Christianity, Culture, and the Real
From Maritain's Integral Humanism to a New Integralism
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3580127 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mary Mccaughey (St Mary's University College, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 506 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-15 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel16040506 |
| OpenAlex | W4409458585 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 15 |
Jacques Maritain's understanding of integral humanism influenced the relationship between Christianity and culture at the Second Vatican Council, yet soon afterward, Maritain recognised that in many instances it was misinterpreted, leading Catholics and Catholic theology to a radical accommodation to secular culture. Yet Maritain continued to believe in his approach as a middle way for Christianity between integralism and liberalism. He responded to these misinterpretations by recalling the pre-political foundations of his new type of humanism and the unquestioning need for holiness to transform the culture. This article revisits Maritain's integral humanism and restates the importance of the metaphysical foundations he articulates for dialogue with culture and politics but also argues that perhaps Maritain put too much trust in the liberal state to protect Christianity and recognise its usefulness to society. This article enquires furthermore how, in an increasingly secular culture, a more specifically public and ecclesial form of integral humanism may be needed and asks whether this means a new form of integralism. It argues to the contrary but also that to maintain her identity and transformative potential in the culture for all humanity, the Church needs to actively consider how best to connect with both her metaphysical and revelatory sources in Christian faith and manifest these publicly in the culture. It concludes by offering examples of how the Church as a sacrament of salvation in the secular world can witness to Christ at various levels of association and also accept the inevitability of providing a counter-cultural witness
Christianity · Humanism · Theology · Multicultural Socio-Legal Studies · Philosophy · Religious studies · Theology and Canon Law Studies
| Highly cited | No |
|---|