The Archbishop of Canterbury rarely lets anyone amend his speeches. Unlike his predecessor, George Carey, Rowan Williams is confident enough of his intellectual gifts to consider that he does not need the wisdom of others in guiding the public expression of his thoughts.<\/p>\n
This illustrates the divergent backgrounds of the two men \u201d\u201d one is working-class, self-taught, rooted in the simplicity of an evangelical faith, the other is Oxbridge to the depths of his complicated soul, espousing a Christianity at once liberal, catholic and ascetic. Lord Carey reads the News of the World, and likes to write for the paper. Dr Williams prefers Dostoevsky, and is writing a book about him.<\/p>\n
Dr Williams was advised before his speech on Thursday evening that the content could prove controversial. He heeded the warnings but went ahead anyway. He was \u201ctaken aback\u201d\u009d by just how controversial it then proved but remains \u201cchirpy\u201d\u009d and unrepentant about his comments because he believes that they needed to be made.<\/p>\n
Although he is a holy and spiritual man, danger lies in the appearance of the kind of intellectual arrogance common to many of Britain\u2019s liberal elite. It is an arrogance that affords no credibility or respect to the popular voice. And although this arrogance, with the assumed superiority of the Oxbridge rationalist, is not shared by his staff at Lambeth Palace, it is by some of those outside Lambeth from whom he regularly seeks counsel.<\/p>\n