Description
Book SynopsisArchbishop Rowan Williams is the most gifted Anglican priest of his generation. His views are consistent and orthodox and yet he has been consistently misunderstood - especially in relation to his views on contemporary society, public morality and the common good.
In this, the final published work of his Archepiscopate, Dr Williams has assembled a series of chapters on matters of immediate public concern and the relationship of Christianity to these issues. Among his topics are ''Has Secularism Failed?: Europe, Faith and Culture'', ''Human Rights and Religious Faith'', Changing the Myths We Live By'', ''Housekeeping: The Economic Challenge'', ''The Gifts Reserved for Age: Perceptions of the Elderly'', and ''Analysing Atheism''.
Trade ReviewIn this often brilliant, always stimulating, and unfailingly even-handed book, the former Archbishop of Canterbury weaves his erudition and Christian faith into a thread that guides him through the labyrinth where contemporary politics, secularism, ignorance, intolerance, good will, and virtue are to be found ... Williams argues brilliantly for the relevance of both religion and politics, and the contribution of each to the other. -- Anthony J. Gittins * Catholic Library World *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Part One: Secularism and its Discontents 1. Has Secularism Failed? 2. Secularism, Faith and Freedom 3. Convictions, Loyalties and the Secular State 4. Law, Power and Peace 5. Europe, Faith and Culture 6. Religion, Culture, Diversity and Tolerance 7. The Spiritual and the Religious
Part Two: Liberalism, Pluralism and Law 8. Multiculturalism: Friend or Foe? 9. Faith and Enlightenment 10. Pluralism and the Public and Religious Spheres 11. Religious Hatred and Religious Offence 12. Religious Faith and Human Rights 13. Human Rights and Religious Faith
Part Three: Living within Limits: The Environment 14. Changing the Myths We Live By 15. Renewing the Face of the Earth: Human Responsibility and the Environment 16. Climate Crisis: Fashioning a Christian Response
Part Four: Housekeeping: The Economic Challenge 17. Ethics, Economics and Global Justice 18. Theology and Economics: Two Different Worlds?
Part Five: Justice in Community 19. Sustainable Communities 20. The Gifts Reserved for Age: Perceptions of the Elderly 21. Criminal Justice 22. Big Society-Small World?
Part Five: Religious Diversity and Civil Agreement 23. Analysing Atheism: Unbelief and the World of Faith 24. Religious Diversity and Social Unity 25. Faith Communities in a Civil Society
Part Six: Rediscovering Religion 26. Religious Lives
Acknowledgements Index
