Max Warren on Honest to God

I'm trying to collect snippets from Max Warren; here is the first.

Max Warren on Honest to God:

Do you know somebody who thinks quite hard, finds life extremely difficult to understand, but who can make no sense whatever of the Christian religion?--the nice man next door who catches the same bus as you do each morning, the fellow at the office you sometimes have lunch with, that chap at the works, a pal you meet at the pub--and, of course, the feminine equivalent of all these?

With the best will in the world these folk just do not understand what the Christian means when he talks about God. Jesus is something of a mystery man, very wonderful, but he lived a long time ago. The Holy Spirit--that just does not register. The Bible--Sunday School stuff. Religion --all right for those that like it, but it doesn't seem to fit into Telstar, automation or even Emergency Ward 10, though perhaps...

We all know people like this. And most of us feel a bit hopeless about doing anything about them from a Christian point of view, except being good neighbours, though that is an indispensable first step.

But the Bishop of Woolwich's new book will perhaps help some of us to meet some of these people. First, let it be said, this is an honest book. Dr Robinson, as we have learnt to expect, looks fearlessly at the real problems which the thoughtful man has about all religion, and about the Christian religion in particular. He also looks quite fearlessly at our Christian vocabulary, and he asks whether that vocabulary is good enough. It may be all right as a sort of religious shorthand for use among those who accept the Christian Faith. But can it be used to commend Jesus Christ to those who don't know our shorthand? That is an honest question. It calls for an honest answer by the reader. Dr Robinson burkes none of the difficulties.

Then, let it be said, this is a gentle book. That may seem a curious adjective to use about one of the hardest hitting books the reader is likely to have met.

Yet Dr Robinson remains all the time very gentle, very sensitive not only to those whom he is trying to reach but also to those Christians who will find his approach very disconcerting and puzzling, and who will not be able to follow him. For all that it is very powerful writing this is not a dogmatic book. All through it the reader will recognize that Dr Robinson is asking himself questions. He is an explorer.

Finally, let this be added, the book is fairly tough going. If you take it to bed with you it will either send you off to sleep in five minutes or keep you awake all night! It is that kind of book. But honest to goodness, it is worth reading.