Life is full of absurdities, and human misperception of such absurdities leads to a state of unrest and fear that require meaning and direction for a happy life. F. Pasqualino addresses here samples of existential absurdities, and discusses solutions offered: Taoism offers in its paradoxes a natural self-help resource. Buddhism offers a natural wisdom that is informed by a supernatural impersonal Absolute. Hinduism offers a plethora of personal gods who embody the impersonal Absolute. The Judeo-Christian-Islamic wisdom teaches a personal Absolute God whose being is distinct from, but involved with human and non-human beings. The unifying feature of these wisdoms is: Obedience to, and love of, the Absolute can rectify human misperception of life’s absurdities, dissipate fear, and provide meaning, value and a serene life. Jesus Christ, the incarnate Absolute in Christian theology, chose to become an exemplar innocent victim for love, thus giving the most absurd but victoriously redeeming love that provides a new and sublime perspective on life’s absurdities. G. Lahood’s translation and commentary make the Italian masterpiece available to an English-speaking audience.
Preface.................................................................................... vii
Acknowledgements ................................................................. xi
A Brief Biography of Fortunato Pasqualino ............................ xv
Translator’s Introduction........................................................ xix
1. Linguistic ambiguity in the book title requiring interpretation
................................................................. xix
2. Theological and philosophical concepts embedded in
the book title and requiring elucidation ................... xx
3. Pasqualino’s intellectual and literary contribution ...... xxiii
(a) “Nothing new under the sun” ............................. xxiii
(b) Pasqualino’s Holistic Search for Meaning in
Existential Absurdities ...................................... xxiv
(c) Pasqualino’s Literary Style ............................... xxviii
4. Translation Issues ................................................... xxxiii
(a) Long Sentences Shortened ................................ xxxiv
(b) Vague Terms Explained or Kept ....................... xxxiv
(c) Quoting Original Sources vs. Translating Paraphrases
........................................................... xxxv
(d) Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Terms or
Phrases Translated ......................................... xxxvi
(e) Word Choice .................................................... xxxvi
5. Commentary Issues ............................................... xxxviii
(a) Methodology Applied in the Commentary and
Notes ........................................................... xxxviii
(b) Reference to Authors and Books Identified ....... xxxix
(c) Reference to Historic Events Detailed .................... xl
(d) Reference to Technical Philosophical and
Theological Concepts Explained .......................... xl
Translation ............................................................................... 1
Prologue ............................................................................ 3
Chapter I. The Absurd ....................................................... 4
Chapter II. Fear ............................................................... 13
Chapter III. The Wolf and the Lamb................................. 27
Chapter IV. Heaven ......................................................... 36
Chapter V. The Ascent to the Absolute ............................ 45
Chapter VI. The Parable of Parables ................................ 58
Commentary ........................................................................... 71
Commentary on the Prologue .......................................... 73
Further Food for Thought on the Prologue ................. 74
Commentary on Chapter I: The Absurd ............................ 75
Further Food for Thought on Chapter I: The Absurd ... 88
Commentary on Chapter II: Fear .................................... 89
Further Food for Thought on chapter II: Fear ............. 98
Commentary on Chapter III: The Wolf and the Lamb ...... 99
Further Food for Thought on Chapter III: The Wolf
and the Lamb .................................................... 106
Commentary on Chapter IV: Heaven ............................. 109
Further Food for Thought on Chapter IV: Heaven ..... 121
Commentary on Chapter V: Ascent to the Absolute....... 123
Further Food for Thought on Chapter V: Ascent to
The Absolute..................................................... 135
Commentary on Chapter VI: The Parable of Parables .... 138
Further Food for Thought on Chapter VI: The
Parable of Parables ........................................... 153
Notes to Translation and Commentary .................................. 155
Bibliography ......................................................................... 227
Index .................................................................................... 233