What saints are for

Rowan Williams, now Archbishop of Canterbury,  continues to be one of the most articulate voices offering a public sense of Christian faith.  This matters in part because as aspects of the West become post-Christian while interest in spirituality grows, offering fresh angles of vision on the faith many have rejected matters.  So one take, drawn from BBC radio interviews Rowan gave while still in an academic position at Oxford, notes the role of saints in our tradition, and subtly draws on Wittgenstein's epistemological critique. 

I could only say, hang around with the representatives of one or another religious tradition--share the experiences of worship, entertain the images, the stories they tell.  Look at the lives they point to as important, important saints, figures in their tradition: I think it is profoundly true that the religious apprehension is caught, not taught.  (Shortt, Rowan's Rule, 125).

That's why I'm reading Shortt's biography, I'd say, as a means to 'hang around' with one of the most sophisticated theologians and prayerful churchmen we've got, and one whose own crucible of leadership has much to teach us in the ELCA about the relationship between conflict and unity.  I'm also reading various pieces of Rowan's own writings, including (currently) his first book, a history of spirituality, titled The Wound of Knowledge.  On this All Saints day, I give thanks and pray for those who lead us in our communions and our communities of faith. Their leadership is difficult today, and many eyes fall upon them, seeking a sense that this way can yet make sense of their own pain and hope.

Anon and +peace,

Chris

Comments

[stephen yates]

I have a copy of Rowan's book 'Grace and Necessity' sitting beside me at this minute. Having read through it once, as a struggling composer for whom the yawning divide between art and faith has never seemed so uncrossable, I need to read it again because it gives hope and sheds light on faith from the artist's perspective in a graceful and inspiring way. So inspired was I by this little book that I went out and found Tokens of Trust: which is Christian apologetics at its absolute shining best. The problem is that these wonderful documents will go unread by the people who really need to be reading them.