Sebastian Morello

"If the hierarchy spent only half the time on disseminating the mystical and liturgical tradition of the Church that it does on destroying our own liturgical inheritance, it could drag us out of the nihilism of the secular age in the flash of a moment." According to Sebastian Morello, the Church possesses the most potent resources for mystical transformation, with the event of the Incarnation and the outpouring of grace it entailed radically altering the cosmic order. But we would hardly know it today. A leaden blanket of rationalism, materialism, reductionism-all that goes by the name of modernity-has descended over this ancient treasury of divine wisdom, and myopic pastoral programmes which only intensify the despoilment and quashing of the Lord's Kingdom have eclipsed its innate appeal to the searching heart of modern man. In this ambitious and at times unconventional book, Morello proposes a pathway of escape from what he calls the "hex," toward a rediscovery of the Sacred Mystery at the heart of reality.

This book offers a systematic and detailed examination of the conservative case for religion by establishment. In doing so, the author demonstrates that the conservative political tradition is rooted in an inescapably religious worldview, and in turn shows what the future of conservatism might be. The author begins the book by analysing the thought of prominent proponents of secular conservatism, chiefly examining the work of Roger Scruton. The author develops a case to show that Scruton’s arguments on the privatisation of religion are in tension with his basing of a conservative political settlement on "transcendent bonds". The author then examines alternatives to secular conservatism, especially the chief religious and metaphysical commitments of early conservatives, Edmund Burke and Joseph de Maistre. Finally, in seeking to establish a foundational argument for religion by establishment within the conservative tradition, and more broadly to unify the diverse commitments and objections of conservatives, the author develops a case that draws on Scruton’s personalism, as well as the thought of Martin Buber, Andrew Pinsent, and Robert Spaemann. In the course of developing his foundational argument, the author incorporates findings from experimental psychology and themes from contemporary theology. The result is a convincing argument in favour of establishmentarian conservatism, as well as the role of religious ideas in our self-understanding as individuals and as a political community. Conservatism and Grace will appeal to scholars and advanced students interested in political philosophy, philosophy of religion, theology, and the history of conservatism.

This book offers a systematic and detailed examination of the conservative case for religion by establishment. In doing so, the author demonstrates that the conservative political tradition is rooted in an inescapably religious worldview, and in turn shows what the future of conservatism might be. The author begins the book by analysing the thought of prominent proponents of secular conservatism, chiefly examining the work of Roger Scruton. The author develops a case to show that Scruton’s arguments on the privatisation of religion are in tension with his basing of a conservative political settlement on "transcendent bonds". The author then examines alternatives to secular conservatism, especially the chief religious and metaphysical commitments of early conservatives, Edmund Burke and Joseph de Maistre. Finally, in seeking to establish a foundational argument for religion by establishment within the conservative tradition, and more broadly to unify the diverse commitments and objections of conservatives, the author develops a case that draws on Scruton’s personalism, as well as the thought of Martin Buber, Andrew Pinsent, and Robert Spaemann. In the course of developing his foundational argument, the author incorporates findings from experimental psychology and themes from contemporary theology. The result is a convincing argument in favour of establishmentarian conservatism, as well as the role of religious ideas in our self-understanding as individuals and as a political community. Conservatism and Grace will appeal to scholars and advanced students interested in political philosophy, philosophy of religion, theology, and the history of conservatism.

The World as God's Icon is a scholarly but accessible enquiry into the sources of Aquinas's thought, and the reception of his realism in the work of the "Existential Thomists" as they uncovered Aquinas's Neoplatonic themes. In this short but compelling work, the key aspects of Aquinas's Platonism are brought together to convey a broad ontology, which ultimately presents creation as an icon of God.

The World as God's Icon is a scholarly but accessible enquiry into the sources of Aquinas's thought, and the reception of his realism in the work of the "Existential Thomists" as they uncovered Aquinas's Neoplatonic themes. In this short but compelling work, the key aspects of Aquinas's Platonism are brought together to convey a broad ontology, which ultimately presents creation as an icon of God.