Thanks lads
Well [tag]Jason Pratt[/tag] – it’s nice of you to suggest Robin as the Intro writer. I don’t know whether any of my rude and slightly unfair comments about him in early summer ever reached him – probably not. Well I hope not. Och I’ve always been good at offending anyone in positions of influence – all of my life; so knowing my luck. I’m not holding my breath … But the comments were unfair and just a bit of old fashioned hectoring. I’m an old school Universalist – it’s not a problem with the people I mix with - and I don’t have to be diplomatic at all. Robin as an evangelical universalist reminds me quite a lot of Erasmus in his being All things to All men (and actually I have very much enjoyed Robin’s books and his blogs too ).
OK this is in its early stages of writing – I’ve got to do some schmoozing with academics between now and Christmas and check and double check my sources and take a close look at some of Origen’s commentaries, Erasmus’s Paraphrases and his Annotations. After I’ve done this – if all goes well – I reckon the book should take me say six months to write (because the research will be complete).
I want the book to include something of substance about the early fourteen century flowering of universalism and ‘wide hoperism’ in England and how this was passed on.
Plenty of stuff about Erasmus and Elizabeth and the Elizabethan Settlement etc as outlined above (that will be the main portion of the book)
And then to finish off something of substance about the alter history of universalism in England and America – not in the same detail as the main body but something of substance.
I want this manuscript – even if it just remains a manuscript - to be accessible and useful, and I rather like the idea of being guided by Yentil questions from a Kate person who is very curious about Anglicanism and the history of universalism. I don’t know what anyone else would think of that but I feel very comfortable with it, and it lightens the subject up too.
And then perhaps at the end I could have some reflections on how the story chimes with universalists today (and any background about how the book grew out discussion at EU)
Drew on an English view?
Jason – on an American view?
Alex on an Australian view?
And as well as scholarly apparatus – well I think I must have about 100 books for the bibliography at least – it might be an idea to have some appendices –
14 instances of Universalists citing the abrogation of the 42nd article as their charter from George Rust onwards (not all Anglican btw)
A time line?
Key terms?
Key people?
It could work nicely – and I really don’t; want to write a stodgy academic book that is going to be of no interest and no use to anyone. I’m not in the academic career path anyway.
Ooh yes and another person I’d have to thank would be [tag]Dr Mike[/tag] – because I’ve had to know about the whole scope of universalist history to get the confidence to finally think of writing this book. Much as I didn’t feel like revisiting the Bohemenists and the Florentine Neo-Platonists in the dark months of this year – Dr Mike focussed my attention. And although these schools are only tangential to my story – it’s great to have really got to know about them. I hope Dr Mike wishes me well with my project – whatever happens to it – as I wish him well with his. I grew very fond of him
Oh and [tag]pog[/tag] too – working with him on that list was vital to enable me to see the big picture.
So wish me well. Have a think. And my first step now is to have a chat with Prof Bob my old boss in the first part of September.
Any advice on a snappy title gratefully received– The Abrogation of the 42nd Article sounds a bit flatulent to me