A review by raymond_rigat
Lettre à un religieux by Simone Weil
3.0
Somewhat disappointing. I have only read a few things by Weil, but I have come to enjoy her work; however, this work illustrates her own ignorance of Christianity (as is to be expected from someone with more secular, "mysticized" interpretations of faith).
Throughout the work, the questions posed are not questions insofar as statements that she is attempting to reconcile with her "Catholic" identity. Yet, these statements demonstrate a lack of understanding of foundational tenets of Christianity; for example, misinterpreting—or at least Weil's demonstrated lack of exegesis of—the Book of Job in regard to reconciling how the poor of the world suffer "at the hands of God" (check out Gustavo Gutiérrez).
Moreover, as the work progresses, it seems that Weil is throwing together unverifiable (and somewhat ahistorical) references in attempting to construct some sort of ambiguity in the origin of Christian dogma as well as to discredit historical foundations of Judaism... (it is very confusing at parts and I have little knowledge of what she is attempting to get at; generally incoherent ramblings).
That being said, I still enjoyed reading it and recommend anyone to peruse through it if they are curious about Weil's own religious convictions.
Throughout the work, the questions posed are not questions insofar as statements that she is attempting to reconcile with her "Catholic" identity. Yet, these statements demonstrate a lack of understanding of foundational tenets of Christianity; for example, misinterpreting—or at least Weil's demonstrated lack of exegesis of—the Book of Job in regard to reconciling how the poor of the world suffer "at the hands of God" (check out Gustavo Gutiérrez).
Moreover, as the work progresses, it seems that Weil is throwing together unverifiable (and somewhat ahistorical) references in attempting to construct some sort of ambiguity in the origin of Christian dogma as well as to discredit historical foundations of Judaism... (it is very confusing at parts and I have little knowledge of what she is attempting to get at; generally incoherent ramblings).
That being said, I still enjoyed reading it and recommend anyone to peruse through it if they are curious about Weil's own religious convictions.