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Entry: The Pragmatism of Russell Kirk Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/the_pragmatism_of_russell_kirk#3666 Post contents: "One wonders if De Maistre leans more than just a little to the heresy of Fideism, anathemized at Vatican I in 1970 and by The Anti-Modernist oath of Pope Pius X." - Sid Cundiff I assume you meant 1870, Mr. Cundiff, but I wish to comment on De Maistre. His position was that reason could mislead, but the Church (meaning the magisterium, headed by the Pope) could not, so in case of an apparent conflict, one should adher to the teachings of the Church rather than to one's reason. I don't see how this is heresy or leaning towards it. The only alternatives would be to choose one's own reasoning in preference to the teachings of the Church, which would be heresy, or simply to remain in a state of agnostic doubt, which most people could not sustain for very long. I'll stipulate that I am speaking here of people who have the gift of faith, who know their obligations to the Church, either as members or planning to join, who are not invincibly ignorant. Of course, only God can know what is really in a person's heart or soul. The heresy of fideism is that humans cannot reason to the existence of God or to any truths about the natural order. De Maistre took no such position. Sent at: 2008 12 01