Constant Wonder Be Not Afraid - December 8
Dec 8, 2025
Freelance writer Ed Simon, famed for his work on religious imagination, dives deep into the world of angels. He explores how these celestial beings often declare 'be not afraid' and their vital roles in Christian doctrine. Simon beautifully discusses William Blake's unconventional angelic art and how angels persist in culture despite kitsch. He emphasizes their significance as accessible messengers that resonate across faiths, blending the terrifying and the comforting aspects of divinity in our lives.
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Blake’s Unsettling Angel Imagery
- William Blake painted angels as eerie, limber, and otherworldly rather than chubby cherubs.
- His nativity, The Descent of Peace, depicts an inverted, gymnast-like angel over the manger.
Blake’s Literal Visions Of The Divine
- Blake claimed literal visions and described angels roosting in London trees with shimmering light.
- Ed Simon accepts Blake's visionary claims as sincere and sees them as childlike encounters with the divine.
Angels’ Enduring Religious Presence
- Angels persist across religions and denominations despite shifts like the Protestant Reformation.
- Ed Simon sees angels as one of the most universal elements of Abrahamic faiths after God.
