Anglicanism's very pessimism about the nature of man and his prospects for earthly success is a big part of why I will always remain Anglican.
The Anglican faith, as expressed in the Book of Common Prayer, predicts that things will be horrible.
Sometimes, as in the Litany, we are praying that God will preserve us through the horrible problems.
But more frequently, we are confessing that we are the horrible problem.
At Morning Prayer, we pray: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
But then, at every Morning Prayer and Holy Communion, we confess that it has not worked.
MP: ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us.
HC: ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.
So, you see that Failure is enshrined in the Book of Common Prayer. The expectation of sin and failure are, in a sense, at the very heart of Anglicanism.
Will trouble in the Anglican world cause me to leave Anglicanism? No way!
Situation Normal: All Anglicanned Up!
The Anglican faith, as expressed in the Book of Common Prayer, predicts that things will be horrible.
Sometimes, as in the Litany, we are praying that God will preserve us through the horrible problems.
But more frequently, we are confessing that we are the horrible problem.
At Morning Prayer, we pray: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
But then, at every Morning Prayer and Holy Communion, we confess that it has not worked.
MP: ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us.
HC: ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.
So, you see that Failure is enshrined in the Book of Common Prayer. The expectation of sin and failure are, in a sense, at the very heart of Anglicanism.
Will trouble in the Anglican world cause me to leave Anglicanism? No way!
Situation Normal: All Anglicanned Up!
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