Idol of Our Age

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This learned essay explores the intersection of politics, philosophy, and religion, primarily critiquing the secular religion of our time: humanitarianism, or the "religion of humanity." It argues that the humanitarian impulse to view modern man as the measure of all things has begun to corrupt Christianity, reducing it to an excessive focus on "social justice," radical political change, and fanatical egalitarianism. Consequently, Christianity loses its transcendental reference points, undermining balanced political judgment. Humanitarians, whether secular or religious, confuse peace with pacifism, equitable social arrangements with socialism, and moral judgment with utopianism and sentimentality. With a foreword by political philosopher Pierre Manent, the book aligns with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's assertion that Christianity cannot be reduced to a "humanitarian moral message." It critically analyzes Pope Francis's increasing conflation of the Gospel with left-wing humanitarianism and egalitarianism, which diverges from classical and Christian wisdom. Drawing from thinkers like Orestes Brownson, Aurel Kolnai, Vladimir Soloviev, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who critiqued the "religion of humanity," the book emphasizes the importance of reason, guided by revealed faith, as a humanizing alternative to utopian illusions and nihilistic despair.