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The examination of the transcendentals of truth, beauty and the
good in this book stems from the perspective of Christian humanism,
transcending ourselves in moral psychology, and perfecting
ourselves to attain the good life. These critical approaches are
each pertinent to the search for meaning in our lives which the
transcendentals augment. From such a perspective, the book engages
in an exploration of the philosophy of culture and religion which
at key points in the discussion draws upon ritual, works of high
and especially popular culture. The truth that moves us closer to
discovering meaning and a fuller humanity is largely found in the
world and culture that surrounds us and is related to wisdom, which
is something that concerns us all.
This book provides a concise historical outline of religion in
Poland up until its entry into the European Union in 2004, together
with a longer presentation of contemporary religious issues. Albeit
largely mono-ethnic and overwhelmingly Catholic after the loss of
its large Jewish population to the Holocaust, and subsequent
post-World War II border shifts, traces of an historic diversity
remain in Poland to date, playing a greater role than mere numbers
would suggest. Poland's fairly robust religious life is affected by
the country's continuing modernization and its various
institutions, and this is discussed within a broad context. One of
the unfortunate legacies of decades of communism is a stunted civil
society; while at different levels there are conflicts involving
religion, at the grassroots it is one of the few forces building
much needed trust in present-day Polish society.
The author analyzes appropriately selected historical films of
Steven Spielberg and Andrzej Wajda with respect to historical
memory in relation to film. Cultural and moral foundations of
national identity are also taken into account. Spielberg films
particularly valuable for this comparative analysis are:
"Schindler's List", "Amistad", "Saving Private Ryan" and "Lincoln";
crucial Wajda films include: "Korczak", "Holy Week", "Katyn and
Walesa". These works are analyzed in relation to the problem of
representing the Holocaust, self-scrutiny in historical memory,
commemoration of sacrifices for the national community during war,
and foundation myths evoked through national heroes. The larger
thematic framework for the above concerns is the underlying sense
of covenant present within the two national communities that
Spielberg and Wajda draw upon, a sense that explores the
possibility of moral renewal under contemporary circumstances.
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