The Church of England depends, for its existence, almost entirely on the solidarity and conservatism of the English ruling class. The thing that holds them together is the powerful attraction of their own social tradition, and the stubborn tenacity with which they cling to certain social standards and customs, more or less for their own sake. There is certainly not much doctrinal unity, much less a mystical bond between people many of whom have even ceased to believe in grace or Sacraments.

That is the principal basis for its rather strong coherence up to now. It is a class religion, the cult of a special society and group, not even of a whole nation, but of the ruling minority in a nation. And, as a matter of fact, the Church of England means all this. Prayer is attractive enough when it is consider in a context of good food, and sunny joyous country churches, and the green English countryside. Here are the passages I particularly enjoyed: Plus, he only throws religion in your face for like 20 pages, which is pretty remarkable considering it is a 460-page 'autobiography of faith'. And he's clearly highly intelligent, which makes it hard to write him off as he swerves from 'secular, aspiring writer' to 'nascent, devout Catholic' to 'intensely committed Catholic monk'. Merton is a clear, simple writer, which is always a pleasure.

I really liked it, way more than I was expecting to. I recently read Thomas Merton's autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain. Passages I particularly enjoyed in 'The Seven Storey Mountain'

The 7 storey mountain