A Ray of Darkness

by Rowan Williams

Rowan Williams is the Archbishop of Canterbury. In this collection of pastoral sermons and addresses, Williams shows how the faith of the creeds can still equip Christians for a vigorous and critical engagement with the world of today. In his often poetic, sometimes scholarly, and always thoughtful and engaging style, Williams reflects with wisdom and empathy on the gospel connections to issues of peace, war, justice, sexuality, wholeness, suffering, loneliness, vocation, and mission.

Sermons from the church year and practical matters of Christian spirituality such as intercessory prayer and Bible study are also included; still others celebrate great Christian figures across the centuries, from the Anglo-Saxon saints to Michael Ramsey and T. S. Eliot. Also, published for the first time are Williams's addresses on Mission and Spirituality delivered at Yale in 1991, a sharp but sympathetic perspective on evangelism in the church today.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Rowan Douglas Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth, is an Anglican bishop, poet, and theologian. He was Archbishop of Canterbury from December 2002-2012, and is now Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge and Chancellor of the University of South Wales.

Reviews

[Chad D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of sermon collections and have experienced many different positive responses. But mine to this one was peculiar and striking even in my own experience. Over and over, in quite different addresses, Rowan Williams said what decades of the Christian life have been teaching me in such a way that I could recognise my spiritual walk in what he said and know that what he said is true for more than just him or his original audience. It's powerfully validating to realise that you really have been inventing the wheel, and that someone else has already invented it, some tradition, some confluence of traditions, and that you are in something much bigger than you, much more thoroughly than you suspected.

[Alessandra Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of short essays/sermon. I'm always surprised at how intelligent and moving and challenging this author is. covering a broad range of topics everything from T.S. Eliot to Dancing to Forgiveness.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of relatively short homilies is nothing short of wonderful. While a couple of the essays/sermons are only so-so, the majority are beyond compare. Some find Williams hard to read, but this is not an academic work, so don't be put off if you've tried him before.

Having said that, I still find it more profitable to read each of his great homilies twice (and highlight nothing until the second round)--he doesn't have the ability to not be profound, so a cursory reading is a waste of time.

"Loving God" and "Holy Space" were two of my favorites.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other reviewers here, I found this collection of sermons/essays variable--some were quite dense and abstract, but some are absolutely spot-on or gave me a new perspective and bear revisiting. I left a lot of dog-eared pages in my wake as I read my way through it. :)

[Mac]

Williams is an excellent academic writer and theologian, but he's also a great preacher. This collection of sermons is inspiring and thought-provoking. A great book for preachers and theologians (and those who try to be both!), but also something that the person in the pew can read and benefit from.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rowan Williams integrates his diverse theological knowledge and spiritual experience in this compilation of powerful sermons. Top-rate thinker who probes the depths of the heart. He is one of the best embodiments of the great Tradition.

[Leroy Seat · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was much that was good in this book, but for some reason it seemed wordy and not particularly profound. Perhaps I read each chapter too quickly, but the book was not as enjoyable or as helpful as I thought it would be.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful sermonettes

[Paul Canady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish he was more like this as ABC...

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some sermons are mind blowing, others are meh. But overall, this is a mind altering book. Williams is beyond brilliant.