasingly secularized world. Taking as his starting point Benedicts conviction that the truth of Christianitylike the beauty of a cathedrals glorious windowscan be grasped only from the inside, Ramage draws on Benedicts insights to show how all Christians can make the experiment of faith by living the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity in daily life. Along the way, he shares his personal reflections on how Benedicts wisdom has helped him to navigate difficulties in embracing the faith and provides a way forward to those struggling to live as disciples in a way that is intellectually serious without remaining merely intellectual. In so doing, he also presents a highly nuanced yet accessible approach to defending the truth of the gospel in a world where life in Jesus Christ tends to be seen as unfulfilling, irrelevant, or just one lifestyle choice among others. See more