Donald S. Gillespie Shares 'Psychology and Sanity, a Psychology of Character'

Holy Fire Publishing (http://www.christianpublish.com) releases "Psychology and Sanity" (Paperback, U.S. $17.98, ISBN# 978-1-60383-513-8).

Donald S. Gillespie's general compendium of St Thomas' essential truths and values on rational psychology and epistemology.

"Psychology and Sanity" comprises a summa of St Thomas' inferential [rational] psychology and epistemology. Its importance cannot be underestimated, since it is a pre-requisite for the understanding of the Catholic concept of law. A difficult work, it involves the reader thinking at an abstract level, which St Thomas ameliorates by his lucid approach and empirical method.

"Psychology and Sanity" is divided into two books: the first treats of the origins of knowledge, the second follows logically with verifying the validity and truth of knowledge. The former is a systematic study of Man as a unity, which involves precise definitions on the nature, function and inter-relations of one's fundamental faculties; the latter establishes the conditions under which one can be assured of not only attaining to general knowledge [gnosis] but also attest to absolute [direct and immediate] relation to the world.

Mr. Gillespie's purpose is didactic but not strictly academic. At the human level, without optimistic and objective epistemic principles, one can have neither knowledge nor faith. Its wider scope is to demonstrate the importance of an objective epistemology for the constitutional and institutional provisions in human society.

"As current trends continue to submerge communal life in a 'new widespread paganism' (Benedict XVI) systematized in Hume and Kant, the reader will be heartened to learn that St Thomas' vision of the identity and dignity of the human person is indispensable for social renewal. The provision of reliable empirical evidence, with concrete illustrations, makes the work essential for those interested in psychology and mental health, the sciences and political theory.

"In contrast to modernity's concerted attack on objective reference in human knowledge, and so on the metaphysical nature of the soul, the layman will also appreciate the reasonableness of St Thomas' meticulous method, and the ease with which he makes an arduous and difficult subject prehensible." Donald S. Gillespie

Donald S. Gillespie was born and educated in Scotland. Having completed his mechanical engineering studies in Glasgow, he attended London Bible College, thence to Glasgow University, where he was trained in the ministry for the Church of Scotland. Years of aggressive liberalism compelled him to immigrate with his family to Canada, where he converted to Catholicism. His non-fiction and historic writings reflect his deeply held Christian beliefs. He continues to write, and enjoys travelling on spiritual "caminos" in the footsteps of St Paul. He lost his late wife, a medical doctor, to pancreatic cancer but continues to enjoy visiting family in the UK and USA. His three adult children are professionals in education, medicine and psychology. His personal charity for autistic children receives all royalties from his writings.

Holy Fire Publishing (http://www.christianpublish.com), publisher of hundreds of Christian books, helps Christian authors reach the world through the printed word.

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