The Protestant Face of Anglicanism

by Paul F.M. Zahl

Book Overview

This volume tells a story that is virtually unknown today: The Protestant background and history of Anglican Christianity. Through a fascinating exploration of the development of Anglicanism and its... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802837751
• ISBN13: 9780802837752
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Refreshing

While I don't expect my Anglo-Catholic friends and brothers to like this book, I did find much of the history included in the "Protestant Face of Anglicanism" to be refreshing. While not an exhaustive treatment of the subject, Fr. Zahl's book contains many quotations from the English Reformers that cleary demonstrate their protestant outlook on things such as Salvation, the nature of Holy Communion (including transubstantiation)and the other Sacraments. While many Anglicans today prefer to forget our protestant begginings, the fact of the matter cannot be denied, especially when looking at the 39 Articles which were heavily influenced by the theology of Martin Luther and others. While I don't think this book will "convince" those who disagree with Zahl's positions, I do find that it may be useful as a book that at least presents the "other side of the arguement" that one often hears between Anglo-Catholics and "low-Church" or "Protestant Evangelical Anglicans". Maybe the beauty of this treatment is that Anglican Christians on both sides of these issues still find ways to live in communion with each other, and that just may be one of the best elements of true Anglicanism that the book contains.

A book about the lost roots of Anglicanism

The Anglican Theologian J.I. Packer once said, "The problem with Anglicanism is that it is affectionately being lied away." Contrary too popular belief, prior to the Oxford movement all of Anglicanism saw itself as distinctly Protestant (even Newmann). Sadly, since the 19th century Protestantism has seemed to have been erased from the Anglican memory. There are many books from an Anglo-Catholic perspective. Paul is trying, and he says this in the book, to give the other side of the story. He does it brilliantly, succinctly, and in away that keeps you glued to the book. If you want to learn about the roots of Anglicanism, ITS REAL PROTESTANT ROOTS, this book is a must read.