Light in the Darkness: Exploring the Path of Christian Hope

by Peter Sills

Publisher:

Sacristy Press

, 2020

Overview

Light in the Darkness explores the nature of Christian hope for the modern world. In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus invites his disciples to pray for the Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. What does it mean for society and individuals? Peter Sills shows that Christian hope is not merely a hope for the life to come, but also for the life here and now. In the Advent Antiphons, the ancient praises of Jesus that mark the seven days before Christmas Eve, seven basic hopes are expressed: for truth, justice, freedom, a new beginning, enlightenment, peace, and love. Peter Sills reflects on how, with each of the seven hopes, Christian faith offers a deeper and more insightful understanding than secular approaches. The fulfilment of hope requires a change of heart, a new spirit, and this is explored through some challenging issues, particularly about the way economic ideas, our individualistic culture, and the legacy of the Enlightenment shape hope in the modern world. The book offers a considered Christian response that unites the personal and the political.

Key Features

• Explores the nature of Christian hope for the modern world.
• Shows that Christian hope is not merely a hope for the life to come, but also for the life here and now.
• Offers a considered Christian response that unites the personal and the political.

Praise for the Print Edition

An excellent study; insightful, scholarly, sensible and written in a style that is a joy to read. Erudite and full of wisdom, the connections it makes between scripture and today’s world offer much for careful reflection.

--The Rt Revd Dr Laurie Green, former Bishop of Bradwell

A real achievement. Written with a relaxed ease, it is a delight to read. I warmed to the way that the themes are teased out with an impressive range of theological, economic, biblical and literary reference. This is a book for Christians to get their teeth into with out feeling hampered by a lack of theological or biblical education.

--Dr Bridget Nichols, Church of Ireland Theological Institute

This thoughtful and challenging book is a treasure trove. Hope is central to the Christian faith and these meditations on it contain much to nourish that hope. It deserves to be widely read.

--The Rt Revd Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester

Product Details

• Title: Light in the Darkness: Exploring the Path of Christian Hope
• Author: Peter Sills
• Publisher: Sacristy Press
• Print Publication Date: 2020
• Pages: 232
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9781789591002, 1789591007, 9781789591019, 1789591015, 1789591023, 9781789591026
• Resource ID: LLS:LGHTDRKNSSCHRHP
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-06-17T02:02:59Z

About Peter Sills

Peter Sills was born in north London, and after an initial career teaching law at Kingston University, during which he was called to the Bar, he was ordained in 1981. He served in three parishes in south London before being appointed a Canon of Ely Cathedral, where he was Vice-Dean from 2003-2008. Peter’s interest in the public aspects of faith and in Benedictine spirituality led to the foundation of the Ely Business Ethics Forum, which has since morphed into the Ely Cathedral Business Group. He gained his PhD in 2000 for a study of the ethics of the privatization of natural monopoly industries in the UK, and his publications include The Time Has Come, a Lenten journey through St Mark’s gospel, Your Kingdom Come, reflections on faith, justice and hope, and the Scala Souvenir Guide to Ely Cathedral. Now retired, Peter continues his Benedictine work from his home in Sussex.