Europe and the Faith

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Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Europe and the Faith

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Hilaire Belloc argues that Catholic Christianity, not the Reformation or barbarians, forged and sustains European civilization. Rejecting modern 'aspects' of history, he asserts the Catholic sees Europe from within, offering a unified view against Protestant and secular fragmentation. This work defends the continuity of Christendom and critiques the false narratives of the Dark Ages and the Reformation.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'Europe and the Faith,' Hilaire Belloc presents a robust defense of Catholic Christianity as the essential soul of European civilization. He argues that the Reformation was a corruption that severed Britain from the continent, rather than a natural evolution. Belloc contends that modern historians, particularly the Protestant German school and their English followers like Freeman and Green, have constructed a false narrative of Britain's history to support theories of racial or national superiority. He asserts that Britain's separation from Europe occurred in the sixteenth century due to the Reformation, not through a barbaric invasion in the fifth century. The text analyzes the fall of the Roman Empire, arguing that the Church preserved culture during the so-called 'Dark Ages,' which Belloc views as a period of continuity rather than barbaric conquest. He critiques the rise of Prussia as a 'weed' of barbarism that challenged the 'old Christian rock' of Christendom. Belloc uses the Great War as evidence of the clash between a rootless, modern barbarism and the enduring traditions of the Faith. He attributes the rise of Capitalism and skepticism to the soul's isolation from the Church, leading to a dissolution of standards and a society unable to endure. Belloc concludes that Europe will either return to the Faith or perish, as the civilization built on classical antiquity exists only within the mold of the Catholic Church. He emphasizes that the Catholic conscience understands history from within, seeing the unity of Europe and the Church as one entity. The work is a passionate plea for historical truth and the unity of Christendom against the fragmentation of modern secular thought, warning that those who view European institutions as local or barbaric are historically and morally wrong.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• Religion
• History