Scan barcode
A review by ben_smitty
On Christian Theology by Rowan Williams
5.0
Reading Williams is like having a second conversion experience (what an evangelical thing to say). Some dense philosophical/theological essays here that deal with a variety of topics including the church’s sacraments, the incarnation, pluralism, the trinity, ontology and how those things fit together.
A recurring theme throughout the essays is Williams’s insistence on the importance of dialogue as a process whereby the Church can rediscover her truth. Williams is often wary of the Church’s proclamation of judgment over the world which prevents further dialogue and mutual understanding—the way forward, he argues, is for the Church to heed the criticisms she receives. To think that the Church is beyond judgment is to resist God’s transformation, for only by being self-critical can the Church truly lead the world by example. Dialogue, then, becomes a tool that God uses to sanctify both the Church and the world.
I admire Williams’s intelligence and the breadth of his research (The footnotes alone led me to various scholars and topics I’ve never even heard of before). Some the essays, especially “Trinity and Ontology,” are completely over my head. More importantly, however, I admire Williams’s willingness to listen to differing voices that seem to clash with one another and to forge a way forward for mutual understanding. Although he is confident in what he believes in, his humility and Christlike patience shine through in the voice of his essays.
A recurring theme throughout the essays is Williams’s insistence on the importance of dialogue as a process whereby the Church can rediscover her truth. Williams is often wary of the Church’s proclamation of judgment over the world which prevents further dialogue and mutual understanding—the way forward, he argues, is for the Church to heed the criticisms she receives. To think that the Church is beyond judgment is to resist God’s transformation, for only by being self-critical can the Church truly lead the world by example. Dialogue, then, becomes a tool that God uses to sanctify both the Church and the world.
I admire Williams’s intelligence and the breadth of his research (The footnotes alone led me to various scholars and topics I’ve never even heard of before). Some the essays, especially “Trinity and Ontology,” are completely over my head. More importantly, however, I admire Williams’s willingness to listen to differing voices that seem to clash with one another and to forge a way forward for mutual understanding. Although he is confident in what he believes in, his humility and Christlike patience shine through in the voice of his essays.