In Which Fr. Schall Points out the Political Implications of Denying the Holy Spirit (Whose Work is Tied to a Grace and a Recognition of Sin)

"Essentially, Newman pointed out, already in the nineteenth century, the dangers of misunderstanding the work of the Spirit -- which is 'unseen, supernatural, and mysterious.' Several contemporary writers -- I think of Eric Voegelin in the case of Christians, George Steiner in the case of Jews -- who have surmised that the root origins of modern ideology, from which our era has suffered so much, lies in this 'chief error of this time,' of which Newman spoke. The root of ideology is precisely in the Gnostic claim to produce by our own means, not that of the Spirit, what is promised to us by the unseen, mysterious, and supernatural gifts of grace. This is the most subtle of the political temptations, the one instance wherein the rejection of the Spirit appears in a tangible form of solving the problems of worldly society."

--The Secret Presence of God: The Holy Spirit, The Giver of Life