Bastardization of the Theological Virtues

While reading another great book by J. Budziszewski, "The Revenge of Conscience: Politics and the Fall of Man", I came across a wonderful articulation of what I will call a bastardization of the theological virtues. A monotheist, who has not yet joined the Catholic Church, I have always wondered why most Catholics that I dialogue with seem to be so out of touch with the official Church teachings. The author cut right to the core of this problem with the following paragraph.

"Christian laxness bears some responsibility for the advent of perfectionism. For instance, today's believer does not often hear that Love is a disposition of will toward good, Faith a disposition of reason toward revealed truth, and Hope a disposition of longing toward Heaven. Once he has followed nonbelievers in using the first word for an emotion and the second for something inimical to reason, there is nothing much to stop him from using the third for complacency about the course of this present, broken world."

I applaud Mr. Budziszewski for attempting to turn on a light, instead of cursing the darkness. I highly recommend this book to all.