By Joseph Younes
Journalist Joseph Younes recently spoke with Scarborough Parish Priest Rev Dr Christian Irdi, S.T.D., about his 2024 book, Nature, Grace, and Secular Culture: A Comparative Study of John Milbank and Joseph Ratzinger.
Why did you decide to write this book, and what do you hope readers will take away from it?
This book stems from my doctoral studies at the Gregorian University in Rome, undertaken at the request of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe. I’ve always been interested in how secular culture challenges the Church’s mission of evangelisation. To share Christ effectively, we must understand the worldview of those we engage with. This means meeting people where they are and responding to them in a way that is both compassionate but also comprehensible to them. This is what effective evangelisation is all about.
For someone unfamiliar with these terms, what do we mean by “nature” and “grace,” and why is their relationship important?
“Nature” refers to the created world, including humanity, as it exists in itself, following its own laws and ends. “Grace” is God’s gift of His life, drawing us into communion (or relationship) with Him. Jesuit theologian Henri de Lubac emphasised that grace isn’t merely an external aid but something that fulfills the deepest human longings. This idea contrasts with earlier views that treated grace as something added onto human nature rather than something that perfects human nature.
How does your book define the secular world?
Today, “secular” generally means public life without religion, often seen as a neutral space governed by reason alone. However, theologian John Milbank argues that secularism is itself a theological position—one that assumes God’s absence. Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) took a more nuanced view, distinguishing between an acceptable autonomy of public life and an aggressive secularism that seeks to remove faith from public discourse. The Church isn’t calling for a theocracy but for a society where faith can contribute meaningfully to culture and public life.
How does our understanding of nature and grace help us make sense of the secular world today?
If we see grace as an “optional extra” in human life, then religion can seem unnecessary in a self-sufficient secular world. But if human nature is intrinsically oriented toward God, then grace is essential for true fulfillment. Similarly, society isn’t complete without the Church’s role in guiding culture toward truth and goodness. The Church is not just a private institution but an essential part of human flourishing.
What are the biggest challenges that secular culture presents to the Church and to believers?
One major challenge is the push to confine religion to the private sphere. Ratzinger warned of the “dictatorship of relativism,” where truth is seen as subjective and changeable. This makes evangelisation difficult because faith is reduced to mere opinion rather than a source of truth and moral guidance.
You compare the ideas of John Milbank and Joseph Ratzinger. Can you briefly explain who they are and how they differ in their approach?
Milbank is a British theologian and founder of Radical Orthodoxy, which critiques secular modernity and calls for a return to a theology-centered worldview. Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, was one of the most influential Catholic thinkers of our time, emphasising faith’s role in shaping culture. Both agree that grace and nature are intrinsically connected, but Milbank sees no room for a secular world at all, while Ratzinger allows for a “rightly understood” autonomy of the secular and religious realms.
Some say faith and reason are opposed. How does your book address their relationship?
Faith and reason are not in conflict but work together. The Church has always upheld reason’s importance in understanding faith. A faith detached from reason can become superstition, while a reason closed off to faith can become narrow and cynical.
How can the Church better share the Gospel in today’s secular culture?
By being charitable, hopeful, and confident in Christ. Evangelisation means understanding where people are coming from and responding with clarity and compassion. St. Paul exemplified this when he preached at the Areopagus, engaging with Greek culture while proclaiming Christ. The Church must do the same today.
What practical advice would you give to Catholics who want to live their faith in a secular world?
Prayer is essential but so is being part of a strong faith community. Belonging to a parish helps sustain faith and provides support. At the same time, we must engage with the world, not retreat from it, witnessing to Christ in our daily lives.
Your book engages with deep theology. How would you explain its message to someone in the pews?
- We are created for God, and His grace is essential for our fulfillment.
- Just as this is true for individuals, it’s true for society as well.
- The Church plays a vital role in shaping culture and public life.
- Secular culture is not made “neutral” by banishing faith from public life—faith has something valuable to contribute.
- As believers, we must confidently share Christ with the world.
Where should someone start if they want to learn more about this topic?
My book is a good starting point, as well as the works of Joseph Ratzinger and John Milbank directly.