Synopses & Reviews
The acclaimed writer, respected thinker and outspoken former bishop Richard Holloway recounts a life defined by the biggest questions: Who am I? And what is God?At fourteen, Richard Holloway left his home in the Vale of Leven, north of Glasgow, and travelled hundreds of miles to be educated and trained for the priesthood by a religious order in an English monastery. By twenty-five he had been ordained and was working in the slums of Glasgow. Throughout the following forty years, Richard touched the lives of many people in the Church and in the wider community. But behind his confident public face lay a restless, unquiet heart and a constantly searching mind.Why is the Church, which claims to be the instrument of God's love, so prone to cruelty and condemnation? And how can a man live with the tension between public faith and private doubt?In his long-awaited memoir, Richard seeks to answer these questions and to explain how, after many crises of faith, he finally and painfully left the Church. It is a wise, poetic and fiercely honest book.
Review
"Full of meaningful wisdom not only about theology but the very nature of doubt and belief, this memoir should appeal to any reader interested in the changing state of contemporary Christianity." —Booklist
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"Like [Philip] Pullman, I can recommend this inspiring autobiography to 'believers, non-believers and ex-believers alike.'" —PWxyz
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"At a time when the world has urgently needed wise and compassionate leadership, this poignant memoir, written with the integrity, intelligence and wit that we expect from Richard Holloway, lays bare the ludicrous and entirely unnecessary mess we have made of religion." —Karen Armstrong
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"Vivid and fascinating . . . A delight and inspiration to believers, non-believers, and ex-believers alike." —Philip Pullman
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"A highly readable insight into one of the most humane and engaged minds of our times. It is, quite simply, a wonderful book." —Alexander McCall Smith
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“Holloway, former bishop of Edinburgh, presents a nuanced view of religion and discusses his struggles as he veered between doubt and belief.” —Booklist
Synopsis
A powerful memoir about faith and doubt, with a strong meditative and philosophical heartAt the tender age of 14, Richard Holloway left his home town of Alexandria, north of Glasgow, and traveled hundreds of miles to be educated and trained for the priesthood at an English monastery. By the age of 25 he had been ordained and was working in the slums of Glasgow. Through the 40 years that followed, Richard touched the lives of many people as he rose to one of the highest positions in the Anglican Church. But behind his confident public faith lay a restless heart and an inquisitive mind. How can anyone claim a complete understanding of the mystery of existence? Why is the church, which claims to be the instrument of God's love, so prone to cruelty and condemnation? How can a man live with the tension between public faith and private doubt? Poignant, wise, and fiercely honest, this is a remarkable memoir of a life defined by faith but plagued by doubt.
About the Author
Richard Holloway is the former Bishop of Edinburgh and the author of Between the Monster and the Saint, Doubts and Loves: What is Left of Christianity, Godless Morality: Keeping Religion Out of Ethics, and On Forgiveness: How Can We Forgive the Unforgivable? He is well known for his support of progressive causes, including campaigning on human rights for lesbians and gays in both church and state.