A holy fool?

Sempronius

Matthew d'Ancona elsewhere on this website pointed out this morning how this whole business had taken on the appearance of a classic political crisis. This afternoon's Synod session merely confirmed that in spades: the Archbishop's unapologetic apology - even the classic Brownian phrase "I take full responsibility" - the standing ovation to bolster the stumbling leader - the whole thing was a bit tawdry really. I guess the ABC and his top advisers think they've probably come out of this quite well in the end - but it won't be forgotten. The damage to the Archbishop and the Church is real. Ironically, however, politically the results will probably be quite good - not too many issues unite Johann Hari and Melanie Phillips so maybe the arrival of Shari'a law has at least been delayed by a few years.

Joe Strummer

Rowan Williams is not just a holy fool, but a very dangerous one at that.

Lee Jakeman

It's tempting to treat this as a separate issue, but really it is just an extension of the same old contempt for the ordinary man and woman exhibited by our arrogant, out of touch elite. We are heading towards revolution of one kind or another. If I were to put money on it, I would say that an English nationalist revolution was on the cards. The only thing I'm uncertain about is whether it will be peaceful or violent in character. The longer this contempt goes on, the greater the likelihood of it being violent.

David Lodge

Exactly so, Miss Phillips, and I'm watching you give a brilliant account of yourself and this farrago on Glenn Beck on this very subject as I type this! Would that we had some similar commentators on the telly here who can tell another side of a story.

Louise

If only Dr Williams would climb down from his Ivory Tower, put away his sacred texts for a week, and use that time to study the warnings that people like David Pryce-Jones, Daniel Pipes and - needless to say, Melanie Phillips - have issued over the years regarding the creeping islamification of Europe he might recognise himself for the "useful idiot" that he is and find his road to Damascus. In the meantime, Heaven help the rest of us, including the persecuted Christians overseas. It's clear that, barring a miracle, he won't.

Beaman

I completely agree with your sentiments. However after the standing ovation he received at the Synod, I'm wondering how anyone will be able to make him tender his resignation. His intellectual arrogance knows no bounds.

Harry Templeton

Lee Jakeman - Yes, we are headed for a revolution and it is more than likiely it will be a bloody one resulting in or or two situations 1. We will be overrun by Islamists, or, 2. Mass deportation of Muslim undesireables. Both will be characterised by naked force and violence.

Eric Green

Louise: You've overlooked the progenitor of research on Eurabia, the incomparable Bat Ye'or (PBUH). Her work on the genesis of the Euro Arab Dialogue (championed by frawnce, natuarally), is a slow but necessary read in understanding Europe today.

Louise

Thanks for that reference, Eric. That is certainly a book that I haven't come across before you mentioned it.

Frank Pulley

I think that the mediator to this blog should have black-pencilled from the post of Sempronious the phrase 'unite Joan Hari and Melanie Phillips' the suggestion is both pornographic in concept and, I suspect, physically impossible in reality.

TheDiggler

People aren't just frustrated and annoyed with the Anglican Church over in Britain, but here in Canada as well. There is no difference between attacking Common Law in Britain and attacking it here in Canada. Anglicans in the southern Sudan are being slaughtered and enslaved, but instituting sharia in Britain is more a priority for "Dr." Williams.

YA

Harry Templeton - you do over-dramatize. It is possible to isolate, besiege, weaken and neutralize Sharia, - co-exist while imposing some type of attrition. Look at Israel, it has 20% hostile minority population. Worst thing that might happen is some type of balkanization. Most likey, it will just die out as a result of diminished significance of oil, and demise of Islamic terrorism and its sponsors.
But clearly one can't tolerate pro-jihadi traitors - stop BBC lies, stop anti-American, anti-Israeli stench in the media, Guantanamo nonsense, all these endless "debates" about how to surrender to terror in a most stylish way. And continue opertaions in "nature reserves" in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa, everywhere. There shouldn't be anything more essential than AK-47s and RPGs in their hands. People with cave age mentality armed with long-range rockets, this is nonsense. And oh yes - stop spreading "democracy", which is so happily used by the enemy, and start spreading common sense. To fire Christian Bishop who advocates Islamic law, would be good start.

LydiaPynke

He's neither holy nor a fool. He's properly guaged just how much he can say in the political arena to show his detractors, both left & right wing, just how objective and "inclusive" the CofE can be. God forbid the whole bloody shebang gets swept away in an "income tax the Royals" convulsion. Like all successful power brokers, having reached the top of the greasy pole, his principal challenge is how to keep things the way they are - hence his forward-looking predictions that are not really worth discussing among the intellectual salons of today's movers & shakers. What's all the fuss about? Why professional intellectuals routinely ignore why Joe Bloggs might get a little angsty about "separate sovreigns" indeed highlights their lack of suitability for high public office. (which Williams indubitably holds) I don't agree there will be rivers of blood as I work with far too many muslims quite happy with life in the West as it is, who, when prodded hard, will not let their lives dissolve into anarchy. Perhaps the Queen ought to have her primate in for a chat and have him quietly strangled behind the wood shed. That last bit was a wishful metaphor for you uber-realists.

suede

I've read that a westernised country already has a parallel sharia law system in place for its Muslim minority inhabitants to use if they so desire? Is this true?

Joab

Well said Mealnie. The Archbishop's posture is similar to that adopted by many lef wing intellectuals in liberal democracies when faced with the lies and depredations of communist totalitarianism. There is in addition the delight common among intellectuals in making assertions that are quite contrary to common sense. They are seen as being a sign of intellectual virility, of superiority over the common herd. We are now under attack by a totalitarian movement that is right here among us. The Archbishop seems to seek common cause with other faiths against militant secularism. He needs to be more choosy about his coreligionists. In fact Anglicanism has far more in common with militant secularism than with Islam. The human rights legislation is down stream of Christianity. Militant secularism may be seen as an extreme form of Protestantism. Behind some of the superficial similarities between Christianity and Islam they are in fact as different as day and night. As an Anglican he certainly does not represent my views.

JB

It occured to me this morning, that perhaps the Archbishop's true motives parallel those of hypocritical white American "liberals" who espouse affirmative action as a means of keeping black Americans out of their neighborhoods. Such people would never dream of sending their own kids to an integrated or mostly black school. Perhaps the Archbishop hopes to keep Muslims in their own neighborhoods by allowing them self governance with Sharia law. He can then congratuate himself on his level of tolerance even as he establishes a safety zone for himself. Ghetto walls keep people in and other people out.

Hereford

Joab, I have said in a previous post, that I believe that there is more commonality between the major monotheistic religions than there is between any or all of them and an atheistic or secular society. I believe also that one commonality they have is the desire to return the world to fear of god. It is possible that the motivation here is to seek to align with another, more potent, forceful and energetic religion to attack, undermine and ultimately defeat secularisim and return the world to the control of the religious leaders. The enemy of my enemy is my friend so to speak. If I wanted to achieve a return to theocratic power, and need to align with a potent force to achieve this end I know who I would you choose as a partner in that effort? History is riddled with people, organisations and nations who have formed temporary alliances with others, who they would normally view with horror, in the hope that once the joint aim was achieved, they would be able to influence their partners into modifying their behaviour. My word the CofE is in for a surprise should they so align themselves with islam.

field

Well this debate has taken a bad turn. At least Hereford has broken cover and admitted that he wants a theocratic society where people can be burned or stoned for their beliefs or lifestyles. Good on you Hereford! No Taqiyya there... Others such as YA and Joab have essentially spoken against democracy. I think if people really want to get to grips with the issues here they need to ask themselves and answer honestly: 1. What is it in the Archbishop's words (as opposed to words put into his mouth) that you object to as a matter of principle? 2. Do you understand that UK legislation passed in 2002 to allowe official statutory recognition for Jewish religious courts, ALSO allows for official recognition of Shariah courts and the courts of other religions. 3. If you believe the official recognition granted to Jewish religious courts in matters of divorce is justified but don't wish to see it extended to all other religions, please explain why. It seems to me that a lot of people have been indulging in the time-honoured tradition of having their cake and eating it.

Hereford

Did I say that? I don't think so. I would much prefer a secular society. I see no place for religion of any sort in society other than at a personal level and at the leve where all are allowed to practice their religion, as long as doing so does not harm anyone else's liberty, life or wellbeing. Perhaps you don't recognise irony when you see it?

field

My apologies Hereford - curse of the time-challenged blogger.

yonason

CORRECTION...? Shouldn't that title read "Wholly A Fool?"

Paul

It has been said that the ABC is a marxist stooge and as such his mission will be to break down (amongst other things) the peoples relationship with the Church. Think about it, the church is in terminal decline (part of Marxist doctrine)and he (the ABC) is heaping it's own funeral pyre. All straight out of the Frankfurt School. And as for contributor field. One country, one law. You don't like leave and live in one where the law is closer to your taste!