Archbishop\'s letter to six-year-old girl

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Vaguesondes

Licensed Driver
I have often had reason to criticise the Archbishop of Canterbury (head honcho of the Church of England and of the Anglican/Episcopalian churches round the world), but this time I'd say he's done well. A small girl in Scotland, aged six, wrote a letter to God asking "who invented you?" Her father sent it to the Scottish Episcopal (Anglican) Church — no reply; to the Church of Scotland (the Presbyterians) — similarly, no reply; and to the the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland — this time a reply, but a theologically complex one beyond the understanding of a six-year-old. He also sent it to “the head of theology of the Anglican Communion", and this was the reply, from the top man himself:

Dear Lulu,

Your dad has sent on your letter and asked if I have any answers. It’s a difficult one! But I think God might reply a bit like this –

‘Dear Lulu – Nobody invented me – but lots of people discovered me and were quite surprised. They discovered me when they looked round at the world and thought it was really beautiful or really mysterious and wondered where it came from. They discovered me when they were very very quiet on their own and felt a sort of peace and love they hadn’t expected.

Then they invented ideas about me – some of them sensible and some of them not very sensible. From time to time I sent them some hints – specially in the life of Jesus – to help them get closer to what I’m really like.

But there was nothing and nobody around before me to invent me. Rather like somebody who writes a story in a book, I started making up the story of the world and eventually invented human beings like you who could ask me awkward questions!’

And then he’d send you lots of love and sign off.

I know he doesn’t usually write letters, so I have to do the best I can on his behalf. Lots of love from me too.

+Archbishop Rowan
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I think it's quite a brilliant reply! It's also telling, I think, that he took the time to write at all. Story here.
 
Very nice. I don't normally give him a pass, either, being the dufus that he is, but that was well done.
 
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