Political events don’t just happen.
They are formed. Over years and lifespans, carefully, often unintentionally, the everyday lives of ordinary people create culture.
While cataclysmic events like wars are rightfully found worthy of history books, the presence of music, fashion, books, movies, schools, churches, belief, and unbelief create culture capable of shifting the masses. And that culture influences and drives our politics.
And let’s be honest: our politics are sorely lacking these days.
So in this vein, CatholicVote is starting a summer book club– a place of building and creating culture through the reading and discussion of fiction. We hand-select our monthly books based on three criteria: Does this book portray the truth? Is it beautifully written ? Do I seek goodness because of it?
Because again– culture is upstream of politics.
While the state of American politics leaves much to be desired, and the political system seems slow to correct for unconstitutional corruption, Americans committed to truth and the common good still have a chance at long-term victory. When everyday activities are infused with truth, beauty, and goodness, these sub-cultures become attractive and grow, expanding until the culture at large is infused with truth, beauty, and goodness too. And the end result is a change in politics.
This is where you come in. Join CatholicVote’s summer book club!
“The Power and the Glory” by Graham Greene is our May pick, a fast read about a fictional “whisky priest” who is the last surviving Roman Catholic clergyman in Mexico during a period of communist persecution. On the run from officers who seek to kill him, the whisky priest is torn between his desire to preserve his life and his vocation to serve the underground Church.
It’s a story of sin, redemption, mercy, grace, and — most of all — humanity. It passed our “good, true, beautiful” test, so we hope you’ll join us! It’s a quick read and, trust us, worth your time.
At the end of May, we’ll post some discussion questions and welcome your thoughts in the comments.
You can purchase the book here, or at any bookstore: http://cvote.cc/greenethepowerandtheglory