Richard Chartres

Hur har idén om frihet utvecklats och förändrats under århundradena? Vad betyder frihet idag och vad behöver vi göra för att behålla de friheter som generationer män och kvinnor har kämpat, och till och med dött, för? Frihet är en grundförutsättning för att ett samhälle ska frodas och utvecklas. Dess historia är brokig: mänsklighetens eviga kamp mot ödet, våra förfäder som outtröttligt stred för att upprätta tanke- och religionsfrihet, demokratiska friheter i samhället i stort och kampen mot auktoritära regimer och tyranner världen över. I denna essäsamling utforskar ledande akademiker, författare och historiker vad frihet har betytt genom tiderna. De reflekterar över detta ständigt pågående drama och varför vi så villigt offrar oss för friheten när den hotas.

Patrick Whitworth tells the story of the growth of the early Christian community. Eschewing speculation, he provides a clear narrative interspersed with pithy accounts of the most significant Christian teachers in the period which culminated in the advent of the first Christian Emperor, Constantine.It is a story that is particularly relevant at a time when Christendom is a fading memory and the Christian community is struggling to discover where the Spirit is leading in a global culture.-- Richard Chartres, Former Bishop of LondonA rapid, detailed and accurate narrative, full of picturesque scenes drawn directly from contemporary witnesses to the rise of Christianity in the Roman world. Whitworth writes with admiring passion, but does not disguise the human peculiarities and frailties of the protagonists. At all times we are aware of the importance of locality, and the shifts in Christian thought and practice are seen to result from changing relations to the ambient culture, a leading cause of which was the success of the church itself.-- Mark Edwards, Professor of Early Christian Studies, University of Oxford

Patrick Whitworth tells the story of the growth of the early Christian community. Eschewing speculation, he provides a clear narrative interspersed with pithy accounts of the most significant Christian teachers in the period which culminated in the advent of the first Christian Emperor, Constantine.It is a story that is particularly relevant at a time when Christendom is a fading memory and the Christian community is struggling to discover where the Spirit is leading in a global culture.-- Richard Chartres, Former Bishop of London A rapid, detailed and accurate narrative, full of picturesque scenes drawn directly from contemporary witnesses to the rise of Christianity in the Roman world. Whitworth writes with admiring passion, but does not disguise the human peculiarities and frailties of the protagonists. At all times we are aware of the importance of locality, and the shifts in Christian thought and practice are seen to result from changing relations to the ambient culture, a leading cause of which was the success of the church itself.-- Mark Edwards, Professor of Early Christian Studies, University of Oxford

The Bishop of one of the richest dioceses in the world, Chartres is passionately concerned with preaching the Christian Gospel. For Chartres wisdom is a way of being in the world,respectful of other human beings, taking life, not for granted, but with thanksgiving to its Author. Having set out his basic theme in the first chapter, Bishop Chartres invites the reader to join him through the Church's year. At every turn he addresses the human condition of modern men and women and opens our eyes to endless possibilities in living the Gospel.