For For readers who want Merton's full case against nuclear war; a Cold War book, and some of its circumstances are dated.
Should I read this?
For the general reader
3 of 5worth your time
For the researcher
4 of 5important
Difficulty
3 of 5demanding
The book on war he wrote in 1962 and was forbidden to publish, finally printed in 2004.
How it proceeds
Philosophic3 of 5
Scriptural2 of 5
Experiential1 of 5
Sociological5 of 5
Historical3 of 5
Independent intensities, 0–5 — what the work is made of, not how good it is.
The book on war and peace Merton wrote in 1962, at the height of the Cold War, challenging the idea that nuclear war could be squared with the Gospel. The censors of his order blocked its publication, and he circulated it privately in mimeographed form; a typed copy he signed says he was "unfortunately unable to publish this". It was finally published by Orbis Books in 2004 (165 pages), edited by Patricia A. Burton.
