OK Stanley, I am confused...you chose a book written by a Jewish kid, that went to Christian schools and summer camps, became a secular Marxist in college, went to work for William F. Buckley upon graduation, is the "conservative" political perspective for Yale, the New York Times and PBS, divorces his converted Jewish wife, then marries a cute young thing and becomes a Evangelical Christian.
On top of that, he writes books on Sociology including "The Social Animal" and this one. I like and agree with much of the book, but he really looses me in the faith section. The book addresses occupation vs. vocation, contract vs. true marriage, logic vs. faith, and tribes vs. community. He describes himself as a "wondering Jew and a very confused Christian." His commitment to Christianity requires a "belief in the absurd" and he realizes that he can come across as a know-it-all.
The second mountain requires an unselfish commitment to community. He talks about the concept of weave and a commitment to serve others. He identifies with the Evangelical Christians and a humbling before God. At the same time he admits Evangelicals have in inferiority complex concerning intellect and a superiority concept concerning morals.
My take on the book is David Brooks is a complicated and somewhat confused guy. The second mountain is basically an altruistic commitment to serve ones community. To me a moral society is not dependent of blind faith.
