Jonas Madureira

Oficinas de texto: "evite o uso excessivo de adjetivos na prosa". José de Alencar: "Era linda a situação da fazenda Nossa Senhora do Boqueirão. As águas majestosas do Paraíba regavam aquelas terras fertilíssimas, cobertas de abundantes lavouras e extensas matas virgens".

Inteligência Humilhada Jonas Madureira **** Now, something off the radar for most people, as Jonas is a niche writer in the Brazilian theological scene. However, his understanding of philosophy and theology is blended here in a masterful way. The book should be translated into English for a broader audience. Madureira argues that modern intellectual life suffers from pride disguised as sophistication. True intelligence requires humility before God, tradition, and the limits of human reason. He draws on Augustine, Calvin, and the Reformed tradition to show that the fall didn’t just corrupt the will but also the intellect. The book critiques both secular rationalism and evangelical anti-intellectualism, arguing for a third way: rigorous thinking that knows its place. The call is for chastened reason — rigorous thinking that knows its place, submitted to revelation and aware of its own distortions. What hit me in this book is how, after millennia of reasoning, we still haven’t scratched the surface of wisdom. “True wisdom begins when reason kneels.”

Today marks one year since the publication of my book on the Protestant commentaries on Aristotle’s Ethics. I am thankful for the interest that many have shown in this seemingly obscure topic. But it isn't so obscure, so there should actually be much more interest. Tolle, lege!