Teilhard redux.

Unlike Martha McNeill Protomastro (Correspondence, December 3, 2004), I was not "puzzled" by Eugene McCarraher's comment about Teilhard de Chardin Teil·hard de Char·din , Pierre 1881-1955.

French priest, paleontologist, and philosopher who maintained that the universe and humankind are evolving toward a perfect state. : "a charlatan char·la·tan
n.
A person fraudulently claiming knowledge and skills not possessed.

charlatan (shar´l who can't be ridiculed too often, I think" ("Passion & Obedience," November 5, 2004). Even though modulated by its final cogito This article is about the philosophical magazine. For the software used in the extended version of the current Linux revision system git, see Cogito (software). For the famous philosophical saying by Descartes, see cogito ergo sum. , McCarraher's aside seemed merely to exemplify the ruthless talk of undergraduates--perhaps a first step toward addressing the audience Commonweal has wisely expressed its intention to cultivate. (The original "ruthless talk" reference is Cardinal Manning on Lord Acton.)

I write in the paradoxical position of an admirer of McCarraher's linguistic ambidexterity am·bi·dex·ter·i·ty or am·bi·dex·trism
n.
The state or quality of being ambidextrous.

ambidexterity Neurology The ability to perform tasks requiring manual dexterity with either hand , and as the first writer in Commonweal to praise Teilhard's spirituality, I think (April 15, 1958). I doubt this puts me in the ranks of "Catholic intellectuals intent, especially during the cold war, on joining in American celebrations of Progress, Science, and Technology." As to McCarraher's response to Protomastro: "I recommend Garry Wills's discussion in Bare Ruined Choirs," may I recommend as an antidote that she also read my discussion of Teilhard, "Garry Wills's Sour Birds" in Journal of the American Academy of Religion The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religion and related topics. It was founded in 1909.

As a learned society and professional association of teachers and research scholars, the American Academy of Religion has over (Spring, 1973)?

JUSTUS GEORGE LAWLER

St. Charles, Ill.

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Title Annotation:	Dula vs. 'First Things'; the real Che
Author:	Lawler, Justus George
Publication:	Commonweal
Article Type:	Letter to the Editor
Date:	Jan 14, 2005
Words:	184
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