Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to Its History, Faith, and Worship

by Christopher L. Webber

published

December 1st 1999 by Morehouse Publishing

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binding

Paperback, 133 pages

isbn

0819218200 (isbn13: 9780819218209)

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Jana rated it:

03/25/08

bookshelves: history, spirituality

Read in March, 2008

The amount of historical content isn't significant, but enough for someone like me who knows so little about these things. I was especially intrigued by the Celtic influences on the church, how early they were and the fact that they had female priests as early as the 7th century.

I'm getting quite a lot of information from this slim little book. I'm also learning some things about myself:

1. that I have never really understood Christianity, but have only somewhat understood Protestantism.....more The amount of historical content isn't significant, but enough for someone like me who knows so little about these things. I was especially intrigued by the Celtic influences on the church, how early they were and the fact that they had female priests as early as the 7th century.

I'm getting quite a lot of information from this slim little book. I'm also learning some things about myself:

1. that I have never really understood Christianity, but have only somewhat understood Protestantism... which is not saying the same thing and not saying much (to my discredit)

2. most ideological problems I've had with Christianity were specifically with mainstream Protestantism... namely the emphasis on 'salvation' (which has never concerned me), literal readings of the Bible, the reinvent-the-wheel style over-democractization (which isn't really democratic), apocalyptic visions of a new heaven and earth rather than reformed visions, the right-wing politics and the anti-intellectualism

3. that I have a sincere interest in worship and mystery, which I wasn't aware were part of the Christian tradition (honestly)

Now, mind you, these things about myself are what I've thought about from reading the book... NOT what the writer has written about Christianity. I'm just pleased that such a seemingly straight-forward, information style book could prompt these thoughts.

Here's what I said previously, when I read the first half a couple of nights ago:

It's an easy read and full of information for people like me who have no grounding in traditional progressive (sounds contradictory, but not really) Christianity. I'm also finding that it's in conversation with those ideas I'd focused on in Siddhartha... namely going through experience and through the body.

In reference to the sacraments and the ceremonial movement of the body through the space, Webber wrote two things I found particularly interesting:

Human beings have misused created things so often that some forms of religion, even some forms of Christianity, are inclined to distrust and reject created things as inherently evil. (p.34)

Two people in love can sit at opposite ends of a couch and gaze soulfully into each other's eyes, but sooner or later most people will find it helpful to get closer and to use their bodies to say what their words can never fully express. "Platonic relationships" are inadequate.(p.35)...less

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Charity rated it:

07/27/08

Read in July, 2008

Good introduction. I read it because I have heard random good things about the Episcopal Church and wanted to find out a brief version of the whole story. This book was perfect. I think it would be good in a discussion group, but without it, I think its small size allowed me to skim parts without really learning much. I would have liked more on the history part, I guess.

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