Another response to Harding’s essay by Alan-in-London. Actually, just go to his site and read responses.
Might I refer to myself as a “pragmatist?” Then, as A-in-L states below, are we Anglicans going to throw away this more pragmatic way of approaching the faith, if in fact we do approach the faith in this way?
Alan-in-London Says:
July 27th, 2006 at 7:03 am
A very interesting essay. In the end, however, I would actually question whether the ordinary person is in thrall to scientific ‘objectivism’ and methodological ’scepticism. Rather, ‘pragmatism’ rules the day, what works for them and helps them get along with life and other people. Whilst this might be galling to those who think they know the ‘truth’, it avoids the horrors of totalitarianism, political and religious. It is interesting that Polanyi recognised this ‘pragmatism’ (dislike for grand moral or political theories) in the English during the second world war, which helped save western civilisation and democracy for the world. How interesting too that it is Anglicanism – a form of English Christianity – that too could be viewed as theologically ‘pragmatic’. Are we to throw this away for some totalitarian vision of the ‘truth’?