Description
Book Synopsis"Is not modern democracy the finally-found form of the religion of Humanity?" (2007)
The Religion of Humanity: The Illusion of Our Time is the first anthology in any language of the writings of the contemporary French political philosopher, Pierre Manent, on “the religion of Humanity.” The striking phrase comes from nineteenth-century French thinker, Auguste Comte (1798–1857). Comte coined the phrase and indeed created an atheistic religion of a self-adoring Humanity. In the aftermath of the Cold War, Manent observed victorious democracy interpreting itself in a similar framework. He took it upon himself to track this development, analyze it, and warn his fellow Europeans of its deleterious political, intellectual, moral, and spiritual effects. With conceptual precision and (most often) a sober tone, many contemporary sacred cows were gored. But in addition to cursing the humanitarian darkness, he also lit many candles of judicious political, philosophical, moral, and spiritual analysis. This anthology is thus almost unique in its subject matter, and certainly unique in its treatment of the subject. It is a rarity and gem: a first-rate work of political philosophy.
Trade Review“With this book, Pierre Manent’s considerations on the greatness of political and Christian life have been introduced to Americans by an expert arranger and translator of these writings, Paul Seaton, and by Daniel J. Mahoney, author of an introduction that gets readers right on track.” --Will Morrissey
"Pierre Manent is one of our time’s most incisive political thinkers, and Paul Seaton has done a great service to all students of democracy by translating and editing
The Religion of Humanity: The Illusion of Our Times.
In this anthology, Seaton has collected some of Manent’s most important essays, lectures, and interviews on the theme of religion and politics in the contemporary West. Taken together, these writings provide the reader with a broad understanding of both Manent’s hopes and his worries for Western democracies today." –– John Kitch
