Summary

May a Christian demonstrate his anger? The way Jesus conducts Himself at the temple when He chases the mongers out of it, which we learn about through St. Mark’s description, may easily leave one of Christian persuasion confounded: were it not clear that the episode involved Christ Himself, we would perhaps find ourselves inclined to call Him nothing short of a brawler. Yet would we be in the right in passing such a judgement? Does he who gives way to envy or ire hold himself up to condemnation? How is one to handle one’s own fear, shame, hate? What should we make of the evangelical admonition to turn the other cheek?

The November issue of Znak brings a discussion held by a group of priests, psychologists, and cultural experts. They share their views on whether such things as "bad" emotions exist at all, and ponder what makes us refer to some of the emotions we entertain as "negative". In the Definitions column Tomasz Maruszewski considers the problem of feelings from a psychological angle. Anselm Grün OSB wonders if experiencing "bad" feelings is sinful and how a Christian ought to cope with them. Czesław Czabała, Wojciech Eichelberger, and Mirosław Pilśniak talk about what bad consequences our passion can lead to and how to reconcile mental and emotional balance with the ideal of sanctity. Danuta Sosnowska takes a closer look at apprehension and fear, seeking to explain why modern culture renders us defenceless when they confronted us. Bogdan de Barbaro, a family crisis therapist, delineates sources of spousal conflicts.

This issue also invites its readers to a conversation with the renowned theologian F. Alfons Skowronek on what the Church is going to be like in the 21st century, an essay by Beata Nowacka on Ryszard Kapuściński, and Małgorzata Łukasiewicz’s reflective remarks on a novel by Georges Perec. A special treat this month is Joanna Petry Mroczkowska’s set of insightful reflections on male spirituality, written in response to John Eldredge’s recent book Wild at Heart. Thereafter, Piotr Kłodkowski’s monthly column deals with the issue of the growth of population in countries of the East, while Czesław Porębski in The Society of the Caring brings up the subject of autism. Wrapping up the issue, Tadeusz Lubelski contributes to the Diagnoses with a text on the shape of Polish cinema.

POCZĄTEK STRONY