Austin Farrer in his later years was striving for new depths of simplicity and insight. This collection of Farrer sermons, preached mainly to undergraduate audiences, is the third to be published since his death. Even readers who never heard him speak can form from the printed text a true impression of his qualities of imagination, humor, and spirituality.For preachers he not only advocates but illustrates preaching as a creative art; to the 'ordinary' Christian he shows how worthwhile it is to take trouble with the questions of faith: to face them as issues of truth, to probe them this way and that, and to feel that language and imagery are friendly tools for undertaking the work. For theologians, too, he has a message: not to conceive their task too narrowly and to let a wide range of human resources, mind and heart, contribute to the task of clothing in words our experience of God.
Published sermons present a special problem, writes John Austin Baker in his introduction to The End of Man. "Sermons no one would think of printing have saved souls; sermons much admired by posterity may have achieved nothing . . .. What is rare indeed is that the text of a genuine sermon as actually delivered should satisfy the criteria of the literary form as well. To the tiny company of such preachers of genius Austin Farrer belongs." The sermons collected in this volume demonstrate Farrer's rare abilities as a writer and preacher. Originally delivered to members of the academic community at Keble College, Oxford, they speak intelligently on all phases of Christianity. Some of the fine points of doctrine are discussed, but so are the very practical aspects of everyday life-matters such as relationships with parents, the importance of a disciplined prayer life, the proper use of money, and how to deal with intellectual challenges to the faith.
Austin Farrer was part of the extraordinary mid-20th century group of 'Oxford Christians', which also included C S Lewis, J R R Tolkien, Charles Williams and Dorothy Sayers. Described as 'the one genius that the Church of England produced' in the last century and 'author of incomparably the most interesting theological books ever to come out of Oxford', his great legacy is that his considerable learning expressed itself as practical spiritual direction. He believed that after all the argument, analysis and sifting of evidence, the purpose of theology was to show how to live and how to love. He died in 1968 and his many books are now out of print. Here is a thematically arranged anthology of his most influential writings with an extended introduction that assesses his contribution to Anglican life and through today.
Previously unpublished, the forty sermons collected here were preached by Austin Farrer during his twenty-five years as chaplain of Trinity College, Oxford (1935-60). Most of them were short biblical addresses given during Evensong, and they are offered here for Farrer devotees, and for a new generation of readers to savor.
In the foreword to this collection of essays, the noted British philosopher of religion John Hick aptly describes the style and tone to be found in Reflective Faith."Farrer asks . . . the right questions and thereby puts philosophical theology on the right road. This collection constitutes an introduction to Farrer's thought such as many have wished for; and it will be important also for those who are concerned to study Farrer's work as a whole." And that work, Hick adds, "is so far removed from the realm of unanalyzed slogans, vague metaphors, and all form of sloppiness and imprecision, that to read someone of Farrer's stature is to lose any taste for the lower levels of theological writing."Reflective Faith spans Farrer's long career at Oxford, and includes essays taken from lectures, papers, and broadcast talks presented during those years. Originally written for select and usually small audiences, they display a warmth and spontaneity that enables readers to draw close to Farrer, and in so doing to appreciate his breadth of scholarship and wit. Here is traced the evolution of Farrer's thought from its early origins in scholastic theology to his eventual movement towards the "philosophy of action." Also included are study notes provided by the editor, and a bibliography of Farrer's published works.
Austin Farrer's writings show amazing originality and independence of thought. To the end of his life he was developing a Christian apologetic that was both thoroughly orthodox and thoroughly contemporary. Interpretation and Belief is a collection of essays grouped round three themes--Canon, Creed, and Criteria--presenting Farrer's thoughts on the foundations of Christian belief. As with Reflective Faith, a recently published collection of his essays on philosophical theology, the pieces vary considerably both in range and in date; they are chosen to stimulate interest rather than to exhaust their subject matter. Farrer's studies of the Gospels and his exploration of Christian doctrine both find their place in the larger framework of theistic belief and reveal their author's deep commitment, profound learning, and ability to hold faith and reason in a creative tension.
In this book St. John's Revelation is approached as a great and singular theological poem. The author tries to see how the poem arose in an inspired mind, by what processes of divination its author explored the realm of supernatural truth, how he used the images of his Old Testament faith and gave them fresh meaning in the context of his scheme. Here the reader may follow the workings of a late first-century Christian imagination in which the Scriptures and the stars, the liturgy of the temple and the magic of numbers, the elements of nature and the march of human history are closely interwoven.
Austin Farrer was, by common consent, one of the most remarkable men of his generation. He possessed the qualities of originality, independence, imagination, and intellectual force to a degree amounting to genius. Basil Mitchell Austin Farrer...possibly the greatest Anglican mind of the twentieth century. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury The one true genius of the Church of England in the twentieth century. A.N. Wilson Austin Farrer (1904-1968) was ordained an Anglican priest at Oxford where he served as chaplain and fellow of several colleges. He was warden of Keble College from 1960 until his death. Both a noted theologian and New Testament scholar, Farrer was a member of the Oxford Christians, conversing frequently with C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, and T. S. Eliot.
In A Science of God? Austin Farrer insists upon the concrete, positive, affirmative elements in the Christian faith. Here, he counters the argument that scientific discoveries - for example, those associated with the theory of evolution - make belief in God impossible. A Science of God? showcases Farrer's well-deserved reputation for combining considerable scholarship with intellectual integrity. There have been few better advocates for universal, deep-rooted, mature Christianity.‘One of the twentieth century's most original and independent theologians offers stimulating reflections on the inter-relationship of science and theology in their common quest for truth.' Revd John Polkinghorne, KBE, FRS, author of Quantum Physics and Theology. ‘I welcome the republication of this important contribution to the science and religion debate. It was ahead of its time - conceived against the background of the “Death of God” movement of the 1960s, it is even more relevant now in the context of the “New Atheism”.' John Barton, Oriel & Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford
Since the Common Worship Lectionary first came into use, many short preaching aids have been published. They have ranged from brief notes to almost complete sermons. This new companion offers an understanding of some points of significance in each lection for every Sunday and for other major days. It combines the latest scholarship with the conviction that the text should address today's world, squarely facing up to the difficulties that some passages may present to modern congregations. It does not aim to provide a substitute for sermon preparation, but to stimulate reflection among those engaged in this work. This is a serious academic commentary on the readings, by scholars who are also aware of the demands and purposes of preaching. The book provides the academic background knowledge essential for interpreting the texts; does not shirk difficult questions; stimulates the prospective preacher to see new ways of reading the text; covers the Anglican variations not dealt with in American commentaries.
Since the Common Worship Lectionary first came into use, many short preaching aids have been published. They have ranged from brief notes to almost complete sermons. This new companion offers an understanding of some points of significance in each lection for every Sunday and for other major days. It combines the latest scholarship with the conviction that the text should address today's world, squarely facing up to the difficulties that some passages may present to modern congregations. It does not aim to provide a substitute for sermon preparation, but to stimulate reflection among those engaged in this work. This is a serious academic commentary on the readings, by scholars who are also aware of the demands and purposes of preaching. The book - provides the academic background knowledge essential for interpreting the texts; does not shirk difficult questions; stimulates the prospective preacher to see new ways of reading the text; covers the Anglican variations not dealt with in American commentaries.
In the foreword to this collection of essays, the noted British philosopher of religion John Hick aptly describes the style and tone to be found in Reflective Faith."Farrer asks . . . the right questions and thereby puts philosophical theology on the right road. This collection constitutes an introduction to Farrer's thought such as many have wished for; and it will be important also for those who are concerned to study Farrer's work as a whole." And that work, Hick adds, "is so far removed from the realm of unanalyzed slogans, vague metaphors, and all form of sloppiness and imprecision, that to read someone of Farrer's stature is to lose any taste for the lower levels of theological writing."Reflective Faith spans Farrer's long career at Oxford, and includes essays taken from lectures, papers, and broadcast talks presented during those years. Originally written for select and usually small audiences, they display a warmth and spontaneity that enables readers to draw close to Farrer, and in so doing to appreciate his breadth of scholarship and wit. Here is traced the evolution of Farrer's thought from its early origins in scholastic theology to his eventual movement towards the "philosophy of action." Also included are study notes provided by the editor, and a bibliography of Farrer's published works.
Previously unpublished, the forty sermons collected here were preached by Austin Farrer during his twenty-five years as chaplain of Trinity College, Oxford (1935-60). Most of them were short biblical addresses given during Evensong, and they are offered here for Farrer devotees, and for a new generation of readers to savor.
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