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avrilhj's review
5.0
Williams writes with such beautiful clarity and simplicity. This is a quick and easy read, but it's also full of such depth that I would occasionally read a single sentence and then sit in silence for minutes at a time contemplating it. Perhaps most amazingly, Williams makes Christianity sound beautiful. I bought this book to see whether it would be helpful for teenagers and adults being baptised and confirmed, and it's definitely suitable for that.
eclaytonbennett's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
A short but thoughtful examination of the essentials of Christian life. This is a book I will return to many times, I suspect.
_ellie_annah_'s review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
1.0
alcazalsir's review against another edition
4.0
My church is using/used this book for our Lenten lunch series this year (canceled due to coronavirus). I LOVE Rowan Williams but did find this book a bit hard to get into initially. Not sure why. Maybe I was just distracted while reading it “bc I had to”. In any case I greatly enjoyed the last two chapters. This book has four chapters each on a crucial aspect of being Christian: baptism, Bible, Eucharist and prayer. I read the Eucharist and prayer chapter post pandemic so perhaps that is why I was more receptive to them. Each chapter is short and accessible and not too Anglican-y so I think this book could be used by any group of Christians or individual wanting an insightful way to reconnect with the most important aspects of the faith. I highly recommend this book.
caleb_karnosh22's review against another edition
3.0
In the Introduction, Williams writes, "There is a huge and bewildering variety in Christian thinking and practice about all kinds of things, but these four basic activities [Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer] have remained constant and indispensable for the majority of those who call themselves Christians." This initial insight originally drew me to this book. I thought it was really incredible that despite the many differences, all major Christian traditions embrace and practice these four things--a small sense of unity despite all the variety.
Overall, I thought this was a solid little book. I think his reflections on Eucharist and Prayer were my favorite of the four chapters.
Overall, I thought this was a solid little book. I think his reflections on Eucharist and Prayer were my favorite of the four chapters.
richardbruce's review against another edition
3.0
This book was interesting. The author writes very well and you can almost hear his calming voice resonating from the pages. It explained the titled four areas of Christianity very well and posed some interesting ideas and concepts. However throughout the book I just had a feeling it was like the author was trying to make excuses up for outdated beliefs. Let me first say I was christened a Christian, I believe Jesus existed in some way and i believe in God. However I am not a practicing Christian because my god is different to the idea of a living being in the sky. I am more new age spiritual. To me god is an infinite consciousness in everything and connecting everything (to scratch the surface). So back to it...It seamed to me like the author was flipping some of the outdated belifes of the bible and saying, look at it differently and it actually means this. As if to justify beliefs and entry's of the bible that go against today's standards and what we now know as wrong. I am not saying this is the case but it was all very convienient. I probably need to read it again and do a bit more research. I may be wrong but thats the thing with religion and belief, nobody actually knows. Its all open for each individuals interpritation. That being said I liked Rowan Williams's view point on the matters.