Conversion as Transformation: Lonergan, Mentors, and Cinema

by Dominic Arcamone

Overview

The process of human transformation is complex and ongoing. This book presents a framework for understanding human transformation through the insights of Bernard Lonergan. The reader will be introduced to terms such as the turn to the subject, consciousness, subjectivity, and intersubjectivity. It will explore terms such as horizon, feelings, values, self-esteem, sublation, conversion, dialectic, and religious experience. The book explores transformation through the way mentors have authored their own lives, told their own stories, and taken possession of their interiority. Transformation is illustrated through the lives of saints and ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things, such as St. Augustine, Dag Hammarskjold, Vaclav Havel, Franz Jaggerstatter, St. Therese of Lisieux, Fredrich Nietzsche, Katherine Ann Power, and Marie Cardinal. Transformation is also illustrated through the medium of cinema: Babette's Feast, The Mission, As It is in Heaven, Romero, Dead Poets Society, Ordinary People, The Godfather trilogy, Three Color trilogy, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dial M for Murder, and Twelve Angry Men. While the book treats religious, moral, affective, intellectual, and psychic conversion as moments of transformation, it argues that ecological conversion requires all of these so as to meet the most serious moral challenge of our time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781532678943
Publisher:	Pickwick Publications
Publication date:	01/29/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	338
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Dominic Arcamone is a retired mission manager in healthcare. He was a sessional lecturer for the Australian Catholic University from 2007 to 2015, writing and teaching graduate and postgraduate courses in theological subjects. He has a BTh, MTh, MA (Counseling and Pastoral Care), DMin, and PhD. Since the events of 9/11, he has focused on the problem of religion and violence and published Religion and Violence (2015).
Dominic Arcamone works as a mission manager in health care. He has been a sessional lecturer for the Australian Catholic University since 2007 writing and teaching graduate and postgraduate courses in theological subjects. He has a BTh, MTh, MA (Counseling and Pastoral Care), DMin, and PhD. His theological reflection has been enhanced through integrating the insights of the Canadian philosopher and theologian Bernard Lonergan. Since the events of 9/11, he has focused on the problem of religion and violence.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Written in a clear style, Arcamone challenges the reader to explore the dynamics of desire and the critical link between the inner self growing in authenticity and its creation of beneficial exterior structures. If we want to change the world, we need to understand our attitudes and ways of thinking, valuing, and deciding. New students as well as those more familiar with Lonergan’s insights will benefit from this important work. I highly recommend this book for anyone.”

—Robert Dueweke, OSA, NGO Representative to the United Nations



“Arcamone demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the multifaceted dynamics of conversion as he links highly developed insights to accessible themes, images, and symbols. Take up and read, you will enjoy the journey.”

—John Francis Collins, Catholic Institute of Sydney



“Dominic Arcamone has written a profoundly pastoral, practical, and intriguing book of theology. . . . In the quest for authenticity Dominic shows his creativity as a communicator by taking us on a cinematic tour of his favorite movies, drawing us into the conversion and transformation of characters and personalities which remind us of our own quest for authenticity.”

—Dennis Carroll, Senior Pastoral Care Coordinator, Catholic Healthcare

Editorial Reviews

"Written in a clear style, Arcamone challenges the reader to explore the dynamics of desire and the critical link between the inner self growing in authenticity and its creation of beneficial exterior structures. If we want to change the world, we need to understand our attitudes and ways of thinking, valuing, and deciding. New students as well as those more familiar with Lonergan's insights will benefit from this important work. I highly recommend this book for anyone."

--Robert Dueweke, OSA, NGO Representative to the United Nations

"Arcamone demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the multifaceted dynamics of conversion as he links highly developed insights to accessible themes, images, and symbols. Take up and read, you will enjoy the journey."

--John Francis Collins, Catholic Institute of Sydney

"Dominic Arcamone has written a profoundly pastoral, practical, and intriguing book of theology. . . . In the quest for authenticity Dominic shows his creativity as a communicator by taking us on a cinematic tour of his favorite movies, drawing us into the conversion and transformation of characters and personalities which remind us of our own quest for authenticity."

--Dennis Carroll, Senior Pastoral Care Coordinator, Catholic Healthcare

From the Publisher