Religion - Cardinal John Henry Newman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Religion - Cardinal John Henry Newman - Essay Example However, the pertinent role of The Analogy of Butler in the religious opinions of Newman is often stressed. â€Å"In respect to his intellectual training, Newman was indebted to Dr. Hawkins for more exactness in the statement and greater precision in an argument... The Analogy of Butler formed, as in the case of so many others, a turning point in the history of our author’s religious opinions.† (Kickham, 116) Therefore, Cardinal Newman presents the major influences on his religious opinions in his Apologia pro Vita Sua and the Preface added to this book illustrates the major influences and turning points in his religious opinions. â€Å"The following History of my Religious Opinions, now that it is detached from the context in which it originally stood, requires some preliminary explanation... An impression of this kind was almost unavoidable under the circumstances of the case, when a man, who had written strongly against a cause, and had collected a party round him b y virtue of such writings, gradually faltered in his opposition to it, unsaid his words, threw his own friends into perplexity and their proceedings into confusion, and ended by passing over to the side of those whom he had so vigorously denounced.† (Newman, 3) One of the prevailing themes of Newman’s teachings was to emphasize value-focused education and he regarded education as not useful to humanity without ‘the influence of Go’s grace’. The outward training should be duly supported by an inward help and grace which is provided by Christ and his Holy Spirit.