No Responses to “being religious”

Comments

1. 

   David Keen

   On February 25, 2008 at 3:46 pm

   Though I’m surprised we didn’t see the headline ‘Sentamu gives Rowan Williams some stick.’
   I love the way their styles of communicating complement each other, and it’s sad that sometimes the Christians are the first to play them off against each other, rather than rejoicing in the variety.

2. 

   Phil Green

   On February 28, 2008 at 4:02 pm

   Well said Mr Keen! Take a bow!
   Are you a sub-editor for your local rag perchance?
   Their styles really complement each other well and enable them to play to each other’s strengths!
   I was so impressed by the way in which John Sentamu generally kept his counsel and did not say anything during the furore in the early days following Rowan Willams’ speech even though it may have put him in a very difficult position.
   I am sure his gracious gift offering would have done a lot to ease the tension and hopefully taught a lesson to some of his more vitriolic detractors.
   When I first heard the speech Rowan Williams made, I was not in full agreement,indeed I am still not but I did not expect what followed. The strength of the reaction took me by surprise, and some of the TV debates appalled me and initailly I thought it had done more harm to the gospel than good.
   In the week that followed his speech the folwing happened.
   I had a discussion with my brother (de-churched) and his partner (unchurched) about the ins and outs of the speech.
   I had a really good discussion in the cafe of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool with a couple visiting from Derbyshire about the speech, one of whom was very impressedc with Rowan Williams, while her friend was fulsome in her praise of John Sentamu!
   One afternoon, I received an e-mail from a friend and work colleague (a non-attending Roman Catholic) who made reference to the speech and the argument he had heard break out between two Bishops over the speech (one Church of England, the other Roman Catholic.) I responded to his e-mail as he had asked for my thoughts on the issue.
   That very same evening I happened to bump into him in the local Tescos and we had a really good, very humorous and engaging chat about what had happened (he has got one of the best and sharpest senses of humour of anyone I have ever met.)
   Three totally unexpected conversations, plus the Bishop of Hulme, a week later, when the dust ahd died down a bit, being invited to appear as a panellist on Newsnight.
   Is this what Paul might have been referring to when he said “make the most of every opportunity”?