"Deeds Without Knowledge are Blind"

"...Charity does not exclude knowledge, but rather requires, promotes, and animates it from within...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 30)

Benedict XVI started the paragraph before the one I'm going through today by saying that religious freedom is important to development:

"There is another aspect of modern life that is very closely connected to development: the denial of the right to religious freedom...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 29)

As I've said before, Vatican documents are generally anything but terse, and the English translation of "Caritas in Veritate" is no exception:

"In this context, the theme of integral human development takes on an even broader range of meanings: the correlation between its multiple elements requires a commitment to foster the interaction of the different levels of human knowledge in order to promote the authentic development of peoples...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 30)

Simplistic? Vague? No, Catholic

I think part of the explanation for at least one person calling "Caritas in Veritate" "purposefully vague" is that Benedict XVI's document doesn't take a 'firm stand.'

On economic matters, the Pope doesn't take the side of the 'oppressed proletariat' against 'capitalistic plutocrats.' On the other hand, Benedict XVI doesn't say we should let international corporations do anything they want.

Some things really are simple, like 'love God, love your neighbor.' (Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-31) Applying that simple set of principles to everyday life has been anything but simple.

Another reason that the Catholic Church may seem 'vague' is that it is literally a "catholic" outfit. We're καθολικός, universal. When the Vatican publishes something that's meant for all Catholics, it's not likely to be tailored specifically for any one culture. Some Catholics are Americans, but most aren't.

I'm okay with that, and that's another topic.

Science and Silliness

When it comes to science and religion, there are some odd ideas oozing through Western thought:

• Science
  • Will solve all our problems
  • Will kill us all
  • Is a Satanic plot
• Religion
  • Kills people
  • Bitterly opposes
    • The unalloyed benefits of science
    • Satanic science
    • Anything new
  • Is a psychiatric condition

Those are over-simplified examples of extreme views: but my guess is that you've run into something like one of them. In diluted form, I hope.

Science and Human Development

I've been fascinated with the sciences since childhood, and still try to keep up with what folks are discovering about God's creation. I also think that science, by itself, is a useful tool. But not a useful guide. That's a belief I didn't have to modify very much when I became a Catholic:

"...Human knowledge is insufficient and the conclusions of science cannot indicate by themselves the path towards integral human development. There is always a need to push further ahead: this is what is required by charity in truth[76]...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 30)

There's more, about wisdom and seasoning knowledge with the salt of charity. I think this is a pretty good summary:

"...Deeds without knowledge are blind, and knowledge without love is sterile...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 30) [emphasis mine]

---

More posts about "Caritas in Veritate" (Charity in Truth)
"Caritas in Veritate"

---

Related posts:

• Faith and works
  • "'Love Thy Neighbor:' Putting Faith Into Practice"
    (February 5, 2012)
  • "Caritas in Veritate: Progress, Ethics, and Sex"
    (January 23, 2012)
  • "Drought, Ethiopia, Texas, and Charity"
    (August 9, 2011)
  • "Faith, Works, and Spirituality for Dummkopfs"
    (October 5, 2011)
  • "Giving: From the Heart, and Other Vital Organs"
    (March 17, 2011)
• Faith and reason
  • "Open Eyes and Assumptions"
    (March 25, 2012)
  • "The Beauty of the Universe, God, and Respect"
    (March 21, 2012)
  • "Faith, Reason, Certainty, and Getting a Grip"
    (January 11, 2012)
  • " 'Religious People aren't Reasonable?' "
    (December 18, 2011)
  • "Report of a UFO Would 'Destroy One's Belief in the Church?!' "
    (August 6, 2010)
• Science and religion
  • "Beauty, Science, and a Crazy Idea"
    (March 14, 2012)
  • "Science isn't a Four-Letter Word"
    (January 29, 2012)
  • " 'Frail, Delicate Little Mother Nature?!' (or, getting a grip)"
    (April 15, 2011)
  • "Science, Religion, and the Pope"
    (September 17, 2010)
  • "Faith and Reason, Religion and Science"
    (March 20, 2009)

More:

• "Caritas in veritate - Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI"
  Pope Benedict XVI (English translation) (June 29, 2009)
• "Deus Caritas Est - Encyclical Letter, Benedict XVI"
  Pope Benedict XVI (December 25, 2005)
• "Sollicitudo rei socialis"
  Pope John Paul II (December 30, 1987)
• "Populorum Progressio"
  Encyclical of Pope Paul VI on the Development of Peoples (March 26, 1967)