Category: Uncategorized

Writing updates, Christ or Caesar, public services in crisis.

I have 2 chapters left to type in my second book. Then, I will need to edit the book many times before it is ready for the reading public. I will put Galway on hold for now, but I want to have a book launch of my first book, Christianity and social democracy in Galway in the future.  For now, you can support my writing by buying my first book, Christianity and social democracy. You can buy a copy in O Mahoneys Limerick, Dicks Supervalu Charleville, Foleys Ballydaheen Mallow and online through Thebookshop.ie. Copies of my book are selling, so get a copy before they are all gone.

Christian leaders can rule like Caesar in the name of Christ. This type of leadership does great harm in preaching the Gospel. Caesar is the type of ruler that seeks to have power over us. We may feel terror at displeasing the secular ruler, or we may believe that only the ruler can help us when we need help. But following Christ rejects this type of leadership.  Christ came to serve and not be served by people. Christ was poor and powerless, who died a rebel, and he died helpless on the cross. The power of Christ is the power of love that liberates us humans. A servant helps people they don’t overpower them. Christian leadership should model itself on Christ. It should be a service to others. The fact that we have examples where this type of service leadership isn’t always practised shouldn’t be an excuse to abandon this ideal.

Our public services in Ireland are under-resourced. From the breakdown of public order to health care being in crisis to a housing crisis, our experience of public services in Ireland is poor. It is assumed that we are a rich country. If we are a rich country, then why do we have these problems? If that statement is true, then the government doesn’t care for its citizens. If the country isn’t as rich as the experts say that it is, then that would mean that the money isn’t there to fund our public services. But the public services are in a bad shape. The government is doing a bad job of running the country, it doesn’t have the money or it cares more for the rich and it does for ordinary people. Maybe instead of arguing about minor issues, we should focus on the issue of public services.

My writing, Dominicans, modern politics, and Catholic faith.

Writing life, I don’t have a lot of news this week in relation to writing. I am selling the last of the copies of my first book. My first book has sold very well. Thank you to the readers. I am writing other books, so stay tuned.

Religion, last week I asked that we should have the humility to know that we don’t have all the answers and that an openness to the truth is actually a life long-term journey that will never end for us. I see that the Order of Preachers or the Dominicans have been in Ireland for 800 years. As an order, they combine a spiritual life with respect for the intellectual and scientific life. Religion without reason is dangerous for human progress. Their example of faith and reason should inspire believers. Their example inspires me personally.

What strikes me when reading the history of the Irish people, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, is how ordinary people combined their Catholic faith with the acceptance of liberalism, secularism, and socialism I suppose their faith was deeper than a trust in church leaders. It was rooted in God. They could combine the best in the modern world with a deep faith. Their faith and their politics could enrich each other. It gave Ireland a vision for a better future. We have a lot to learn from these people.

You can support my writing by buying my book Christianity and social democracy. Instagram johnobrienirishauthor X @irishfabian Facebook John O Brien Irish author. 

My writing it is tough being a thinking, compassionate Catholic, housing in Ireland.

Christianity and social democracy and other projects. Copies of my book are selling well. There are still copies of my book for sale in O Mahoneys Limerick, Dicks Supervalu Charleville and Foleys Ballydaheen Mallow. You can buy my book online through Thebookshop.ie. I am actually writing 2 new books, a book on the creed, and a science fiction book called Journey to Utopia. I decided to write a book on the creed because I think that a basic knowledge of the Christian faith is lacking. My first book sums up years of reflection on my political theology. This new book will be a part 2 of my first book. I want to focus on storytelling in the area of science fiction. It is an area of storytelling that I love, but I find some stories to be depressing.  I want my stories to give hope to people. Yes, we do need hope at this time of bad news.

In general, living my faith with love can be a challenge.  We should remember that no one has all the answers to the questions of life. We should be open to having our views challenged all the time. Church history is instructive where the church had to revise its views on issues. We have the revelation from God in the Church, but our knowledge of the natural world has to be worked out using our human reason alone. As an example, our knowledge of biology has changed because we have new knowledge that has been discovered by scientists. The Galileo case should make us pause as a church when we try to understand certain aspects of our faith in the light of the natural science. This is a plea for humility in the Church today. We do need to realise that we don’t have all the answers and we need to approach our situation in life with love.

Local and EU election campaigns are underway.  We will have a general election sometime in the future.  A major issue in Irish politics is the housing crisis.  To resolve this crisis, we need to understand the economy today in Ireland. Housing is too dear for many people, and money that could be spent in the local economy is instead spent on rent. There are deep issues involved, but as a start, we should learn from the past. The building of local authority housing on public land should be the starting point in tackling our crisis. Allow ordinary working people to be housed. Income limits are too low. In the past, the Dail was recalled in the summer to save a beef company. But our government doesn’t have the same feeling of crisis when it comes to housing. The private market isn’t meant to solve the housing crisis. Money that could be invested in the productive economy is instead tied up in the housing market.  We as a people can do better. 

You can support my writing by buying my book Christianity and social democracy. You can contact me X @irishfabian Facebook John O Brien Irish author and Instagram Johnobrienirishauthor.

Writing update Jan 2024.

Thanks to the readers who bought my book Christianity and social democracy. The stock of books that are left are getting low. I have plans on selling more stock. I will let you know in the future.

I am half way typing a book on the creed. I thought a look at the basis of the Christian faith would deepen our knowledge of Christianity. This book will need many edits and rewrites before it is ready.

I am also going to write a science fiction book too. I love science fiction but I find that a lot of science fiction can be depressing. I want this science fiction to give hope that the future will be better than our present time. My science fiction project will be epic and hopful.

John O Brien.

An endorsement of Christianity and social democracy.

Tony Annett is an economist based in the United States. He used to work for the IMF including a period as a speechwriter in that organisation. He has also meet Pope Francis. He has a book out called Cathonomics. This book argues that the Catholic social teaching can make a contribution to an international just economic order.

Tony Annett has read my book Christianity and social democracy. He said that “your book shows clearly the alignment between Christianity and social democracy. It is an important contribution”.

An Irish Catholic book fair?

Different groups have their own book fairs where they can bring like minded people together. It allows people to discuss books, sell and buy books and discuss ideas that they are interested in. It allows people to develop their craft especially when mainstream media ignores their area of interest.

In Ireland Catholics of different views write books in different areas of interest. Catholic fiction, spiritual books and scholarly books are published in Ireland. But we do not have a book fair for Catholic authors. I am wondering should we have a book fair for Catholics in Ireland? I would love to know would those in the trade be interested in a book fair? It would be a great way for us to get to know each other and sell and buy books too. I am asking those who can get this idea going would there be an interest in a book fair and could it be organised?

While this post is about a Catholic book fair my first book Christianity and social democracy is for sale. You can buy a copy in local shops in north Cork Vibes and scribes Cork city and O Mahonys shop Limerick city. You can buy a copy online in Thebookshop.ie. and Vibes and Scribes in Cork. If you are in north Cork I can do home deliveries. I am John O Brien Irish author Facebook and @irishfabian on X formally Twitter.

New developments on my book.

At the Mallow Arts Festival Sean Sherlock TD launched my book Christianity and social democracy. I have only around 100 books left from my original stock. Thanks everyone who bought my book. I am working on 2 other books. I think I will continue my book tour and give people the option to buy my book.

You can buy my book in O Mahony’s Bookshop Limerick, Dicks Supervalu Charlesville, Easons Mallow, Vibes and Scribes Cork Foleys Ballydehan Mallow and The Bookkshop.ie. You can contact me directly John O Brien Facebook X @irishfabian johnobrienirishauthor Instagram.