a practical view of christianity william wilberforce

The practice of that day (which I suggest is equally applicable to any era, including the early twenty-first century) is presented in different formscultural Christianity, contemporary Christianitywhich is sharply at odds with his view of authentic faith. Throughout the book Wilberforce presents the reader with a tension between the Christianity that was practiced by those who claimed to adhere to the faith, and what he calls authentic faith.

In Real Christianity Wilberforce sets out his views on what real (or authentic Christianity) really means. That is the decision that I made when reading this work. However, unless one is fluent in eighteenth century English one has no choice but to trust the words that he or she is reading reflects as much of the original authors intent as is possible. Any update or revision will, by necessity, be presented through the eyes of the individual doing the updating, and thereby be subjected to his or her biases and experiences. This book is a revised and updated version of Wilberforces original work. It is Wilberforces tireless battle to end an institution–a battle that sprang out of his Christian beliefs, and a battle that would eventually pit him against members of his own social class–that, in my option, makes his story so fascinating, and which has led me to read his book, Real Christianity, one of the best books that Ive ever read.

The battle to abolish the slave trade was not neither easy quick, requiring a full twenty years before success was finally achieved. One of the areas in which his Christian beliefs was put to work, if not the preeminent cause for which he would fight, was in the abolition of the British slave trade, and subsequently, the abolition of slavery throughout the British empire itself. With the friendship and guidance of John Newton, the former slave ship captain who converted to Christianity and wrote the hymn Amazing Grace, Wilberforce came to see how his Christianity could not only coexist with his political life, but could influence it. He converted to evangelical Christianity in 1784 to 1785 but was beset with doubts about his political future not knowing how a Christian could serve God in politics.

He entered the British House of Commons in 1780, and three years he was elected a Member of Parliament and later went on to a career in politics that lasted almost forty five years. William Wilberforce was born in August of 1759 into a prosperous British merchant family. A Paraphrase in Modern English of a Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christianity in the Higher and Middle Classes in This Century, Contrasted with Real Christianity

A practical view of christianity william wilberforce