Like visiting with old friends, re-reading books we love brings its own rewards. Recently I picked up once again Umberto Eco's brilliant novel from 1980, "The Name of the Rose". Few scholars can match the insight, wisdom and vast reservoir of language and knowledge that this great man brought to bear upon a medieval detective story. Near the end of the novel, the monk William of Baskerville gives us these wise words of caution:
"The Antichrist can be born from piety itself, from excessive love of God or of the truth, as the heretic is born from the saint and the possessed from the seer. Fear prophets...and those prepared to die for the truth, for as a rule they make many others die with them."
(Translated by William Weaver)
Although Eco couches his literary commentary in Christian terms, his caution should not be limited solely to the Christian religion. Sadly, far too many religions and belief systems are stained with blood. May we all take Eco's words to heart.
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