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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book has been out of print for some time like so many of William's writings. Several years ago I ordered a used copy for an extravagant amount of money, so it is nice to see it for a decent price. This book is a summary of church history as seen from William's characteristic vision of the distinction and the interrelationship between The Way of Negation and the Way of Affirmation. Many of the figures and movements that Williams covers are traditional but they are illuminated in exciting new ways by his thought. The chapter on the Reformation alone is worth the price of the whole book. Others are non-traditional, for example, his very brief positive and cryptic mention of a group called the subinductae in the early church. If you have a taste for Williams at all (which many do not) you won't be disappointed.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
How does one tell the nearly 2000 year history of the relationship between the Body of Christ and the Holy Spirit? Charles Williams was well-read, thoughtful, and ambitious enough to try, and this book is the result. And beyond the history of the incorruptible Spirit of Eternal God informing and otherwise dealing with His ever mutating and apparently ever corruptible Church is the Mystery of their mutual "co-inherence." Williams is superb in continually reminding the reader of just how profound and multi-faceted this on-going puzzlement is.
The more familiar one is with both Williams' writing and neo-Platonic outlook on the one hand and Church (and European) history on the other, the more rewarding will be this book. However, if one is new to both, he should not plan to begin with this work. Parts of it will be nearly incomprehensible. If like me, you're already a fan of Williams and know a fair amount of Church history, you may still occasionally be put off by wading through yet another patch of "clotted glory" and then suddenly enthralled by his insight, perspective, and original way with language. If you plan to read Descent of the Dove, plan to take your time. You will probably need to and you will certainly want to.
The more familiar one is with both Williams' writing and neo-Platonic outlook on the one hand and Church (and European) history on the other, the more rewarding will be this book. However, if one is new to both, he should not plan to begin with this work. Parts of it will be nearly incomprehensible. If like me, you're already a fan of Williams and know a fair amount of Church history, you may still occasionally be put off by wading through yet another patch of "clotted glory" and then suddenly enthralled by his insight, perspective, and original way with language. If you plan to read Descent of the Dove, plan to take your time. You will probably need to and you will certainly want to.
43 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book truly expresses the depth and universality of Christ's offer of redemption. Although some have called him difficult, Williams writes with wonderful erudition and style. This is my favorite book by Williams. If you like the writing of C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald, I recommend this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
spiritual history
Descent of the Dove is a spiritual history of the church - it covers an immense amount of historical ground in a short space, but does so with an overarching sense of the spiritual... Read more
Published on February 15, 2010 by Edith Bird
Insightful Refresher on Church History
This book encapsulates Williams' view of the trajectory of church history. For Williams, church history has developed around a series of conflicts between opposing theological... Read more
Published on October 21, 2009 by S. Schuler
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