The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and Head Primate of all England took the stage at a packed and attentive Gaston Hall to promote interreligious dialogue Monday.
The modestly dressed man, a noted scholar and professor of theology at Oxford University, did not look like the religious leader of over 73 million Anglicans worldwide. With thinning wayward grey hair, a full beard, and glasses, he was dressed in a simple black suit with a collar.
But when he began his lecture, it became apparent that this was a powerful, well-thought and learned man. His eyebrows rose and his eyes lit up as he began with an anecdote of a second-century Christian bishop, Polycarp, who was described as an atheist by the Romans.
Williams described atheism not as a specific belief system, but rather a response against belief systems. By analyzing faiths, people of different backgrounds can better come to understand one another. “We can learn better how to understand other religious believers if we learn better how to understand unbelievers,” he said.
He does not support searching for a core set of beliefs between religions, instead, the differences must be highlighted. “The exercise I have been describing is not about finding a common core at all; it is about finding the appropriate language in which difference can be talked about rather than used as an excuse for violent separation,” he said.
The Archbishop also took time to answer questions. Specifically he discussed the important context of this conference in today’s society. “There is a message to be sent about how last year’s war was not about a clash of religions,” he said, referring to America’s invasion of Iraq.
He also addressed current relations between the Catholic and Anglican churches. “The official dialogue between [them] is in good shape.” Despite the differences between the two churches, he called for members to share in religion together. “It would be a very grim prospect if you had to put the spiritual sharing on hold until we had the paperwork signed,” he said.
He only briefly referenced the controversy over the appointment of a gay bishop in New Hampshire this past year, “The Anglican Church is committed to its localism,” he said, to audience chuckles.
Most seemed to enjoy the speech. “The best part was that other faiths can serve to critique yours as well as understand theirs,” Allison Quinn, a local Episcopal priest, said.
Some, however, disagreed. Garrett Schmitt (CAS ‘06) did not agree with the archbishop’s description of atheism. “While I admit atheism is not a coherent system, I don’t like my beliefs being characterized as something clearly in protest to establishment,” Schmitt said.
The speech opened the third annual “Building Bridges” seminar, promoting interreligious dialogue between Muslim and Christian scholars. Past seminars have been held in London and Qatar.
Archbishop Williams was given the University’s president’s medal for his distinguished service to the Anglican community and for promoting interreligious dialogue.
Rowan Williams was appointed the 104th archbishop of Canterbury on December 2, 2002. He is a prolific writer and scholar who has written numerous volumes including two books of poetry. Enjoying the Anglican privelege of married clergy, Archbishop Williams is married to another noted theologian, Jane Paul, and has two children.
