‘Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light’: Re-thinking Advent Themes of Darkness with Gregory of Nyssa

Abstract This essay addresses challenges that emerged during Advent through recent experience of lecturing at Berkeley Divinity School, the Episcopal Seminary Yale. For many my students, 2020 presented particular since they found recurring utilization ‘darkness’ as a metaphor for sin and death did not sit easily with their commitment to anti-racist thought practice. does attempt provide definitive model how Anglicans might engage fully themes, but serves paper ‘think with’ in which author (a) engages Michael Battle’s work on Anglican spirituality (b) describes her own expertise Gregory Nyssa was brought bear present needs. The focus darkness light, I propose, need be circumvented provides who are attentive problems racism an opportunity examine further approach ‘darkness’.