Événements

Book Presentation by Stephen McCarthy

Lecture and discussion 

In a world of diverse acute threats, the author looks beyond the media hype surrounding current political events. He invites us to engage in a detective-like investigation of 2000 years of Christian history.

In doing so, he reveals the role of Jesus’ revolutionary teachings through a series of dramatic upheavals in human consciousness that suddenly and unexpectedly changed attitudes and behaviours. In a world where violence, slavery, power and patriarchy were once omnipresent, humanity has begun to strive for peace, freedom, human rights, universal democracy and equality.

These changes, which are still ongoing despite setbacks, are examples of a transformation of the heart and mind, ‘metanoia,’ – embracing key concepts in Jesus’ teaching according to the New Testament. McCarthy recognises this as the quiet, mostly unnoticed, ‘slow work of God’ in history.

In the final chapters, the author hopes for a new metanoia drawing on Jesus’ teaching against excessive wealth. In his opinion, this is the only way to avoid ecological disasters and ‘save humanity from itself.’ He suggests a radical path how this might happen.

After the introduction, the author will present his thesis for discussion.

Biographical notes

Despite studying Physics at Oxford, Stephen McCarthy spent his working life as a development economist – first for six years in Botswana and then at the EIB. After taking early retirement he trained and practised as a spiritual director. He has authored a couple of previous books relating to economic development and also edited The Contagion of Jesus by Sebastian Moore, which was shortlisted for a theology prize. More recently he published: God, Who on Earth are You? Mystery and meaning in Christianity today. Stephen and his wife have now lived in Luxembourg for more than forty years and took out Luxembourg citizenship several years ago.