Gaining perspectives

I read fiction because it feeds a part of my soul.
It can be an escape, or travel to another world. Or an illumination or recognition of a part of me that I had ignored.

I read nonfiction for different reasons. I am selective because I do not believe that nonfiction is necessarily the truth, and I hate having to make that distinction as it can interfere with the pleasure of learning something new.
And it bothers me that I can not absorb the factual part of everything I read.
Well, I recognize that nonfiction can give me new perspectives, and illuminate the rest of my life and ideas I encounter and re-encounter daily.
Case in point, an 'old' (1982) but singular overview of the Society of Jesus. Being Catholic I know a little about the Jesuits, but like the average person, I probably have more reputation and hearsay in my knowledge than solid information. Barthel's The Jesuits sheds a bit more light on this order of priests. Surprisingly, though when all is said and done, he doesn't really confirm or deny many of the rumors or accusations that create their mystique. He even admits that there is an issue with denial and being unable to confirm because of security reasons.

And, I found it disconcerting that lots of 'facts' and interesting ideas were thrown out with no development or support of them. And, he also mentions several times that his mss was reviewed by a Jesuit. So how objective could he be - really? Sadly, I don't see that Barthel has published much else on the subject.

Anyway, the book has served to raise my sense of awareness about the Counter Reformation and disdain for the early 20th century Popes particularly in regard to Germany. (The author is German.)

And I can appreciate the dilemma of identity crisis. They were founded as a militant missionary order, and the Church currently embraces a more ecumenical stance. What is the Jesuits' current raison d'etre? Will we ever know?