Odvaha být církví

This monograph offers a thorough account of Josef Zvěřina’s life between 1913–1967 and presents an extensive bibliography of his works, not only his published works, including those printed in the samizdat, but also his handwritten or typed texts, thus providing a diachronic analysis of his work. The first two aspects, although of relatively independent values, serve the third: this biographical and bibliographical text fulfils the introductory function in relation to understanding Zvěřina’s reflections. A history of this figure and his work thus becomes a history of learning, which was his life. This unique connection between Zvěřina’s life and its reflection is suggested by words "courage to be the church," which was a title he gave to one of his most famous essays and which became a title of the presented book. It suggests that Josef Zvěřina "was the church" in a quite extraordinary manner and that he also reflected this "being the church."