A Faith of Our Own

by Austin Farrer

An Episcopal priest examines the basic demands and responsibilities of Christian life.

"To say that this book set me wondering why there are so few like it may seem a left-handed compliment, but it is far from being one. Nearly everything that is very well done looks easy to do, especially if you have never tried it yourself. And if it is also very well worth doing, we naturally ask why more people do not at any rate attempt it. Actually, books like this are rare. We have plenty of religious literature: books of devotion, controversies, apologetics, Christian reflections on "the present situation," Drives, Recalls, Appeals, and New Approaches. But except on a far lower level, both literary and theological, than Dr. Farrer's, the unabashedly homiletic - undisguised instruction and exhortation - is not common. Dr. Farrer offers it. He comes before us in this book not as a missioner, nor a journalist, nor a philosopher, but simply as a priest." (from the preface by C.S. Lewis)

219 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Austin Marsden Farrer was a theologian and philosopher whom many consider to be an outstanding figure of 20th century Anglicanism. He served as Fellow and Chaplain of Trinity College, Oxford, 1935–1960.

He was the progenitor of the eponymous "Farrer hypothesis" suggesting that the Gospel of Mark was written prior to, and influenced, those of Matthew and Luke, in contradistinction to the "Q" theory of textual analysis more widely held outside Britain.

Reviews

[Kate Plunket · Rating 5 out of 5]

there is nothing like out of print books from 1960 to simplify theology and to reflect on the roots and flowers of worship centered around God and the way he shapes us not our own desires. to simplify theology fact that God is literally in control and our only life goal and want should be to follow and be molded by him not to mold him to our culture and wants. literally an icon

[Ryan Barkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I commend Austin Farrer to all Christians, he is irenic and embodies CS Lewis's vision of "mere Christianity". Farrer is simple, but not shallow. These short homily-like reflections are worth returning to. What I appreciated most about this little gem is his ability to communicate the "everday-ness" of the faith and beauty of the faith is in its simplicity.