Interview with Paul Pearson,

Partial Transcript: And, uh, if you would sort of play devil's advocate and say, "Well, some people might think that, um, his concern was less intense."

Segment Synopsis: Pearson talks about whether Thomas Merton moved away from social justice by travelling to Asia. Pearson explains why Merton focused less on social justice. He also talks about how Merton influenced the way people talk about social issues today.

Keywords: Activists; Social activism; Social activists

Subjects: Asia.; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Social justice.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: But there was also a big change through the sixties.

Segment Synopsis: Pearson talks about the changes during the 1960s that affected the Catholic Church as a whole as well as Thomas Merton as an individual. He names some of the changes that happened during the sixties. He also discusses Merton's desire to balance contemplation with action.

Keywords: Activists; Catholic Peace Movement; Conservative Catholics; Interfaith dialogoue; JFK; John F. Kennedy; Pacem in terris; Religious orders; Second Vatican Council; Social activism; Social issues; Vatican II

Subjects: Catholic Church.; Catholic Worker Movement.; Contemplation.; Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963.; Liberation theology.; Louisville (Ky.); Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Miłosz, Czesław.; Monasticism and religious orders.; Monks.; Nineteen sixties.; Nuns.; Pacem in Terris Convocation; Social justice.; South America.; Vatican Council (2nd : 1962-1965 : Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano)

Partial Transcript: Fair for me to say that while he still remained actively committed to social justice, his focus was changing or was shifting back to another area.

Segment Synopsis: Pearson talks about Thomas Merton's shift in focus during the nineteen sixties toward contemplation. He explains Merton's desire to find balance.

Keywords: Activists; East Asian religions; East Asian traditions; Social activism

Subjects: Catholic Church.; Contemplation.; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Social justice.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975.

Partial Transcript: And, and you brought up a nice point that I'd like to explore a little bit i--uh--about his, uh, how he did reach out to Jan.

Segment Synopsis: Pearson talks about how Thomas Merton returned to the person he had been before he was in the monastery. He talks about his correspondence with and interest in people of other faiths.

Keywords: Interfaith dialogue; Interreligious dialogue; Seven Storey Mountain (Thomas Merton)

Subjects: Communication.; Loughlin, James; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Monasteries.; Religions.

Partial Transcript: So Flavian Burns grants him permission to go.

Segment Synopsis: Pearson discusses whether it was unusual for Flavian Burns to grant permission to Thomas Merton to travel. He compares Burns to James Fox, Merton's previous abbot. He also talks about whether Burns favored Merton over other monks. Pearson then explains what he thinks Fox would have done if he had been in Burns's position of granting Merton permission to travel on his final trip. He also mentions how Merton's travels in Asia influenced the way he thought about his monastery.

Keywords: 14th Dalai Lama; Authorization; Flavian Burns; James Fox; Novices; Tenzin Gyatso

Subjects: Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani (Trappist, Ky.); Abbots.; Asia.; Bishops.; Buddhist monks; Buddhists; Clergy conferences.; Fox, James, Abbot of Gethsemani, 1896-1987; Louisville (Ky.); Master of novices; Meetings.; Mentoring in church work.; Mentoring.; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Monasteries.; Monks.; Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama XIV, 1935-; Thailand.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Care, care to give me some facts figures statistics that show that Merton is a continued presence in our world, you know, as far as reading and publishing and admirers and whatnot.

Segment Synopsis: Pearson talks about how one of Thomas Merton's editors has said Merton's books are classics. He gives examples of ways Merton's books qualify as classics. He then talks about the continued interest in Merton.

Keywords: Classic books; Ebooks; Print books; Publishers; Publishing; Publishing industry; The Seven Storey Mountain (Thomas Merton); Writers

Subjects: Authors; Authors and publishers.; Books.; Canon (Literature); Classic literature; Classics; Editors.; Electronic books.; Giroux, Robert; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Printing.; Translations.

Partial Transcript: Think so, I think it's kind of coming together.

Segment Synopsis: Pearson talks about the lasting influence of Thomas Merton. He talks about how Merton is the future of the Catholic Church. He also mentions discussions Merton had about topics like how technology and religion interact that are still relevant today.

Keywords: Catholicism

Subjects: Catholic Church.; Giroux, Robert; Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968.; Religion; Technology.

Partial Transcript: Last question, a return to that first one, uh, you've given me two good versions.

Segment Synopsis: Pearson summarizes his thoughts on Thomas Merton's shift from social activism to contemplation in the late 1960s. He talks about how Merton did not have much more to say about social issues. He acknowledges that Merton continued to work with the Catholic Peace Movement during this time.

Keywords: Action; Activists; Catholic Peace Movement; Social activism; Social issues

Subjects: Berrigan, Daniel.; Catholic Worker Movement.; Contemplation.; Day, Dorothy, 1897-1980.; Forest, Jim (James H.); Nineteen sixties.; Social justice.; Vietnam War, 1961-1975.