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| An engaging look at Catholicism in the modern world |
To
Light a Fire on the Earth, the newest book by Catholic Bishop
Robert Barron, highlights the strengths that Catholicism brings to its
engagement with the secular world. Barron, in a series of interviews with
seasoned Catholic journalist John L. Allen, Jr., explores topics ranging from
the role of beauty in evangelization to the problems inherent in a materialistic
worldview.
Barron, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles, is well-known
for his documentary Catholicism, his
Word on Fire ministry, and his sustained engagement with social media. The interviews
that make up the bulk of To Light a Fire
give insight into his success in those three areas, conveying intellectual
prowess, down-to-earth accessibility, pastoral concern, and willingness to
respectfully yet uncompromisingly take on the challenges laid down by
secularism.
To
Light a Fire touches on a variety of topics, starting
with Barron’s own life and the ways that his experiences—in areas such as
post-Vatican II Catholicism, academia, internet evangelization—inform his
dialogue with critics and fellow Christians alike. The book delves into Barron’s
commitment to incorporating the beauty of faith into his evangelization and
letting beauty open the way for conversations about truth and goodness. It also
outlines the issues Barron sees with “scientism,” the belief that reality is
limited to the material, scientifically verifiable world. The Bible, obstacles
to faith, prayer, new media, and Bob Dylan are among further subjects of
Barron’s lucid, well-reasoned commentary.
Thanks to Allen’s skill as a journalist, To Light a Fire reads smoothly despite
its alternation between long, transcribed quotes from Barron and the background
information and description that Allen provides. Although one of Barron’s
distinctive strengths lies in respectfully and honestly engaging non-Christians
in dialogue about faith, this book primarily speaks to Catholic Christians.
Catholicism, Barron believes, has answers to the questions the secular world is
asking, and in this book he helps equip Christians to share those answers with
the culture around them.