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Doubts and Loves: What is Left of Christianity
“A sensitive, brave and inspiring book” exploring the state of modern Christianity from the international bestselling author of Leaving Alexandria (Karen Armstrong).
A prize-winning author and former Bishop for the Scottish Episcopal Church, Richard Holloway has written extensively on the role of religion in modern society. Now, in this passionate and heartfelt book, Holloway interrogates the traditional ways of understanding the Bible. In doing so he demonstrates the power of the great Christian stories as they apply today, so far removed from their antiquated settings.
Holloway’s sophisticated and sensitive approach provides a blueprint for living with faith that takes the core teachings of the Christian past and invigorates them with renewed power for today’s world. The result is “an exhilarating book. It is not every day that you encounter a person of Richard Holloway’s experience wrestling with the very foundations of his chosen way of life. This in itself gives the book a tone of urgency” (The Scotsman, UK).
This edition of Doubts and Loves includes a new afterword by the author.
“I don’t know when I have been more impressed, indeed, excited, by a work…It answers the seemingly tormenting questions in a completely satisfying way.”—Ruth Rendell
A prize-winning author and former Bishop for the Scottish Episcopal Church, Richard Holloway has written extensively on the role of religion in modern society. Now, in this passionate and heartfelt book, Holloway interrogates the traditional ways of understanding the Bible. In doing so he demonstrates the power of the great Christian stories as they apply today, so far removed from their antiquated settings.
Holloway’s sophisticated and sensitive approach provides a blueprint for living with faith that takes the core teachings of the Christian past and invigorates them with renewed power for today’s world. The result is “an exhilarating book. It is not every day that you encounter a person of Richard Holloway’s experience wrestling with the very foundations of his chosen way of life. This in itself gives the book a tone of urgency” (The Scotsman, UK).
This edition of Doubts and Loves includes a new afterword by the author.
“I don’t know when I have been more impressed, indeed, excited, by a work…It answers the seemingly tormenting questions in a completely satisfying way.”—Ruth Rendell
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2001
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127 people want to read
About the author
Richard Holloway
73 books144 followersRichard Holloway is a Scottish writer, broadcaster and cleric. He was the Bishop of Edinburgh from 1986 to 2000 and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church from 1992 to 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 15, 2014
DOUBTS AND LOVES is a fine, levelheaded look at finding useful truths in a mostly useless book, the Holy Bible. If one is a Christian, this book hits hard the highly moral but non-theological idea of doing less harm, and I think it's a fine roadmap to a positive future.
January 24, 2019
This book made me think, which is a good thing for a book on theology. I appreciated the authors attempt to re-examine Christianity with a modern mindset, however what remains of Holloway's Christianity is a lot more sparse than my own.
February 17, 2016
Recommended to me by a colleague after I had read Holloway's autobiography, this fills in some of the conceptual/theological gaps in that book (which was written after this... Although reading his autobiography first provides a context that makes sense of the somewhat scatter - gun approach that this book takes to established /orthodox Christian thinking and morality. The closing chapters on forgiveness and mortality are probably the best and go some way to explain why Holloway has not completely disconnected himself from the "Jesus - movement"... Because like many others in this post - modern theological world what Holloway is striving for is discipleship of Jesus without buying into the theological, moral and ecclesiological trappings of 2000 years of the Christian church. Whether that is possible to do without creating an historical Jesus in our own image is a key question... a risk which Albert Schweitzer (ironically the origin of Holloway's closing quotation in a quotation heavy book) noted over 100 years ago.
October 18, 2025
Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh, reflects deeply on what remains of Christianity in modernity. Doubts & Loves is not a defence of the Christian faith but an exploration of doubt, myth, ethics, and how religious institutions have failed.
His discourse is divided into three parts: the clash with modernity, where he shakes up religious fundamentalism; the analysis of religious doctrines and myths; and finally, what he considers essential Christian ethics, removed from dogmatic structures and certainties.
Holloway utilises various perspectives, resulting in a kaleidoscopic essay of science, humanism, philosophy, and theology.
Scientific and secular because Holloway recognises the power of the scientific view of the universe: the idea of an indifferent cosmos, natural explanations, and scepticism toward the supernatural. Here he shows that many traditional religious certainties are no longer credible. With this perspective, he sharply contrasts what Christianity has lost, and must lose, to remain meaningful, inviting a faith that tolerates doubt and ambiguity, avoiding absolute certainties. He is also aware of the limits of science.
The cornerstone of his essay is ethics, with an emphasis on the exercise of love, compassion, and the practice of piety (not in a ritual sense, but as empathy and solidarity).
For Holloway, this ethical-humanist perspective is what is salvageable in Christianity: it opposes dogmatic truths and invites life practices that respond to suffering, injustice, or the abuse of power. He harshly criticises rigid doctrinal belief, although it is true that certain deep theological meanings cannot be reduced to ethics.
Theologically, Holloway vindicates the symbolic dimension of religious narratives. He talks about complex meanings that should never be taken literally and must instead be reinterpreted. He therefore tries to reconcile faith with plurality, ambiguity, and even doubt, while criticising literalisms, inflexible dogmas, and dogmatic authority.
Holloway uses philosophers’ ideas, like the "ultimate concern", and paradigms to demonstrate how social, cultural, and scientific changes have shaped religion over history. He also addresses epistemological questions such as the meaning of "truth".
Furthermore, he asserts that religious organisations require reform and strongly condemns their abuse of authority, influence, and doctrine.
The essay is accompanied by nine pages of bibliography and notes.
His discourse is divided into three parts: the clash with modernity, where he shakes up religious fundamentalism; the analysis of religious doctrines and myths; and finally, what he considers essential Christian ethics, removed from dogmatic structures and certainties.
Holloway utilises various perspectives, resulting in a kaleidoscopic essay of science, humanism, philosophy, and theology.
Scientific and secular because Holloway recognises the power of the scientific view of the universe: the idea of an indifferent cosmos, natural explanations, and scepticism toward the supernatural. Here he shows that many traditional religious certainties are no longer credible. With this perspective, he sharply contrasts what Christianity has lost, and must lose, to remain meaningful, inviting a faith that tolerates doubt and ambiguity, avoiding absolute certainties. He is also aware of the limits of science.
The cornerstone of his essay is ethics, with an emphasis on the exercise of love, compassion, and the practice of piety (not in a ritual sense, but as empathy and solidarity).
For Holloway, this ethical-humanist perspective is what is salvageable in Christianity: it opposes dogmatic truths and invites life practices that respond to suffering, injustice, or the abuse of power. He harshly criticises rigid doctrinal belief, although it is true that certain deep theological meanings cannot be reduced to ethics.
Theologically, Holloway vindicates the symbolic dimension of religious narratives. He talks about complex meanings that should never be taken literally and must instead be reinterpreted. He therefore tries to reconcile faith with plurality, ambiguity, and even doubt, while criticising literalisms, inflexible dogmas, and dogmatic authority.
Holloway uses philosophers’ ideas, like the "ultimate concern", and paradigms to demonstrate how social, cultural, and scientific changes have shaped religion over history. He also addresses epistemological questions such as the meaning of "truth".
Furthermore, he asserts that religious organisations require reform and strongly condemns their abuse of authority, influence, and doctrine.
The essay is accompanied by nine pages of bibliography and notes.
September 5, 2021
This book taught me two things:
1) People who tend to focus too much on the religiosity aspect of their faith seem to struggle over time with the intellectual claims their dogmatic perspective tend to force upon them.. I could be misjudging completely here, but the feeling I sensed throughout the book was that the author, Richard carried a lot of resentment and an unhealthy cynicism towards those who believe what he believed one day.
2) If you want to dissect Christianity and try to make it a psychological framework that promotes universalism and to some extent new ageism, you can probably achieve that by removing the context of the faith claims existing in the Bible as well as using the old attack to the ancient text that Jesus’ claims were either metaphorical or post first century insertions. However, none of that has ever stood up against the principles of ancient textual analysis and ever growing evidence surrounding the person of Christ.
All in all, it was one of those books that I gleaned nothing additive to my life from it, except for some beautiful quotes throughout it (and especially one at the end of it)
1) People who tend to focus too much on the religiosity aspect of their faith seem to struggle over time with the intellectual claims their dogmatic perspective tend to force upon them.. I could be misjudging completely here, but the feeling I sensed throughout the book was that the author, Richard carried a lot of resentment and an unhealthy cynicism towards those who believe what he believed one day.
2) If you want to dissect Christianity and try to make it a psychological framework that promotes universalism and to some extent new ageism, you can probably achieve that by removing the context of the faith claims existing in the Bible as well as using the old attack to the ancient text that Jesus’ claims were either metaphorical or post first century insertions. However, none of that has ever stood up against the principles of ancient textual analysis and ever growing evidence surrounding the person of Christ.
All in all, it was one of those books that I gleaned nothing additive to my life from it, except for some beautiful quotes throughout it (and especially one at the end of it)
January 19, 2021
This was the second attempt at this book, the first time I wasn't quite ready for it and resisted many of the points Holloway was making, but a bit further down my deconstruction journey the second time round I got on with the book a lot better. The first half was the strongest for me, a lot of psychological insights and helpful ways of framing belief and faith. The second half felt a little disjointed and a half-hearted attempt at trying to assemble some kind of narrative of Jesus inspired guide to live by but felt a bit hollow after the first half - a bit like someone intentionally stamping on your fingers and then trying to kiss them better.
September 24, 2025
What a book!!!
If this book can be summarised in one sentence, it would be the compelling proposition that Christianity is an action about life and grace, not neurotic and anxious theories about death and punishment.
I don’t think I have read a book so illuminating in the way it confirms many of my attitudes and views about Christianity and religion. I’m feeling satisfied that I’m not alone or crazy as the world may make some of us feel.
Thank you, Richard.
If this book can be summarised in one sentence, it would be the compelling proposition that Christianity is an action about life and grace, not neurotic and anxious theories about death and punishment.
I don’t think I have read a book so illuminating in the way it confirms many of my attitudes and views about Christianity and religion. I’m feeling satisfied that I’m not alone or crazy as the world may make some of us feel.
Thank you, Richard.
June 5, 2022
very good and eruditely written, but just a little unnecessary for me. i agreed with what i read but found it pointless speculation and comfort for untroubled minds.
July 2, 2012
If this is a subject you are interested in, get this book, I loved it!
April 2, 2014
This is a must read for anyone who is on the spectrum of progressive or unorthodox theological understandings and interpretations of Christianity. Highly recommended.
August 28, 2014
Most insightful, and practical at the same time.
April 7, 2017
Written in a very accessible, warm and witty style, this is a wise and erudite look at the state of Christianity today. Richard Holloway, a refreshingly controversial figure (once Bishop of Edinburgh and head of the Scottish Episcopal Church), sees our search for deeper meaning as being a natural human instinct. Even if at the end of all our searching we find a godless and indifferent universe then our thinking has not been in vain. The problem comes when the old traditional arguments are thrust upon us as incontrovertible truths and not open to being adapted to modern times. Our so-called ‘post-modern’ world with its multiculturalism and huge plurality of viewpoints has see a huge decline in the popularity of Christianity as an answer to any of our questions.
Concerning the Bible, it seems inevitable that something written two thousand years ago be rooted in the scientific and social understanding of the day. It also seems very understandable that with our huge advances in, for example astronomy, and our treatment of women and minority groups, that we should now reject much of it. If we remain tethered to the traditionalist’s view that the old version of the truth is the only one, rather than seeing the Bible as being a reflection of a particular viewpoint relevant at that time, then the ship will eventually founder completely. Yet perhaps there is a way of navigating between these two extremes.
Holloway does a very good job of making the old-fashioned seem relevant and important to our modern world. By considering the Bible as a human creation rather than a divine one, he shows how it can still be a storehouse of wisdom and spiritual wealth for our modern times. Whether you are a Christian or an atheist or just someone somewhere in between who has no idea what he or she is, then this is a very stimulating and not over-intellectual read. Things change over the years, not least presumably the mind of God.
Concerning the Bible, it seems inevitable that something written two thousand years ago be rooted in the scientific and social understanding of the day. It also seems very understandable that with our huge advances in, for example astronomy, and our treatment of women and minority groups, that we should now reject much of it. If we remain tethered to the traditionalist’s view that the old version of the truth is the only one, rather than seeing the Bible as being a reflection of a particular viewpoint relevant at that time, then the ship will eventually founder completely. Yet perhaps there is a way of navigating between these two extremes.
Holloway does a very good job of making the old-fashioned seem relevant and important to our modern world. By considering the Bible as a human creation rather than a divine one, he shows how it can still be a storehouse of wisdom and spiritual wealth for our modern times. Whether you are a Christian or an atheist or just someone somewhere in between who has no idea what he or she is, then this is a very stimulating and not over-intellectual read. Things change over the years, not least presumably the mind of God.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews