Part 2: Chapter 2, Waters of Contradiction Summary and Analysis

From his beginnings as a practical atheist and narcissist, Merton had now progressed to the point where he was concerned with much less mortal sins, such as pride. He found a new enthusiasm for writing poems but struggled with his motives. Was he too selfish in his desire to see his name in print? Shouldn't his motive for writing only be to glorify God and teach his word?

It is at this point when he realized that the occasional trips to church he was taking would not be enough to rescue his mind from its polluted state. "All this would have been enough for an ordinary Catholic, with a lifetime of faithful practice of his religion behind him: but for me it could not possibly be enough. A man who has just come...