Welcome to Ignatius of Zion!
What is Ignatius of Zion anyway?
Instead of offering a lengthy introduction to set the stage for future publications, I thought I’d begin by explaining the name I chose for this Substack page—spur of the moment, really. In doing so, I think it will set more realistic expectations. So, why “Ignatius of Zion”?
Given my interest in philosophy and theology, you might assume I’m referring to Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), one of the founding members of the Jesuit order, known for advancing the movement commonly called the 'Counter-Reformation.' While I am certainly partial to the Salamanca School of political philosophy, enjoy the occasional tussle with Suárez’s metaphysics, and appreciate de Lubac’s account of the Augustinian revival, this is definitely not why I chose the name. I chose it mainly because it sounds better than something like 'Arendt' or 'Fiery,' which, presumably, are names a young writer might aspire to.
That said, there’s another layer to this whimsical choice. Some years ago, I read Charles Taylor’s essay on Catholic Modernity and came across his idea that, in encountering modernity, Catholicism should follow the example set by Jesuits like Matteo Ricci (1552-1610). Ricci, who was sent to China—at that time, largely a terra incognita to the West—adopted an unusual strategy for conversion. He chose to approach, educate, and converse solely with the Chinese elite, hoping that the broader desired process of conversion would follow naturally. Taylor’s point was that when faith confronts modernity, it should focus on engaging with people of stature, in the hope that their influence would ripple outward.
Now, I’m no Christian, though I find theology fascinating, and my main interest isn’t faith or, heaven forbid, conversion efforts. But I do share a certain affinity with Ricci’s inclination not to spend too much time on mediocrity while trying to engage deeply with the topics that intrigue me. What’s more, as we all know, Ricci’s project wasn’t exactly a success. China, by and large, has retained its traditions—or at least what Communism has allowed to survive in line with national interests. To a large extent, Ricci failed to find a receptive audience. The underlying tone of being “doomed to fail” feels fitting for yet another page on yet another platform in the greatest terra incognita of all—the internet.
As for the "Zion" part, that's easier to explain. I was born and raised in Jerusalem, and I love it dearly. More than once, I’ve considered changing my surname from Rotenberg (which originally comes from a German town where Jews settled in the Middle Ages) to Zion (which sounds more “surname-like” than Jerusalem). I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the various theological associations with my hometown, but hey, you work with what you’re given.