Nature, Grace, and Secular Culture: A Comparative Study of John Milbank and Joseph Ratzinger

The relationship between nature and grace is a key debate in Fundamental theology. The understanding of how nature and grace relate to each other is also a critically important part in comprehending the underpinnings of Western secular culture, and therefore, how best to evangelise it. This book compares John Milbank and Joseph Ratzinger, two relatively recent theologians, who have both drawn from the insights of Henri de Lubac, and have attempted to address the challenge that secular culture presents to the mission of the church. In demonstrating and comparing how each author's approach to the nature-grace couplet consequently determines their respective approach to secular culture, it is hoped that responses to the challenge of secular culture might be more comprehensively considered.

Rev. Christian C. Irdi, STD is a priest of the Archdiocese of Perth, Australia. He also lectures in theology at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, and at St. Charles' Seminary, Guildford. Fr. Christian was ordained a priest in 2014 after completing seminary training at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He completed his STB at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce) in Rome, and then both his STL and STD in fundamental theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Prior to seminary, he completed a bachelor's degree in law at the University of Western Australia. He is currently serving as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Scarborough, Western Australia.