The world of scholarship, and particularly of historical scholarship, lost one of its great figures recently, as did the American church; as the Salvation Army would put it, on January 2, 2007, Dr. Elizabeth Fox-Genovese was promoted to glory. I envy her eulogists, who knew her as a friend; I only knew her through her writings, which were wide-ranging and often brilliant, but by all accounts she was as remarkable a human being as she was a scholar. Her account of her conversion to Catholicism (she had been a convinced Marxist) is a marvelous piece; while she will probably be remembered best for her scholarly works (such as the magnum opus she co-wrote with her husband and fellow historian, Dr. Eugene Genovese, on the psychology and ideology of Southern American slaveholders, The Mind of the Master Class), I’m probably not the only one who will remember her conversion story with the most gratitude. A great scholar and a great Christian, she is and will be greatly missed.
AM – I read the conversion story that you linked to. As a cradle Catholic, I sometimes envy those who have converted later in life.
I remember “running across” across her while I was in Grad School back in 1990-92 before her conversion. I had no idea she had become a Christian.
Maripat–why? I’m curious. (I also wonder, in light of that, if you’re familiar with the philosopher Peter Kreeft, a Catholic thinker who was raised in my Dutch Reformed tradition.)
And calvinator, do tell–I’d be interested to hear about your encounter with her.
Rob – I think that we (cradle Catholics) tend to take the church and our faith for granted at times. It seems that those who have converted later in life are so much more “on fire” for their faith. Don’t know really if that explains it.
I’d love it if you could direct me to any particular writings by Peter Kreeft. I’m not familiar with him but would like to read his works since you brought it up.
BTW – I live in Colorado too – Littleton, CO (much removed from beautiful Grand Lake!)
Yes it does–thanks.
As for Peter Kreeft, it’s a long list–some 45 books, all told. He’s written several books of imagined conversations–Between Heaven and Hell, in which he sets up a conversation between C. S. Lewis, Aldous Huxley and John F. Kennedy just after their deaths on November 22, 1963; Socrates Meets Jesus, in which he has Socrates awake from his forced suicide to find himself in a somewhat parodic version of Harvard; and a few others involving Socrates in other contexts. He’s written books on heaven, on The Philosophy of Tolkien, Christianity for Modern Pagans, and Three Philosophies of Life, as well as one (which I presume is more academic) on Socratic Logic. His Wikipedia page is a pretty good source of information, as is his website.
Where in Littleton are you? I ask because I not only have friends down there, but my uncle the Salvation Army social worker is married to a Catholic; they live at the extreme western end of Centennial, and if I recall correctly, her parish church is in Littleton (though it might be Englewood–she might not have changed when they moved).
Rob – thanks for the info on Peter Kreeft. We actually live on the very western edge of Centennial as well. I just say Littleton because it better represents where we live (a large part of Aurora is in Centennial). I bet I know which Salvation Army it is (Arapahoe and Colorado Blvd), it’s just about a mile from where I live. What parish does your aunt attend? Maybe St. Mary’s or All Souls? Small world, isn’t it?
I didn’t meet her. I just vaguely recall reading something she had written. Whatever it was we were assigned to read, it didn’t stick with me. The name just stands out.
I didn’t meet her. I just vaguely recall reading something she had written.
Ahh, OK. My confusion.
Maripat, my uncle works at Divisional HQ downtown and preaches many Sundays he’s home (he’s responsible for social services in the Intermountain Division, so he’s on the road a fair bit–Utah keeps him especially busy), so I’m not sure if he’s ever actually at the Littleton corps. I’d never thought to ask him. As for my aunt, I think All Souls is her parish, but I could easily be wrong.