JACQUES MARITAIN
209
tomary urbanity, that it is "the stupidest thing the world has ever
bown."
I hasten to repeat, however, that M. Maritain does not under
present historic conditions, and with an eye on France and the
Anglo-American world, advocate the consecrational form of the
Christian city but the secular form. But I must confess to a deep
dissatisfaction with M. Maritain's failure to explicate more fully
under what set of
historic
conditions he would justify one or the
other form of christian state. He does not call for a return to the
Middle Ages but for a new Christendom. It will incarnate the
lime
(analogical) principles as the medieval world but will be–
long
to an essentially (specifically) distinct type. About M. Mari–
tain's use of the analogical argument I shall have more to say. But
iDaofar as he attempts
to
state the empirical conditions, and on his
own
view they must be primarily empirical at this point; for
departing from thp. medieval way of treating the heretic, he flatly
fails.
His failure is very disturbing even when, perhaps it would
be
more accurate to say just because, we recognize that the problem
fies
within the field of "prudence" which does not admit as high
In
order of certitude as of caution.
M.
Maritain frankly avows that he has no desire to condemn
die
theory according to which the temporal power is justified in
patting heretics to the sword for the good of their souls and for
aespiritual unity of the community. "I have no desire to condemn
IICh a system in theory. In one sense an earthly order capable of
patting to death for the crime of heresy showed a greater care for
lien'S
souls and held a higher ideal of the dignity of the human
eommunity centered in this way on truth than one which only looks
.punish crimes against the body." (p. 144)
Why, then, does M. Maritain in delineating the respects in
ftich
the new Christendom differs from the old, make provision
fer what he calls "the extra-territoriality" of the person, which
I8Uld preserve the life of the heretic even though his heresy, as a
6reat
to men's souls, is declared an abomination? His answer
_ryeS
careful consideration. Because putting to death for crime
"heresy "is the point where human nature must most fatally lead
It
abuses; abuses which became [note the change of tense! ] more
• more intolerable ... when,
after
the ruin of medieval Christen·
.. the State, ceasing to act as the instrument of a higher and
