“Scribes tear down walls with questions.” Saint Ephrem the Syrian.

Let us work together to find the right questions!

Welcome to my website.

You will find several ‘scribblings’ posted here including my latest book and several essays.

You are free to download any of these without cost or obligation and if you find them of interest you may pass them on to others. The download links are located below.

At present these posting include a short book, The Communio Letters, based on my media workshop at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley as well as an essay, Spiritual Imagination, derived from my presentation at Act One in Hollywood in June 2017. The theme of most of these pieces is the relationship of art and faith but there are also some reflections on related matters.

I have also posted The Option, my personal advocacy of the controversial ‘Benedict Option’.

I will always welcome your comments, criticisms and suggestions.

Blessings!

Ron Austin

The Communio Letters

This is a short book based on five letters I sent to the
participants in my media workshop at the Dominican
School of Philosophy and Theology (DSPT) in Berkeley.
This workshop lasted for several years and included
seminarians as well as other graduate students. Few were
interested in making films themselves but all recognized
the importance of the media in contemporary society. We
screened films, sometimes including the public, and
attempted to incorporate our faith and convictions into a
better grasp of the spiritual role of the media and the
arts.

Free Download

On Sex and Violence

This was originally part of the Communio Letters book in
which reviewed many of the subjects we discussed at the
DSPT. In that the controversies concerning sex and
violence seem unending and that this is the usual
substance of mass media products it required a separate
analysis.

Free Download

The Spiritual Imagination

This essay is based on a presentation I gave in June 2017
to the Act One, Christians in Hollywood group.
I propose that a spiritual dimension is essential to artistic
creativity if the art is to be fully developed.

Free Download

The Option

This is a positive response to the important and
controversial ‘Benedict Option’ proposed by author Rod Dreher.

I endorse the creation of autonomous Christian communities as essential to our survival and I offer some possible variants for consideration.

 

Free Download