Conundrum Regarding the Index of Forbidden Books

[DanteAlighieri]

I didn’t want to hijack the thread about the “Poem of the Man God”, so here goes:

I’m alarmed to learn that there once was such a thing as the “Index” – I’ve never heard of it, and I’m a cradle Catholic! I even attended a Catholic university, and some of the works that apparently were on the list were a vital part of the core curriculum: Flaubert, Kant, Descartes, Hume, Mill, Sartre, Hobbes, Locke, to name a few!

I’m dismayed by this. I saw a quote by Cardinal Ratzinger saying that the list still maintains its “moral force”, even though it’s no longer active. What does this mean? Is it immoral to read the philosophers and novelists above, and others? Is there no good to be gotten by a philosophy student (which I was not) at a Catholic university who is reading these works? I studied Madame Bovary under a Dominican priest who was one of my favorite professors – and it was amazing (though I didn’t love the novel).

I’m not sure what to make of it; I do not feel as though exposure to those writers made me less moral. In fact, doesn’t it exercise one’s rational faculties to read such works?

At a Catholic university, all such things are studied with an eye toward Catholic theology and doctrine being the ultimate end of human wisdom.

My ultimate question is this: is my alma mater leading its students into sin by using these works as pillars of its curriculum?

Peace,
Dante

 

[Bennie_P]

My ultimate question is this: is my alma mater leading its students into sin by using these works as pillars of its curriculum?

Peace,
Dante

Most likely, but I wouldn’t be scrupulous about it. I have been auditing Catholic theology classes over the last couple of years and some of the instuctors literally have my tongue bleeding (from me biting it)with some of the things they teach. But I learned long time ago to test what I’m taught. I know I don’t have perfect knowledge, I don’t expect others to either, but I pray for guidance.:knight2:

Here is links to a couple articles on the subject…

catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=3689

newadvent.org/cathen/07721a.htm

Peace be with you also…

 

[DanteAlighieri]

Thanks for your response.

To clear something up: it wasn’t theology professors; it was literature and philosophy classes in which these books were used.

Surely there isn’t anything sinful about this?

Peace,
Dante

 

[Bennie_P]

:ehh:

Thanks for your response.

To clear something up: it wasn’t theology professors; it was literature and philosophy classes in which these books were used.

Surely there isn’t anything sinful about this?

Peace,
Dante

I just mention the theology classe as an example of my experience with Catholic professors. No I don’t believe their was anything sinful in your situation.

pax

 

[DL82]

I didn’t want to hijack the thread about the “Poem of the Man God”, so here goes:

I’m alarmed to learn that there once was such a thing as the “Index” – I’ve never heard of it, and I’m a cradle Catholic! I even attended a Catholic university, and some of the works that apparently were on the list were a vital part of the core curriculum: Flaubert, Kant, Descartes, Hume, Mill, Sartre, Hobbes, Locke, to name a few!

Descartes is frequently quoted by Catholic apologists, and in his final analysis has to invoke the existence of God to defend his own theory against the circularity of skepticism.

Pope John Paul II made extensive use of Kantian ethics in his Love and Responsibility.

How could such books be blanket banned? Surely just because they contain error doesn’t mean that they don’t contribute something useful to philosophical debate and understanding.

 

[Genesis315]

Even if they had some good, they could still be dangerous to the untrained layman or even cleric. Just a little poison mixed into a healthy meal can kill a man.

 

[Corki]

I’m alarmed to learn that there once was such a thing as the “Index” – I’ve never heard of it, and I’m a cradle Catholic! I even attended a Catholic university, and some of the works that apparently were on the list were a vital part of the core curriculum: Flaubert, Kant, Descartes, Hume, Mill, Sartre, Hobbes, Locke, to name a few!

I’m dismayed by this. I saw a quote by Cardinal Ratzinger saying that the list still maintains its “moral force”, even though it’s no longer active. What does this mean? Is it immoral to read the philosophers and novelists above, and others? Is there no good to be gotten by a philosophy student (which I was not) at a Catholic university who is reading these works? I studied Madame Bovary under a Dominican priest who was one of my favorite professors – and it was amazing (though I didn’t love the novel).

I’m not sure what to make of it; I do not feel as though exposure to those writers made me less moral. In fact, doesn’t it exercise one’s rational faculties to read such works?

At a Catholic university, all such things are studied with an eye toward Catholic theology and doctrine being the ultimate end of human wisdom.

My ultimate question is this: is my alma mater leading its students into sin by using these works as pillars of its curriculum?

Peace,
Dante

I don’t know why it should “alarm” you that there ever was an Index. For centuries, there was no easily accessible collection of Church teaching as we are now blessed with in the form of the CCC. Illiteracy was high and few went to college. If it comforts you - think of the Index as being “forbidden” for the “common man”. I don’t think it was ever forbidden for a well formed Catholic to read the books under direction (spiritual). Obviously someone had to read them to get them on the index. I would say that the same thing applies today. The index remains in force and I would never knowingly read a book on the index without good spiritual direction. The danger is that those who are most tempted to read the books are also possibly those who are most vulnerable to the errors contained IMHO and least likely to seek SD to resolve any conflicts. (for evidence of that just reread some of the POMG posts)

The modern day equivalent, with less universal authority, is the USCCB listing for movies. There are movies they rate as dangerous or immoral for Catholics to see.