Spiritual Classics

by Blaise Pascal and Robert van de Weyer

A new series of selected writings introducing major figures from the Christian tradition. Organized by subject for an overall perspective, with introduction and commentary; designed and illustrated... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800771338
• ISBN13: 9780800771331
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 4.1" x 5.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Pascal in brief

The Fleming H. Revell Company put together four slim volumes of spiritual classics, one each for Augustine of Hippo, Soren Kierkegaard, Martin Luther, and Blaise Pascal. I'm not sure if they were intending to have further volumes available, but in any event, these four were published, and make an interesting little set of spiritual classics. I say 'little set', for these books are small indeed. Each has 64 pages, and the book's footprint size is barely that of a large index card. These are pocket-books in a true sense of the word. They also offer a way of being introduced to masters of spiritual writing in a way that is brief, accessible and not intimidating. In the introduction to the book on Pascal, Robert van de Weyer (who has published collections on things in many religious traditions, including Celtic spirituality, Islam, and a print of an early version of the Book of Common Prayer) states that Pascal was famous in his lifetime as a scientist and mathematician, but it is for his philosophical and religious writings that he is better known today. He was a Roman Catholic, but his writings are prized both by Catholics and Protestants, in part because of the praise John Wesley gave to Pascal's discussion of conversion. Van de Weyer gives a brief discussion of Pascal's life, particularly the religious aspects and his writing. Van de Weyer states that Pascal is difficult to categorise as a religious writer, because his work is of a class by itself. He was not a mystic, a theologian or an inspirational writer as those terms are commonly understood. However, his keen insights and logical thought processes, combined with a care for observation and analysis in a scientific sense, yield very interesting pieces on passion, reason, faith, and prayer. The book is decorated throughout with colour plates of images inspired by the writings. This is far from a comprehensive book, and in no way a critical commentary. However, for brief kinds of reading, lectio divina and other kinds of inspirational or meditative reading with a bit of historical and theological content thrown in for good measure, this text on Pascal is a good volume to use, together with the other volumes in this series. It is a bit difficult to find, but worth it.