Wrestling with Angels: Conversations in Modern Theology

by Rowan Williams

Wrestling with Angels  gathers writings by Rowan Williams -- many now out of print or otherwise difficult to obtain -- spanning the years 1980–2000. It focuses on his insightful engagement with a range of modern theologians and philosophers -- Hegel, Wittgenstein, Barth, Bonhoeffer, Balthasar, Simone Weil, Marilyn McCord Adams, and more.

Key themes explored in this volume include negative theology, postmodernity, violence, innocence, divine action, and the nature of historical development in theology. Williams's powerfully coherent theological vision shines throughout. Nowhere else will readers find Williams dialoguing with such a breathtaking range of writers.



 

Genres: Theology

331 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2007

About the author

Rowan 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.

Reviews

[Bob Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays written by Bishop Williams at various points in his life.

There are too many different topics to deal with here, but it should suffice to say that if you do not like theology, you will not like this book. Williams demonstrates the breadth and depth of his knowledge by engaging with a variety of different theologians on different topics.

The writing is highly technical and presumes an amount of theological knowledge. If you have the patience to wade through it, it will probably be well worth the effort.

Grade: B

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of 14 essays by the Archbishop of Canterbury, this book explores several topics in modern theology such as postmodernity, innocence and negative theology. This volume is very well written, but very dense. This is no mere introduction to Williams’ viewpoint on some of the various topics of theology. Highly recommended for students of religion or philosophy, but not for the armchair theologian.

[James Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this difficult reading, but that wasn't Williams' fault. He was writing for the academic reader so he didn't bother to translate his Greek or French (or for that matter his English!) Difficult, but I enjoyed the stretch. The essay on Karl Barth's triune theology was very, very good.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been working on a thesis and it wasn't until I read the first essay on Lossky that I realized Williams would make an excellent sparring partner. I've made use of a good deal of his essays in this work because of their relevance to my work.

[John Hanscom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of lesser writings which should have generally stayed that way.