Gregory the Great (bishop of Rome from 590 to 604) is one of the most significant figures in the history of Christianity. His theological works framed medieval Christian attitudes toward mysticism; exegesis; and the role of the saints in the life of the church. The scale of Gregory's administrative activity in both the ecclesial and civic affairs of Rome also helped to make possible the formation of the medieval papacy. Gregory disciplined malcontent clerics; negotiated with barbarian rulers; and oversaw the administration of massive estates that employed thousands of workers. Scholars have often been perplexed by the two sides of Gregory—the monkish theologian and the calculating administrator. George E. Demacopoulos's study is the first to advance the argument that there is a clear connection between the pontiff's thought and his actions. By exploring unique aspects of Gregory's ascetic theology; wherein the summit of Christian perfection is viewed in terms of service to others; Demacopoulos argues that the very aspects of Gregory's theology that made him distinctive were precisely the factors that structured his responses to the practical crises of his day. With a comprehensive understanding of Christian history that resists the customary bifurcation between Christian East and Christian West; Demacopoulos situates Gregory within the broader movements of Christianity and the Roman world that characterize the shift from late antiquity to the early Middle Ages. This fresh reading of Gregory's extensive theological and practical works underscores the novelty and nuance of Gregory as thinker and bishop. "Gregory the Great: Ascetic; Pastor; and First Man of Rome has the potential to be the most important intellectual biography of Pope Gregory I to appear since the publication in 1988 of Carole Straw's landmark study; Gregory the Great: Perfection in Imperfection. Demacopoulos proposes a new interpretive paradigm by insisting that the 'problem of the two Gregories' is not really a problem at all: Gregory's ascetic and pastoral theology; he argues; informs and structures his administrative practices. This important insight will have significant impact on future research." —Kristina Sessa; Ohio State University
#1560422 in Books 2008-03-12 2008-03-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.32 x 6.12l; 1.60 #File Name: 0253350662376 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Positive opinion on Truman and MacArthur book by Michael D. PearlmanBy Jo BallantyneThe book is well written and is enjoyable to read. I never read much about MacArthur; but I did know that President Truman removed him from his post. MacArthur showed total his total arrogance to his president.3 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Very critical of TrumanBy 1.According to Michael Pearlman; Truman was one of the main reasons that MacArthur felt free to criticize the government and advance into North Korea and past Pyongyang. Truman had an overly romantic view of war and thought that his heroes Hannibal and Lee were constrained by civilian leaders. This view of military leadership made it possible for MacArthur to support the KMT government contrary to secretary of state Dean Acheson's wishes. Truman gave MacArthur further reign in Korea by letting him cross into the North Korean border and then close to the Yalu river. MacArthur was only stoped and eventually removed by Truman when after the Chinese invasion he suggested that KMT troops should become involved in the Korean War to a member of the Republican party; Joseph Martin. Truman felt that MacArthur was getting innvolved in domestic politics in which generals should avoid. The only weakness of this book is that the last fifty pages of the dragged on; but this is essential reading for those like John McCain and Robert Kaplan; who believe that the military alone should dictate military strategy.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. What Took So Long?By John T. KuehnFirst I need to add full disclosure-- I gave this book a very good review in Military Review; the professional magazine for the US Army several years ago and for that full review you can go to the Military Review website. It is open to the public."Truman and MacArthur focuses on relationships--between people; between institutions of the government; and between nations. In this engaging narrative of the collision of President Harry Truman with General Douglas MacArthur; author Michael D. Pearlman uses Truman and MacArthur's relationship to highlight the larger relationship between civil and military institutions in U.S. polity and the tension that naturally results. Pearlman shows how the Cold War intensified this tension and; in part; led to the most famous civil-military conflict in American history when Truman fired MacArthur in 1951. The author also makes a good case that the wonder of MacArthur's relief has more to do with why it did not happen much earlier."Why Truman did not is counterintuitive. Truman believed in second chances; he believed the President should not try to micro-manage the commander in the field (based on his study of military history; especially the Civil War); and so it was Truman's concept of civil military relations and respect for MacArthur; not a lack of respect or micromanagement; that kept him from relieving MacArthur earlier. The book makes all this very clear.John T. Kuehn; Professor of Military History; Fort Leavenworth KSHere is the opening of that review (it is public domain):
