"Anglicanism preserves in its worship and sacraments the sense of mystery that rationalistic Christianity of either the liberal or evangelical sort seems to deny." ~pg. 15
I got Robert E. Webber's Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail (Why Evangelicals are Attracted to the Liturgical Church) in the mail today. I've only scratched into the Introduction, but am already smitten.
He begins the book by talking about a speech he was to give at Wheaton College (the school of choice for many of my husband's first cousins/children) where he was on the faculty. Keep in mind he was raised Evangelical, yet was leaning toward Anglicanism when he tells this particular story. He was introduced to the crowd by the president of the college to give a speech on the glories of the Reformation. And apparently the president was unaware of Webber's creep into more liturgical worship. I found this point of view interesting, especially with my own Anglican journey. As a former reformed Presbyterian, we were taught with enthusiasm the wonders of the Reformation, with heavy emphasis on the abolishment of anything leaning toward Catholicism. Since joining the reformed Episcopal church (not to be confused with the mainstream Episcopal church today which is filled with liberalism), which our priest says is the Catholic church in the English-speaking world, I can see that the Reformation had its worrying aspects as well. While it brought good, it also brought about destruction that was very unnecessary. I guess from what I've learned in the past 2 years of my slide into Anglicanism is that the Reformation so sanitized the church that while the distinction between Protestants and Catholics is there, maybe it's not necessary that the gulf be so enormous. To make changes doesn't give permission for total annihilation, or at least not in this situation.
That's about as far as I've gotten. Keep in mind that the church I attend now is very high church, with many Catholic sorts of embellishments in the service. But some Anglicans are more modern in their worship services, and there are huge variations in what's practiced and what's acceptable. For any curious about the more Catholic-minded Anglicans (this doesn't include the belief in transubstantiation, extreme veneration of Mary and the saints, or the following of the Pope), you can research the Oxford Movement and find lots of information. At present, with my still-sick body, too much intellectual thought makes my head spin. Mustn't make it spin on the tail-end of my dizziness last night. There's a migraine lurking out there with my name on it and I'm not going to let it find me!
Now off to read a bit and embroider. Quiet past-times for my weary head. Take care. :)
