Herbert McCabe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herbert McCabe
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| Born | 2 August 1926 |
| Died | 28 June 2001 (aged 74) |
| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| Region | Western Philosophy |
| School | Analytic philosophy Thomism |
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Main interests
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Philosophy of Religion Ethics Theology |
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Influences
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Influenced
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Herbert John Ignatius McCabe was an English-born Irish Dominican priest, theologian, and philosopher. He was born on August 2, 1926, and passed away on June 28, 2001. He was known for his deep thinking about religion, ethics, and how language works.
Contents
Herbert McCabe's Early Life
Herbert McCabe was born in Middlesbrough, England. He first studied chemistry at Manchester University. However, he soon became interested in philosophy, thanks to the influence of a teacher named Dorothy Emmet. He also wrote for a journal called Humanitas.
Joining the Dominicans
In 1949, McCabe joined the Dominican Order, which is a group of Catholic priests and brothers. His original name was John Ignatius McCabe. His teacher, Columba Ryan, gave him the religious name Herbert. This was in honor of Saint Herbert of Derwentwater, a hermit from the 7th century.
While with the Dominicans, he began to study the works of Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas was a very important philosopher and theologian from the Middle Ages. McCabe was ordained as a priest in 1955. He worked as a pastor in Newcastle for three years. After that, he became a chaplain at De La Salle College. One of his students there was the famous writer Terry Eagleton.
Important Work and Ideas
In 1965, Herbert McCabe became the editor of a journal called New Blackfriars. He was removed from this role in 1967 because of an editorial he wrote. In it, he disagreed with a theologian named Charles Davis. Davis had left the Catholic Church, saying it was corrupt. McCabe argued that while the Church might have problems, that was not a reason to leave it.
Return to Editing and Teaching
McCabe was brought back as editor three years later. He started his first editorial back with a famous line: "As I was saying, before I was so oddly interrupted...." He spent many years teaching at Blackfriars, Oxford University.
He wrote several books during his life:
- The New Creation (1964): This book explored the Sacraments, which are important religious ceremonies.
- Law, Love and Language (1968): This book looked at how language is central to understanding ethics, or what is right and wrong.
- The Teaching of the Catholic Church (1986): A short guide to Catholic beliefs.
- God Matters (1987): A book about the importance of God.
- God Still Matters (2002): A collection of his articles, published after he passed away.
McCabe was also part of a group called Slant. He combined the ideas of Thomas Aquinas and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Wittgenstein was another very important philosopher. McCabe also cared deeply about social fairness and justice.
McCabe's Sermons and Beliefs
Herbert McCabe was known for his intelligent and witty sermons. A main idea in his sermons was to be careful not to make God seem small. He taught that God is not just another object in the world. He believed that thinking of God in a limited way could be like idolatry, which means worshipping something that is not truly God.
In 1974, McCabe became a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. His friend, Terry Eagleton, once shared a quote from McCabe: "If you don't love, you're dead, and if you do, they'll kill you." This shows McCabe's strong belief in the power and importance of love, even when it might be difficult.
Later Life and Legacy
Herbert McCabe passed away in Oxford on June 28, 2001. He was buried at Wolvercote Cemetery. His memorial service included a Spanish revolutionary song sung by his brother, Bernard. Herbert McCabe's ideas continue to influence many people who study philosophy and theology.
