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Faith in the public square
Archbishop Rowan Williams is the most gifted Anglican priest of his generation. His views are consistent and orthodox and yet he has been consistently misunderstood - especially in relation to his views on contemporary society, public morality and the common good. In this, the final published work of his Archepiscopate, Dr Williams has assembled a series of chapters on matters of immediate public concern and the relationship of Christianity to these issues. Among his topics are 'Has Secularism Failed?: Europe, Faith and Culture', 'Human Rights and Religious Faith', Changing the Myths We Live By', 'Housekeeping: The Economic Challenge', 'The Gifts Reserved for Age: Perceptions of the Elderly', and 'Analysing Atheism'.
344 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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168 people want to read
About the author
Rowan Williams
260 books337 followersRowan Douglas Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth, is an Anglican bishop, poet, and theologian. He was Archbishop of Canterbury from December 2002-2012, and is now Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge and Chancellor of the University of South Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 28, 2013
Williams is a joy to read. He effortlessly moves between political theory to cultural criticism to christology. One doesn't have to agree with his conclusions, but one benefits from the way his premises draw in the world of thought and action to create an argument or position that strives to teach us about ourselves, our world, and God.
March 30, 2018
Convoluted but pertinent
December 21, 2016
Short Review: This is more a 3.5 book, but I always like to round up. The problem is that it is a book of essays. Some are fascinating. Some are merely okay. There are not any that are horrible. It is Rowan Williams, even when he is writing well over my head, he writes well.
Part of the problem is that I listened to this. And some of the essays do not translate well into audiobook format. There are many others that were originally given as talks that do work well in audio, but not all.
I think Williams is at his best when talking about diversity, pluralism and issues of human rights and the philosophy of personhood. These are areas where he is well grounded in his academic and theological background. And he has a voice that I think more in the US should hear because of his own background in the more secular culture of the UK.
There are a few sections that I think he gets too specific in recommendations, but generally those are few. For the most part the strength of the book is how Williams keeps his eye on how the church as the church with its understanding of theology and ethics can inform the secular world around it. Williams never apologizes for his faith or tries to hide his faith. But he does understand that as a person of faith, his ability to impact secular culture is limited to persuasion. And he is well aware of the importance of being a person of faith, among many faiths, even if historically the Church of England is the state church. He does not want to use that historical dominance to marginalize other faiths, or those without faith, because he knows the impact of how similar discrimination has marginalized Christians both in Britain and around the world.
I would probably have enjoyed the book a bit more if it were more focused. Some of the areas were just not engaging. But I do think this book is an example of how the church does have a role within a pluralistic society.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/faith-and-the-public...
Part of the problem is that I listened to this. And some of the essays do not translate well into audiobook format. There are many others that were originally given as talks that do work well in audio, but not all.
I think Williams is at his best when talking about diversity, pluralism and issues of human rights and the philosophy of personhood. These are areas where he is well grounded in his academic and theological background. And he has a voice that I think more in the US should hear because of his own background in the more secular culture of the UK.
There are a few sections that I think he gets too specific in recommendations, but generally those are few. For the most part the strength of the book is how Williams keeps his eye on how the church as the church with its understanding of theology and ethics can inform the secular world around it. Williams never apologizes for his faith or tries to hide his faith. But he does understand that as a person of faith, his ability to impact secular culture is limited to persuasion. And he is well aware of the importance of being a person of faith, among many faiths, even if historically the Church of England is the state church. He does not want to use that historical dominance to marginalize other faiths, or those without faith, because he knows the impact of how similar discrimination has marginalized Christians both in Britain and around the world.
I would probably have enjoyed the book a bit more if it were more focused. Some of the areas were just not engaging. But I do think this book is an example of how the church does have a role within a pluralistic society.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/faith-and-the-public...
February 10, 2018
I picked this up on my birthday book buying binge because I like Rowan William's theological works and thought I 'd like to get his thoughts about engaging the secular world. This volume is a series of lectures given by Dr. Williams, mostly as the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the early 2000s. They are, as one would expected, erudite and informed. They are aimed at audiences which are educated and influential, but not necessarily religious. They cover everything from the place of religion in a secular society to climate change to economics to relations with other religions. Together, they are represent a considerable body of Dr. William's social thought.
Central to the discussions in this volume, Dr. Williams identifies two modes of secularism. One, procedural secularism, simply refuses to allow any one religious tradition to dominate the political scene. The second, programmatic secularism, argues that religious traditions have no place in public policy, substituting instead a secular, common framework of public values to replace religious discourse in public life. This book can be understood as a sustained argument for the former form of secularism- arguing that religious traditions have important contributions to make in public discourse in many different areas.
The essays in this volume are, as one might expect, focused on British politics in the last decade or two (predating the current Brexit crisis) so a knowledge of the ins and outs of British politics is helpful (a knowledge which, for me, isn't particularly detailed). In addition, Dr. Williams is not necessarily an easy read. He is insightful and thoughtful, but his writing is very dense. He is definitely worth reading, of course, but it is good to take it slow and think about what is being said.
This is, of course, a must for Rowan William's fans as well as those interested in the place of religion in the public square. Take it slow and think and you'll be rewarded.
Central to the discussions in this volume, Dr. Williams identifies two modes of secularism. One, procedural secularism, simply refuses to allow any one religious tradition to dominate the political scene. The second, programmatic secularism, argues that religious traditions have no place in public policy, substituting instead a secular, common framework of public values to replace religious discourse in public life. This book can be understood as a sustained argument for the former form of secularism- arguing that religious traditions have important contributions to make in public discourse in many different areas.
The essays in this volume are, as one might expect, focused on British politics in the last decade or two (predating the current Brexit crisis) so a knowledge of the ins and outs of British politics is helpful (a knowledge which, for me, isn't particularly detailed). In addition, Dr. Williams is not necessarily an easy read. He is insightful and thoughtful, but his writing is very dense. He is definitely worth reading, of course, but it is good to take it slow and think about what is being said.
This is, of course, a must for Rowan William's fans as well as those interested in the place of religion in the public square. Take it slow and think and you'll be rewarded.
April 23, 2018
Rowan Williams is one of the best theologians in the world. This book, which is nothing more than a collection of lectures and speeches given at different events and circumstances, contains some of the deepest insights into the role of religion in our age, and even though his sentences are longer than my mind would like them to be, there is not a single chapter that one leaves not having learnt something new. His brief discussion of McIntyre's denial of the concept of "human rights", the critical review of Isaiah Berlin's essays on the Enlightenment and, especially, his work on the Christian nature of European identity (ch.5-- "Europe, Faith and Culture") were particularly interesting to me. However, the main part of the book discusses the role of faith in the public square (duh), and in this sense his experience as Archbishop of Canterbury and his situation in an increasingly multicultural Britain are highly appreciated.
January 2, 2020
Really ambitious, with lots of "I know this would be really difficult or impossible, but wouldn't it be amazing if we approached ____ issue in _____ way." But I do love seeing ways that allowing faith into these public issues can shift the paradigm radically.
May 7, 2025
not perfect, and certainly obscure in places, it was nevertheless very thoughtful and thought-provoking to read. I found my understanding stretched and new paths opened up for theological exploration. It was worth every penny just for that.
May 10, 2019
Some interesting and useful ideas but rather dry.
October 15, 2022
Existing and engaging with civic society from a Christian perspective. So many get it so wrong. If only they would read books like this. Top notch
March 13, 2014
I found the book to be ponderous reading in places, but there were enough fresh insights and creative theological formulations to keep me reading.
He writes from within the context of the Anglican religious establishment in England. American readers like myself will find his incessant apologia for a stronger role for religion in the public square tiresome. To his credit, he does argue for giving the plurality of religious perspectives equal opportunity to have voice in the public square.
He writes from within the context of the Anglican religious establishment in England. American readers like myself will find his incessant apologia for a stronger role for religion in the public square tiresome. To his credit, he does argue for giving the plurality of religious perspectives equal opportunity to have voice in the public square.
October 17, 2016
This book is a collection of speeches and essays from Rowan Williams on topics ranging from economics to the environment to religious freedom and pluralism. As always, Williams is careful, nuanced, insightful, and wise. An excellent resource those interested in thinking about the relationship between Christian faith and the wider culture.
December 17, 2013
Chapters 1 and 5 were my favorite....
March 9, 2016
Op mijn tandvlees uitgelezen. Hij zegt wijze dingen, maar daar staan wel 200 bladzijden steeds tussen.
March 14, 2013
A distillation of essays by Rowan Williams.
May 9, 2018
Well, I did not read it all as I did not understand it all. I do not have any opinion on it as I did not complete the whole book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews