Religious Books > Rowan Williams Religious Books

Advantages: Creative, interesting, moving without false sentiment
Disadvantages: None

...is celebrated as one of the more academically accomplished Archbishops of Canterbury in recent memory; indeed, even those who disagree with his theological points of view rarely fault his scholarship or methodologies. Williams also has a collection of texts dealing with spiritual practices and issues, such as his series on praying with icons, and his recent text dealing with cultural issues in iconographic ways. With this breadth of creativity, ...
...Being an Anglican, used to the Shakespearean-sounding liturgies and poetic, rhythmic cadences of the spoken words of worship services, and being strongly rooted in the Welsh culture where the blend of English and Celtic influences produces wonderfully strong lyrical constructions, Williams has a natural depth in the poetic. Somewhat ironically, Williams was raised in a Presbyterian household (where things done decently and in good order was the rule ... Read review

Advantages: Diverse, short articles, interesting, thoughtful and thought-provoking
Disadvantages: Nothing more recent than 1994

---------------------------------- My title is a paradox, and people tend to be annoyed by paradoxes -- in many ways quite rightly. We suspect them of concealing muddle, and so of representing some kind of intellectual or spiritual cowardice. - Sermon entitled 'A Ray of Darkness' ---------------------------------- Rowan Williams, lately Archbishop of Wales and professor of divinity at Oxford, recently took the chair occupied by the likes of Thomas ...
...No mere administrator, Williams brings a keen mind to the position where much theological insight will be required to navigate the changing tides of worldwide Anglicanism. This book, 'A Ray of Darkness,' is a compilation of sermons and reflections gathered over many years, to reflect not only the breadth and diversity of Williams' thoughts, but also beginning to show some of the developmental patterns over time in certain strands. I shall review ... Read review

Advantages: Another beautiful little book by Williams
Disadvantages: none

'The Dwelling of the Light: Praying with Icons of Christ' is a companion volume to 'Ponder These Things: Praying with Icons of the Virgin', a recent book by Rowan Williams, now Archbishop of Canterbury after a distinguished career as an academic and cleric in the Churches of England and Wales (Anglican Church). Williams has a great affinity for the wider breadth of Christian experience, drawing influences and inspiration from Protestant, Catholic ...
...Protestants particularly have lost the tradition of the use of art work as representative objects for worship. However, the debate over the appropriateness of icons and other imagery is almost as old as Christianity itself. There was a time when icons of Christ were banned because Jesus, being of divine nature, wasn't suitable for depiction. That Jesus could be depicted without violation of the 'no graven images' commandment took a long time to be ... Read review

Advantages: Inspiring, beautiful little book
Disadvantages: None

...of our humanity, who prays when we are not looking, not trying, who is at work when we are silent or helpless, and who can never be pinned down to a here or there in our individual lives or in the Church at large. ------ Ponder these things… ... Read review

Advantages: It answers the many questions we sometimes ask ourseleves about God.
Disadvantages: None

I really enjoyed this book as Rowan Williams really explores the great depths of beliefs in Christianity He weights up the Creed in relation to the challenges and complexities of life in the world today. The book includes really important questions in Christianity which helps the reader understand more about the concept of Jesus as Gods son, and how very little people believe Jesus as God's son where as now a lot of people do. Another interesting ...
...lot of people question God because of the evil and suffering in the world. It's very helpful as so many people don't really understand or don't know how to read the Bible. There is a characteristic depth of thoughtfulness that will reveal new dimensions each time this book is read this is why I would defiantly read it again! I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone interested in religion; it really does give some good answers and explanations ... Read review