4Real Forums: Durant's Story of Civilization

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login

Across Time and Place
4Real Forums : Across Time and Place

Topic: Durant's Story of Civilization

Author

Message

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

Patty
Forum Pro

Joined: March 27 2005
Location: Kansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 170

Posted: March 30 2006 at 8:00am \| IP Logged

I have seen a series of books (11 volumes in the whole set I believe) of books called The Story of Civilization by Will & Ariel Durant in used book stores and was wondering about them. Has anyone read any of these, and did you like them? What is the viewpoint of the authors? Did you find anything problematic?

Patty

MacBeth
Forum All-Star

Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518

Posted: March 30 2006 at 9:05am \| IP Logged

The Durants were atheists, but they treated Christianity quite fairly. I have not read the whole series (it is also available on audio tape), but what I have read is very straight-forward. Perhaps others have read more and can add comments?

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog

JennGM
Forum Moderator

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702

Posted: April 16 2012 at 10:55am \| IP Logged

I'm bumping this very old thread. Wondering if anyone can provide a review on this series?

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to

& ds1

'03 & ds2

'07
Family in Feast and Feria

TxTrish
Forum Pro

Joined: Oct 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 321

Posted: April 17 2012 at 7:51pm \| IP Logged

I have read the entire series. The actual books - I still own them. It has been many years now, but I have reread portions over the years.
I think that is likely enough to tell you I loved them!

I know that in one of the volumes I read the authors preface, and that he stated that he was Catholic, or raised Catholic. . .
Couldn't find what I was looking for in the books, so instead of obsessing I quick searched online and here is what I found. (How do I forget the internet anyway?)

They were hardly athiests, okay, I wouldn't describe them as athiests I suppose is a better way to put it.

"In 1900, Durant was educated by the Jesuits in St. Peter's Preparatory School and, later, Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, New Jersey. Historian Joan Rubin writes of this period, "Despite some adolescent flirtations, he began preparing for the vocation that promised to realize his mother's fondest hopes for him: the priesthood. In that way, one might argue, he embarked on a course that, while distant from Yale's or Columbia's apprenticeships in gentility, offered equivalent cultural authority within his own milieu."[6]

The above is from Wiki - check here for better bio:
http://www.willdurant.com/bio.htm

and best of all check this one out =
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recn um=2873
Deathbed reversion - Deo Gratias!

Trish

__________________
+JMJ+
Gabrielle20, Deavon18, Elizabeth12, Mary10, Greg8
and a grandson!
My Blog

"Duty before everything, even something holy"
St.Padre Pio

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

[Add this topic to My Favorites]

Printable version

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com