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524 BOOK REVIEWS with regard to it is to point out whatever is contrary to God. Sociopolitical problems usually do not require some one clear particular solution but are open to several possibilities, so that most political activity is concerned with options rather than with one obligatory solution. People who are religious must also be interested and involved in political processes. Nevertheless, since all Christians should be one in love and community, and since the Eucharist and preaching of the word are the principal means of achieving and promoting this unity, and since the priest is primarily the minister of the Eucharist and of the word, he should not become involved in political action that promotes one of several options. By coming out strongly for one among several possible solutions, he may find himself a cause of disunity instead of unity. The author does not advocate for priests " estrangement from politics " but rather an "avoidance of a militant political commitment." (p. 111) The priest should rather teach religious and moral doctrine but leave it to the laity to work out the political actions to achieve justice. The author is speaking about political activity by a priest as a citizen, not about a priest's actually becoming a candidate for political office. However, what he says seems to apply to such a case a fortiori. Much of what he says about the priest's function as a unifier of many and the consequent need to be somewhat at a" distance from the world" (p. 106) might also be applied to a support of priestly celibacy, although he does not mention this application. The final chapter is well worth reading. Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley Berkeley, California JosEPH J. FARRAHER, S.J. The World's Living Religions. By RoBERT ERNEST HuME. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, Revised Edition, 1959. Pp. 335. $3.95. This is a new printing of a revised edition of Robert Hume's pioneer work in comparative religions written in 19!i!4. The revision was undertaken by Charles S. Braden thirteen years ago who updated the work in historical accuracy as a result of more recent scholarship and developments within contemporary religion. Although the editor states that he does not concur with Hume in many of his value judgments, he has made no change in the evaluations posited by Hume preferring to let his understanding of the religions stand as he knew them. Thus this could hardly be considered a complete revision as indicated on the title page. A twenty-page bibliography , moreover, shows little updating and has limited usefulness. Hume's work is a mere outline of the origins, scriptures, historical BOOK REVIEWS 59l5 nature, and values of the eleven religions in the world today. The most positive character of the study is the ample use of the sacred books of the great religions which are used to elucidate the historical and doctrinal development of the religions. The negative aspects of this work, however, far outweigh this single contribution. Value judgments, both positive and negative, extend for pages following each treatment of a particular religion. Although these judgments are basically sketchy and simplistic, Hume goes to great length to use Christianity as the norm and exemplar from which he draws comparisons and contrasts. The questions which he asks of other religions are taken from the Christian world view and problematic. Judging, evaluating, and comparing from within the faith of the scholar is a position avoided by comparative religionists in the last twenty years. This type of study could be used for reference but better works are available; it may be a contribution to the history of methodology in comparative religion in its early stages. Hume's book will not give one an appreciation for the spiritual heritage of mankind but it will leave the reader with a highly fragmented and relativistic view of the whole religious enterprise. The Catholic University of America Washington, D. C. WILLIAM CENKNER, 0. P. Morality in Evolution. The Moral Philosophy of Henri Bergson. By !DELLA J. GALLAGHER. The Hague: Matinus Nijhoff, 1971. Pp. 112 Guilders 18,lt would be rather difficult to summarize a book which is already an intelligent...

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