Apologia Pro Vita Sua (Penguin Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Apologize For Nothing; Explain Everything
Review: "Apologia Pro Vita Sua" is John Henry Cardinal Newman's explanation of his religious views and actions from 1833 to the time of his writing in 1864. In order to understand this work, it must be understood that "Apologia" is translated more precisely as an explanation, rather than as an apology. Newman apologizes for nothing. He explains everything.

John Henry Cardinal Newman was a major British religious figure of the Nineteenth Century. A prominent Anglican priest, leader of the Oxford Movement and proponent of the "Via Media", Newman's conversion to Catholicism created many hard feelings among his Anglican friends.

This book was written as an answer to specific charges brought against him by particular people at various times. Much of the book involves references to actions and words of those with whom he collaborated, corresponded or met. At times it is difficult to maintain interest in charge-counter charges which make up much of the book. Although some of the charge-counter charges seem of little import today, I cannot say that the book ever becomes boring.

In some sections, particularly in his footnotes, Newman explains theological issues, although that is not the main thrust of the work.

This book gave me a deeper understanding of Newman individually and of the religious environment in England during his time than I had had previously. This book reveals the Anglican Church as a "Big Tent", so to speak, including a "High Church" which valued hierarchy and formal liturgy and a "Low Church" which more resembled the Methodist and other Protestant churches.

Newman viewed the Anglican Church as a branch of Catholicism in England. He was troubled by various steps taken by the Anglican Church, particularly the establishment of a Bishop in Jerusalem. Newman's position was that there were virtually no Anglicans in Jerusalem and that the plan for the bishop to have authority over Protestants, a group with which Newman did not identify, was unjustified. If the Anglican Church was a branch of the Catholic Church in England, what business did it have establishing a bishop in Jerusalem, a non-British territory, as a cooperative venture with German Protestants? He regarded this attempt to use the Anglican Church to promote British prestige and national interests as another unjustified interference of politics in ecclesiastical matters.

I had always thought that Newman's conversion and rise in the Catholic hierarchy were unusual. In this book I learned that Newman was one of several Anglican clergymen who converted to Catholicism around his time, including another who became a Cardinal. The Catholic hierarchy was restored in England during Newman's day so his rapid rise may not have been as surprising as it would have been under more stable circumstances.

One might think that Newman's conversion from the Church of England to the Church of Rome and his subsequent treatment by some Englishmen may have dampened his patriotic enthusiasm. Nothing could be further from the truth. Newman's status as a proud Englishman remains obvious throughout this book.

In summation, this book is readable, interesting and gives the reader a taste of history and theology. I recommend it for anyone interested in Newman in particular and the history of the Church in general.

Rating:
Summary: Apologize For Nothing; Explain Everything
Review: "Apologia Pro Vita Sua" is John Henry Cardinal Newman's explanation of his religious views and actions from 1833 to the time of his writing in 1864. In order to understand this work, it must be understood that "Apologia" is translated more precisely as an explanation, rather than as an apology. Newman apologizes for nothing. He explains everything.

John Henry Cardinal Newman was a major British religious figure of the Nineteenth Century. A prominent Anglican priest, leader of the Oxford Movement and proponent of the "Via Media", Newman's conversion to Catholicism created many hard feelings among his Anglican friends.

This book was written as an answer to specific charges brought against him by particular people at various times. Much of the book involves references to actions and words of those with whom he collaborated, corresponded or met. At times it is difficult to maintain interest in charge-counter charges which make up much of the book. Although some of the charge-counter charges seem of little import today, I cannot say that the book ever becomes boring.

In some sections, particularly in his footnotes, Newman explains theological issues, although that is not the main thrust of the work.

This book gave me a deeper understanding of Newman individually and of the religious environment in England during his time than I had had previously. This book reveals the Anglican Church as a "Big Tent", so to speak, including a "High Church" which valued hierarchy and formal liturgy and a "Low Church" which more resembled the Methodist and other Protestant churches.

Newman viewed the Anglican Church as a branch of Catholicism in England. He was troubled by various steps taken by the Anglican Church, particularly the establishment of a Bishop in Jerusalem. Newman's position was that there were virtually no Anglicans in Jerusalem and that the plan for the bishop to have authority over Protestants, a group with which Newman did not identify, was unjustified. If the Anglican Church was a branch of the Catholic Church in England, what business did it have establishing a bishop in Jerusalem, a non-British territory, as a cooperative venture with German Protestants? He regarded this attempt to use the Anglican Church to promote British prestige and national interests as another unjustified interference of politics in ecclesiastical matters.

I had always thought that Newman's conversion and rise in the Catholic hierarchy were unusual. In this book I learned that Newman was one of several Anglican clergymen who converted to Catholicism around his time, including another who became a Cardinal. The Catholic hierarchy was restored in England during Newman's day so his rapid rise may not have been as surprising as it would have been under more stable circumstances.

One might think that Newman's conversion from the Church of England to the Church of Rome and his subsequent treatment by some Englishmen may have dampened his patriotic enthusiasm. Nothing could be further from the truth. Newman's status as a proud Englishman remains obvious throughout this book.

In summation, this book is readable, interesting and gives the reader a taste of history and theology. I recommend it for anyone interested in Newman in particular and the history of the Church in general.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Spiritual Autobiography. . .
Review: since the "Confessions" of St. Augustine of Hippo 1600 years earlier.

In this book, John Henry Newman, in order to defend himself from (rather unfair) charges of insincerity, outlines the history of his spiritual development, from his beginnings as a liberal thinker, to his conversion to the Evangelical wing of the Church of England, to his ordination as an Anglican priest, to his gradual move toward Catholic thought, practice and worship in the Church of England, to his leadership in the so-called "Oxford Movement" and its call to holiness and Catholicity in the Church of England, and finally to his ultimate submission to Rome.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Cardinal Newman theologically; whether one can accept his particular conclusions is not important to the enjoyment of this book. It is an honest account of a spiritual journey, written by an articulate man, which should prove inspirational to all persons of faith, and to all on a spiritual pilgrimage.

Rating:
Summary: After Augustine's "Confessions," Comes . . . .
Review: There are few autobiographies as moving and eloquent as Newman's "Apologia." This is his "defense" of his life's choice to leave the Church of England and "go home to Rome." It's a moving testament to an individual's struggle with spiritual issues and theological dogmas and how they inform our lives. I know of no other spiritual autobiography of such importance other than Augustine's "Confessions."

Yet, for all these superb reasons to read this spiritual autobiography, perhaps there is one "secular" reason to read Newman: His command of the English language. Newman has an excellent command of rhetoric, logic, and exposition that makes him a stellar example of Victorian belle letters.

I'd recommend the Norton Critical Edition over the Penguin edition, obviously, not for the "translation," but for the criticism that helps put the issues involved in context for the 20th century reader.

Rating:
Summary: Honest, Deep, Thought-Provoking...
Review: When it comes to evaluating religious materials, I can tend to be a little critical, so please keep that in mind as you read this.

As many have mentioned, this book is written as the defense of one man against the continual slander & attacks he faced in England after he left the Anglican Church for the Catholic Church. This defense of his life is credited with helping change the strong anti-Catholic sentiment in Britain.

In this country (USA) and at this time, it might be hard for us to many how intense & how small the English culture was in the 1800's. Sure, we've all read Victorian novels of some sort, but they usual focus on the genteel class & on their match-making process. O'Brian frequently mentions the bias against Catholics in his Master & Commander series, but - even so - I wasn't prepared for how much impact one man could have on a culture. The population was so small, the culture so homogenous, and the number of educated men so limited that Newman really succeeded in shaking up the people in his time. In turn, they condemned him & made his life somewhat difficult. With the sheer number of religions & faiths - not to mention famous people & ploys for attention - in our current culture this story of Newman's likely will not be repeated in our culture any time soon. It is a great look back into another culture, another time, another understanding of religion & the norm.

As for the writing itself, I unfortunately don't have the same praise that I've read from others on this page. I read the entire introduction, but I still was not well-suited enough (I guess) to pick up on the subtle personal revelations & turns of phrase that were supposed to make this so lyrical. He mentions many names, dates & texts that are obscure, hard to keep track of & generally irrelevant by the middle of the book. In fiction this would be considered bad form, though I know it was incredibly effective for him to include for the audience he was writing for at the time.

Additionally, I thought perhaps he acted a bit like a person used to being indulged towards the end of the text. It never crossed my mind until he kept going on for many pages about how tormented he was for years as he considered leaving the church. Don't get me wrong, I have also struggled with faith questions so hard & so long that I thought I would never come up for air. But, the reality is, that I had to. I had to get up for work. I had to pay my bills. I had responsibilities to my family & friends. Newman didn't have much on his plate during 1841-1845, when he wrestled most intensely.

I also thought that Newman acted a bit indulged in that he often asked "Why can't I have the privacy that most Englishmen are allowed while I wrestle with my faith" (paraphrased). At first I was incredibly sympathetic to this man...being someone who enjoys privacy myself. But then I began to think about his life as a whole. When he was young, he was sure he had "the answers" - i.e. the way to correct doctrine - and that it was his God-given call to influence the rest of England. He set about making himself a public figure...not that he wanted fame but that he felt he was someone who had the right & need to show the way for those who are more ignorant. Unfortunately for Newman, as he did more research, he learned that things were not as black-and-white as he originially claimed they were. Slowly he began pulling back more & more from the public spotlight...but he (and his movement) had made such a splash that the public naturally wanted to know where his approach to faith was leading him & why. If Newman had kept private about his convictions from the first, he would have been able to wrestle with them privately later...like any other Englishman.

That all said, I still do rate this title 4 stars. First off, the sheer amount of psycholigical, socioligical & religious information in this title is phenomenal. Also, Newman is nothing if not sincere...which surfaces constantly as he follows truth where it leads him. Such sincerity - showing where one has been wrong & why - seems to be rare...especially among religious non-fiction titles. Additionally, I think Newman wrote this for an incredibly suitable purpose. It's one of the rare books that I think would have left a gaping hole if it weren't written...not only in defending Newman's decisions, but also in the tapestry of Christian faith.

Personally I also deeply empathized with Newman's roller-coaster ride. For anyone who can tend to be zealous but perhaps also a bit impulsive or misguided, Newman's honesty, depth & journey are all a salve for wounded pride.

Rating:
Summary: Honest, Deep, Thought-Provoking...
Review: When it comes to evaluating religious materials, I can tend to be a little critical, so please keep that in mind as you read this.

As many have mentioned, this book is written as the defense of one man against the continual slander & attacks he faced in England after he left the Anglican Church for the Catholic Church. This defense of his life is credited with helping change the strong anti-Catholic sentiment in Britain.

In this country (USA) and at this time, it might be hard for us to many how intense & how small the English culture was in the 1800's. Sure, we've all read Victorian novels of some sort, but they usual focus on the genteel class & on their match-making process. O'Brian frequently mentions the bias against Catholics in his Master & Commander series, but - even so - I wasn't prepared for how much impact one man could have on a culture. The population was so small, the culture so homogenous, and the number of educated men so limited that Newman really succeeded in shaking up the people in his time. In turn, they condemned him & made his life somewhat difficult. With the sheer number of religions & faiths - not to mention famous people & ploys for attention - in our current culture this story of Newman's likely will not be repeated in our culture any time soon. It is a great look back into another culture, another time, another understanding of religion & the norm.

As for the writing itself, I unfortunately don't have the same praise that I've read from others on this page. I read the entire introduction, but I still was not well-suited enough (I guess) to pick up on the subtle personal revelations & turns of phrase that were supposed to make this so lyrical. He mentions many names, dates & texts that are obscure, hard to keep track of & generally irrelevant by the middle of the book. In fiction this would be considered bad form, though I know it was incredibly effective for him to include for the audience he was writing for at the time.

Additionally, I thought perhaps he acted a bit like a person used to being indulged towards the end of the text. It never crossed my mind until he kept going on for many pages about how tormented he was for years as he considered leaving the church. Don't get me wrong, I have also struggled with faith questions so hard & so long that I thought I would never come up for air. But, the reality is, that I had to. I had to get up for work. I had to pay my bills. I had responsibilities to my family & friends. Newman didn't have much on his plate during 1841-1845, when he wrestled most intensely.

I also thought that Newman acted a bit indulged in that he often asked "Why can't I have the privacy that most Englishmen are allowed while I wrestle with my faith" (paraphrased). At first I was incredibly sympathetic to this man...being someone who enjoys privacy myself. But then I began to think about his life as a whole. When he was young, he was sure he had "the answers" - i.e. the way to correct doctrine - and that it was his God-given call to influence the rest of England. He set about making himself a public figure...not that he wanted fame but that he felt he was someone who had the right & need to show the way for those who are more ignorant. Unfortunately for Newman, as he did more research, he learned that things were not as black-and-white as he originially claimed they were. Slowly he began pulling back more & more from the public spotlight...but he (and his movement) had made such a splash that the public naturally wanted to know where his approach to faith was leading him & why. If Newman had kept private about his convictions from the first, he would have been able to wrestle with them privately later...like any other Englishman.

That all said, I still do rate this title 4 stars. First off, the sheer amount of psycholigical, socioligical & religious information in this title is phenomenal. Also, Newman is nothing if not sincere...which surfaces constantly as he follows truth where it leads him. Such sincerity - showing where one has been wrong & why - seems to be rare...especially among religious non-fiction titles. Additionally, I think Newman wrote this for an incredibly suitable purpose. It's one of the rare books that I think would have left a gaping hole if it weren't written...not only in defending Newman's decisions, but also in the tapestry of Christian faith.

Personally I also deeply empathized with Newman's roller-coaster ride. For anyone who can tend to be zealous but perhaps also a bit impulsive or misguided, Newman's honesty, depth & journey are all a salve for wounded pride.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best autobiographies in print....
Review: Written as a response to sladerous accusations of lying and insincerity, Cardinal Newman composed one of the best autobiographies in the English language. To properly defend himself, he develops the history of his religous opinions from his earliest memories, through the Oxford movement and finally to his conversion to the Catholic Church. Along the way he gives the reader some of the best prose that has been employed to descrbe religious experience. The book concludes with a point-by-point refutation to the arguments of Rev. Kingsley, that incidentally contains some of the best arguments against Sola Scriptura and other guiding principles behind Protestantism.

After publication, Newman's Apologia helped raise the esteem of Catholics in the eyes of the English people and helped make him a Cardinal. I whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone looking for a moving spiritual autobiography.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best autobiographies in print....
Review: Written as a response to sladerous accusations of lying and insincerity, Cardinal Newman composed one of the best autobiographies in the English language. To properly defend himself, he develops the history of his religous opinions from his earliest memories, through Oxford movement and finally to his conversion to the Catholic Church. Along the way he gives the reader some of the best prose that has been employed to descrbe religious experience. The book concludes with a point-by-point refutation to the arguments of Rev. Kingsley, that incidentally contains some of the best arguments against Sola Scriptura and other guiding principles behind Protestantism.

After publication, Newman's Apologia helped raise the esteem of Catholics in the eyes of the English people and helped make him a Cardinal. I whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone looking for a moving spiritual autobiography.