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Book Reviews

By Various.

God For A Secular Society -The Public Relevance of Theology

Jürgen Moltmann

SCM; 292pp; £14.95; ISBN 0 334 02751 9

I was immensely stimulated by this book of lectures written over the last eight years and given in predominantly secular institutions. It provides a primer for anyone wanting to apply theology to politics, to liberation writing, to environmental issues, to post modernity, to dialogue with other faiths, to human rights, to Auschwitz and questions of theodicy, to the market, to Freedom, to Liberalism and to Fundamentalism. Moltmann is a theologian who applies his immense insights to every aspect of life. "There is no Christian identity without public relevance and no public relevance without theology's Christian identity... public affairs in the light of hope in Christ for the Kingdom of God. Public theology becomes political in the name of the poor and the marginalised in a given society."

He tells a cautionary tale of how when the wicked fairy allowed only two wishes for the modern world, the West chose individual liberty and prosperity, the East chose social justice and prosperity, and the philosophers and theologians chose individual liberty and social justice and consequently never arrived at prosperity.

I read this book while at a conference in Birmingham about the future of political theology in a world of global capitalism. It includes a fascinating chapter on Political Theology and the Theology of Liberation. Moltmann challenges the view that while Latin American Liberation Theology is a theology of the people, European Political Theology is simply academic. He shows that if it is true to its roots Political Theology is politically and socially turned towards the victims of the First World, and can therefore be a natural confederate of the Liberation theologians of the Third World. He shows how they were both born around the same time between 1964 and 1968. Liberation Theology born out of the North South conflicts that divided humanity particularly among the poverty stricken people of Latin America and Political Theology evolved from the East West conflicts in the northern hemisphere, a product of the Cold War. Political Theology is "the true dialectical theology: a theology of contradiction and hope". He is also clear that "it is impossible to build up a new, just, free society with an old, feudalistically authoritarian church".

In his chapter on 'Dialogue or Mission?' Moltmann focuses on the theme of 'an invitation to life'. He is critical that the modern inter-faith dialogue leaves out the criticisms of religion made by Feuerbach, Marx and Freud. Mission is about an invitation to God's future, the new creation of all things. Jesus didn't bring a new religion into the world, he brought new life. The issue is not about paths to salvation or anonymous Christians, the key question is about life in other religions and life in a non religious and secular world.

If you have read Moltmann's previous books you will need no invitation to read this one. If you have read nothing by him, do start here. He is a theologian tackling the issues of our world. These lectures have been well translated and they are clear and accessible.

Julian Reindorp

 

James: Disciple of Jesus The Sage

Richard Bauckham

Routledge, London & New York 1999; 246pp; £18.99; ISBN 0 415 10369 X

In the history of interpretation the letter of James has been marginalized and compared unfavourably with the writings of Paul. This book argues for an important role for James, not subordinated to Paul, but complementary.

Bauckham begins each chapter with a quotation from Soren Kirkegaard, who viewed the first chapter of the letter of James as his favourite portion of Scripture. Kirkegaard wrote: "Christian scholarship is the human race's prodigious invention to defend itself against the New Testament, to ensure that one can continue to be a Christian without letting the New Testament come too close". He followed that with a plea: "Above all read the New Testament without a commentary"!

Bauckham believes that the Letter of James has both an 'Epistolary Form' and is truly addressed to an 'Epistolary Situation'. Greek letters in ancient times had a stereotyped beginning and ending, but the very first sentence of James is addressed to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations", and the content of the entire letter is in the style of the Wisdom of Jesus Ben Sira. The reality is that James was the brother of Jesus, and Jesus maintained the tradition of his nation. The synoptic gospels are echoed constantly in James' letter, since James had become a disciple of his brother and a leader of the church in Jerusalem. James felt it his duty to ensure that the churches in the Diaspora should follow the example of Jesus.

The relationship between James and Paul has dominated the history and interpretation of James, with James 2.14-26 being often viewed as denying Paul's doctrine of justification by faith. However Bauckham makes it clear that in the issue of justification Paul and James were on common ground. Furthermore there is much in Paul's letters which agrees with James' teaching, not least Paul's recognition that the commandment to love one's neighbour summarises the law (Romans 13.8). Bauckham argues that the function of wisdom in James is parallel to that of the Spirit in Paul, a factor that Paul himself would admit.

Bauckham includes several interesting pages on "Reading James at the turn of the Millennium", followed by a lengthy addition concerning "Who are the Poor?". This is indeed a thoroughly worthwhile exposition of the letter of James.

G.R. Beasley-Murray

For our Salvation: Two Approaches to the Work of Christ

Geoffrey Wainwright

SPCK, London/Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1997; xi + 186; £14.99; ISBN 0 281 05123 2 and 0 8028 0846 8

This volume consists of two separate series of lectures on the theme of Christ's incarnation and atonement. Because they are independent of each other, the two halves of the book may be read in any order. References are given in footnotes, but there is no index or bibliography.

The second section of the book is concerned with the traditional threefold office of Christ as Prophet, Priest and King. Wainwright identifies five historic uses of this triad of titles: the christological, the baptismal, the soteriological, the ministerial and the ecclesiological. Each title is examined under all five headings. In our modern context, the author sees the prophetic office of Christ as addressing the human questions of knowledge and meaning; the priestly office, human alienation and estrangement; and the kingly office the human questions of power and authority. It is all presented in a logical and highly structured way and did not strike this reviewer as being as interesting or as original as the first section of the book which deals with the reception of the grace of God in Christ through each of the five human senses.

Wainwright considers that "since embodiment belongs to our very nature as human beings, it is natural that our Creator should address us by way of our physical senses". This is connected both with the revelation of the Gospel through Christ and with its reception by us. There follows a profound and prolonged meditation on the sacraments, among which the author includes the Word read and proclaimed and the visual arts, as well the more familiar applications of that term. Christ is to be encountered in worship in more ways than we are sometimes prepared to allow! That such thoughts should come from a Methodist who is inclined to quote Wesley's hymns almost as much as he quotes Scripture, is remarkable. But it is nevertheless a reminder to those of us who belong to the tradition of Protestant Dissent that sometimes we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater. However, being a Methodist, Wainwright cannot but also relate his insights to the issues of mission and ethics.

Learned yet simple, Biblical and ecumenical, evangelical and catholic, aware that mystery begins where words end, this book is thoroughly recommended for reflection and study. It will enrich both the leading of worship and the commendation of the gospel to the world.

Philip Clements-Jewery

Reading Through Romans

C R Hume

SCM/Canterbury Press, 1999; 232 pages; ISBN 0 334 02770 5

Exposition of the New Testament text with the minimum of introduction and on the basis of oral exegesis is becoming fashionable. Hume has already expounded the letters to the Galatians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Hebrews and has followed them with Paul's Letter to the Romans. The author has endeavoured to use simplicity of language in his explanation of the text and avoided theological controversy. Greek words have been printed in English vernacular to make clear the original meaning of the letter's content. The result is clarity of the text and ease of reading. That is an achievement for interpretation of what is viewed as the most difficult of Paul's letters, particularly inasmuch as Hume has freely cited the opinions of early Church Fathers and those of some modem Pauline scholars.

The volume will be of considerable assistance to theological students in their attempts to decipher the Greek text of the most complicated message that Paul sent to the largest church that existed at the time of his writing. Notwithstanding the simplicity of Hume's style and his placing meaning of words before theological thought the reader will be given an introduction to the theology of the Gospel and the purpose of God for his creation.

G R Beasley-Murray

The Message Of Nehemiah - God's Servant In A Time Of Change

Raymond Brown

IVP, Leicester, 1998; 256 pp; ISBN 0 85111 580 2

The Bible Speaks Today Commentaries have proved, by and large, to be an extremely useful resource for the study of Scripture, and in preparation for preaching. The authors are scholars, evangelicals, and effective teachers of the Bible who are adept at providing a bridge from the biblical text to contemporary life. In the preface, we are told that "the contributors are united in their convictions that God still speaks through what he has spoken", and that "nothing is more necessary for the life, health and growth of Christians than that they should hear what the Spirit is saying to them through his ancient - yet ever modern - Word".

Raymond Brown is eminently qualified to write for this series and has already contributed with two fine volumes on Deuteronomy and Hebrews. His commentary on Nehemiah bears the same qualities: thorough exegesis; readable and lively exposition; well-structured in terms of the book as a whole and each chapter; helpful headings; illustrations from church history and contemporary society; and relevance for today. The introduction is helpful for general background, but particularly useful in drawing out the themes: Nehemiah's doctrine of God; his passion for Scripture; his experience of prayer; and his example in leadership.

When I next preach on Nehemiah, this is a book I will be quick to consult.

Geoff Colmer

The Millennium And The Book of Revelation

R J McKelvey

Lutterworth Press, Cambridge 1999; 112pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 7188 2998 0

This book has made a timely appearance and will be welcomed by preachers and congregation as the end of the millennial year approaches. It is extraordinarily perceptive, alike in his exposition of the Book of Revelation as in his descriptions of past millennial expectations.

After describing millennial hopes in the early church and in Reformation Europe, McKelvey relates how the doctrine of the future millennium was adopted by the English revolutionaries in 1640. The Puritans gave it a political character: the Antichrist was associated with the Pope, Archbishop Laud and the secular power of the monarchy. In New England millenarianism expressed itself in post-millenarian form. Puritans and European pietists believed that they were called to establish God's Kingdom in a virgin land and so demonstrate the possibility of a Christian society..

The rallying cry of the French Revolution, 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity', had a distinct millenarian call for the religiously inclined. Christians believed that society would become moral, the church regenerated and Christ return and rule for 1000 years.

In the 19th century a new urgency was introduced into millenarianism: the imminence of the end was proclaimed by influenced individuals and caused deep interest, especially in England and the USA. John Nelson Darby, for instance, introduced his theory of dispensationalism. In his view there are seven dispensations from Noah till the end. The seventh will be the removal of the church through Christ's coming to take the church to heaven, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4, which he called the 'rapture'. The Antichrist will be defied by the Jews who will turn to Christ through their suffering. Jesus will then come with his saints and destroy the Antichrist with his minions.

In this century the American Hal Lindsay in his book, The Late Great Planet Earth, predicted that the determining time for the Lord's return would be the setting up of the state of Israel in 1948, and declared that his generation would witness the coming of the Lord and his kingdom.

Unfortunately the Book of Revelation generally fails to be treated as a whole, and sections of it are taken out of their context and linked with the predictions of the Gospels and the Epistles. The fact is that the Book of the Revelation deals in metaphor, parable and myth. John was concerned to address a crisis of faith, caused by the Roman emperors deceiving their citizens by their power and prosperity. John challenged the cult of the emperor by an alternative symbolic universe. The message of the millennium is that God will vindicate those who have experienced persecution and martyrdom.

Throughout his book McKelvey emphasises that the Book of Revelation assumes that the situation of the millennium is here on earth. Therefore when we find that crises today have their roots in human selfishness and sin, the primary need is to repent so that we are centred on God and his concern for the suffering here on earth. In the words of McKelvey, "The millennium and the New Jerusalem are not only hope for the future, but an agenda for the present"

G R Beasley-Murray

The Inclusive Language Debate - A Plea For Realism

DA Carson

IVP; £9.99; ISBN 0 85111 584 5

We all have our own assumptions, preconceptions and blind spots. In any debate those aspects of a person surface. The discussion about inclusive language has raged for some while, with many prepared to ignore the sensitivities of others in order to prove a point.

The author enters this arena to "lower the temperature, slow the pace .... and bring up some things that are ... sometimes overlooked". He wants us to recognise what can and cannot be expected from translations. He is concerned that we may miss big issues while focusing on narrower ones, but restricts himself to an in house discussion within the framework of evangelicalism.

Carson very skilfully sets out the complexities of the situation without preferring one option to the other. He wishes to move the discussion forward so that not only inclusive language is important but there is a need to look at other passages and see how preaching could be enriched by a greater understanding of the complexities of language.

A slightly ambiguous title but well written, worth reading and perhaps worth passing on to ardent feminists or debaters.

Derek Fraser

Now Choose Life - Theology And Ethics In Deuteronomy

J Gary Millar

Apollos, Leicester; £12.99; ISBN 0 8511 1515 2

This book comes as the fruit of doctoral studies but thankfully it is written in a lively and vibrant style by a working minister. The introduction skilfully sets the scene of Old Testament ethics and asks the question, "What are we trying to do?" By a methodology of exegesis, analysis and synthesis there follows an application of the ethics of the Old Testament.

The author analyses the strengths and weakness of the work that has been done before in the field of ethics in the Old Testament from Hempel's work (1964) through to Janzen (1994). He then sets out his own understanding, dealing with ethics in terms of the key themes of covenant, journey, law, the nations and human nature.

The bibliography is excellent as is the index of authors cited.

Ethics is about applying theology to an ever changing situation . If that theology changes, as God speaks more of himself, then the situation is more complex. That provides a flavour of the book. Well worth a read for the interested.

Derek Fraser

God, Religion and Reality

Stephen R. L. Clark

SPCK, London, 1998; ix+177; £17.99; ISBN 0 281 05133 X

Stephen Clark is Professor of Philosophy at Liverpool University. He comes over in this book very much as a modern-day Platonist, although he is not above quoting Orwell and Chesterton, and even Terry Pratchett, alongside Plotinus and Augustine. Clark's thesis is that there are eternal values, that Truth exists, that the truths of theism are logical, that the possibility of the scientific enterprise itself depends upon a theistic world view, and that even the possibility of incarnation can be derived from reason (although, 'there is no philosophical certainty that (this) is Jesus, son of Mary: it is enough that it really might be').

That having been said, it must be added that this is a book to be wrestled with, even though the blurb on the back cover does make a claim for the book's readability. This is a claim to be taken with a large pinch of salt. It is not that Clark's style is impenetrable; it is rather that it is somewhat elliptical. The argument often makes jumps that assume that the reader has the knowledge and ability to fill in the gaps.

However, in spite of this Clark is to be commended for producing a book that is so trenchantly argued. In our post-modern age, apologetics sometimes appears to be going by default and there is a great need to present the claim that theistic faith is more than an existential leap in the dark or just one option among many. Truth matters, and we are indebted to people like Stephen Clark who can argue the case for a reasonable faith as forcibly as he does in this book.

Philip Clements-Jewery

God's Business - Preparing the Church for dramatic growth

Julian Watts

Cornwallis Emmanuel 1998; 112 pp; £14.95; ISBN 0 9533 2580 6

I found this book irritating, but it provoked me into thinking again about the impact of the business world upon the church. Clearly the author is an expert in his field of business transformation, and he seeks to marry these insights to the life of the church. Is he successful? In his own church, the process he outlines has been worked through with success. Will his process transfer to other situations? You will have to try it to see!

What is most helpful about the book is the management theory, which is very accessible, clearly articulated, and applied very practically to the local church. And there is much of the process which is helpful especially in terms of asking key questions. Why are we here? What are we trying to achieve as a church? What are the few things that we need to focus on? What are we actually going to do and how will we do it? Who is going to do what? And having answered these questions, breaking them down into smaller components.

So what did I find irritating? First, the assumptions of the author throughout the book, repeated frequently in terms of 'I believe', is that in the near future there will be a coming flood of the Spirit in the UK, resulting in explosive growth: "How will your church cope when, as part of this new move, God adds 500 new believers to it in one month? How are you preparing your church for the harvest?" In fairness, the author recognises that we cannot manufacture the blessing of God, but we can prepare for it.

Furthermore, his view of the church as "God's Business" becomes strained. God is the shareholder: "The business exists for a purpose, to produce a return for the shareholder, and God really is looking for a good return on his investment…The shareholder does not physically run the business himself - he employs people to run the business for him. These people are known as executives, as they make executive decisions about how the business is run in order to produce a return to the shareholder ... The leader of these executives is the Chief Executive Officer. He is the one with complete accountability to the shareholder. The shareholder has put him in charge ... At the end of the day the CEO has the final decision ... To assist in running the business the CEO may appoint other executives to form a management team reporting in to him." As a Baptist Minister I find this approach strange to say the least, although I acknowledge that some churches are structured in this way.

While recognising that there are elements of the business world which can provide challenging insights into church life, for me this book goes too far. And the author himself acknowledges that there is a continuum of approaches and ideas from those which exclusively relate to business management, through to those which solely apply to a church environment. Personally, 1 have found the likes of John Adair, and Stephen Covey most helpful, leaving me to do the work of integration. And at £14.99 for 112 pages, this book isn't cheap!

Geoff Colmer

Hope For The Millennium - The Christian Debate About The Future

David Pawson

Hodder & Stoughton, London 1999; 85 pp; £2.99; ISBN 0 340 73559 7

I Believe In Heaven On Earth, Life After Life For Humanity And Planet Earth

Tony & Patricia Higton

Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1999; 194 pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 340 71390 9

As we approach the Millennium, inevitably there is much speculation about the future. These two books seek to answer questions about the future.

David Pawson's short book is the fourth section of his book published in 1995, When Jesus Returns. His main concern is millennial views and he takes as the focus for his study Revelation 20, "the clearest passage on the 'millennium' in the Bible". He looks at the broader biblical context, and considers different views, but the book leads inexorably towards the author's personal conclusion, a 'classical' pre-millennialist position. For preaching purposes, if this is your position, then David Pawson will provide you with a well crafted presentation.

The Higtons were involved in a consultation on eschatology in 1994, and I suspect that their book grew out of that. As Stephen Travis writes in his warm foreword, "it discusses differing views with courtesy, it looks for the middle ground where possible, it emphasises that Christian hope is founded on Christ himself, not merely the 'end of the world', it sets out clearly what it means to live as people who are grasped by hope".

There is a lot of stuff in this book including a discussion of hell, the return of Jesus, different views of the biblical Millennium, the Old Testament and the future, and the place of modern Israel, Among those things I found helpful were an overview of Revelation; a bird's eye view of the last things in the New Testament; and a useful summary of the previous chapters.

Out of the 1994 consultation which was made up of Christian leaders of different views concerning the End Times, twelve points were agreed, and it was recognised that there was disagreement over a number of points, even between Christians with a similar view of Scripture. These points are presented and provide an effective drawing together of the previous discussion before the conclusion which provides some helpful application. The Higtons write, "Since that consultation, we have had a passion to emphasise that it is possible to achieve a basic unity ... while agreeing to disagree with mutual respect over some of the issues and recognising that the reality of the End Times will transcend all expectations".

I found this an accessible and moderate exploration of the issues around the End Times. A lot is packed into its pages and it will provide a valuable resource to dip into. It might be the sort of book to lend to your rabid dispensational pre-millennial brother in Christ, and could provide some useful preaching material.

Geoff Colmer

Awaiting The Millennium - A History Of End-Time Thinking

Richard Kyle

IVP, Leicester, 1998; 255 pp; £9.99; ISBN 0 85111 581 0

Awaiting the Millennium is, in the author's words, "an intellectual history. It is the history of an idea, the idea of how the world will end". He attempts to survey the way Christians over two millennia have viewed end-time events. In his introduction he makes no claim to comprehensiveness, but actually covers much ground as he takes us through early Christianity, medieval Christianity, the Reformation, and then to America and the colonial period and well past the civil war into this century and 'Rapture fever'. Kyle looks also at secular apocalyptic thought. What is so helpful in this scholarly book is that it becomes obvious very quickly that speculation about 'the last days' is no new thing - it has been rampant for nearly 2,000 years!

This is a serious treatment of how other people have viewed the end-times, and while recognising the historian's inevitable bias, it is an objective treatment and not the author's perspective. This will be a useful resource for those with a particular interest in the end-times, or prophecy and history.

Geoff Colmer

Given For You - A Fresh Look At Communion

Eleanor Kreider

NP Leicester 1998; 255 pp; ISBN 0 85111 582 9

This book was first published in the States under the title Communion Shapes Character. And how good that it is now available in the UK under its new title! It is a comprehensive survey of Communion, presented in a scholarly yet highly readable way, by an author who is from the Anabaptist tradition.

Eleanor Kreider asks historical, theological and practical questions. How have Communion practices over the centuries shaped Christian communities? What actually happens in Communion? How can churches enrich their Communion celebrations? And what comes from Communion? The book concludes with two appendixes: first, planning a Communion service; and second, service resources.

The book is full of good things: openness to different traditions; critical yet constructive analysis; fresh insight; creative ideas; and it is written with warmth, imagination and enthusiasm. It was a pleasure to read!

I found the chapter "An Open Table?" particularly stimulating. Under the question, "How does the presence of children affect communion piety?", the author provides five approaches and in the process gives a brief but exhaustive treatment of the subject. I found this section extremely valuable. What does Eleanor Kreider herself think on this aspect of communion? I'm not sure! She does not provide a conclusive answer but in her exploration enables the reader to make up their own mind.

To quote a review on the cover, "A must for church leaders and all Christians". This might be a tad over the top, but I highly recommend Given For You and suggest that through reading it the practice of Communion will not remain unaffected.

Geoff Colmer

The Sacraments

Michael Townsend

Epworth Press, Peterborough, 1999; 102pp; £4.95; ISBN 0 7162 0528 9

This is number 6 in Epworth's series Thinking It Through. In it, the author, who is Chairman of the Leeds District of the Methodist Church, addresses some of the practical, pastoral and theological issues which arise out of the practice of baptism and Holy Communion. The book is in two sections. Each begins with several short stories illustrating the pastoral issues, then continues with short chapters exploring those issues from a popular theological perspective.

In a mere 102 pages, it is obviously impossible to do full justice to the complex theology surrounding these sacraments in the various denominations. For example, no mention is made of the fact that many baptistic Christians regard them as ordinances rather than sacraments.

So at whom is this book aimed? Certainly a lay person wanting to begin to explore the issues would find this a useful starting place. It would also be ideal as 'further reading' for an adult confirmation group. Housegroups would gain much from using the book as a basis for study, using the questions at the end of each chapter as discussion starters.

An excellent, though lightweight, introduction to the two great sacraments of the Church.

Alun Brookfield

Faith Confirmed - Preparing for Confirmation

Peter Jackson and Chris Wright

SPCK (London) 1999; 101pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 281 05129 1

I always like to receive books with lots of colourful pictures and this certainly is one! If SPCK will forgive me for saying so, the presentation of the book is rather like Lion handbooks and manuals; and that is not a bad thing as this book, as the title suggests, is a handbook for those preparing for confirmation within the Anglican Church.

The authors are both Anglicans and notable teachers and one could well imagine this book finding itself as a standard text within schools where Christian faith is practised within a State Church setting.

We are taken on a journey from discovering God and faith to integration into the community of the Anglican communion. Very great weight is then given to the seven sacraments which are explained as being turning points in people's lives, although, it confesses, only two are to be found in the Bible.

With its clearly stated purpose in mind it is a very good, well argued and splendidly presented book, accessible to confirmation candidates of varying backgrounds academically, or indeed to school pupils studying the Anglican Tradition. But also because of that, this book is limited to an Anglican context.

Mike Thornton

Spiritlinking Leadership

Donna J Markham

Paulist Press, New Jersey, 1999; 143pp; £12.99; ISBN 0 8091 3840 9

Two gripes to start with: 1) £12.99 is a lot of money for 142 pages; 2) the square format makes my bookshelf look untidy!

Then, in case you were wondering what the phrase 'spiritlinking leadership' means, the author helpfully defines it early in the book as "the deliberate and untiring act of working through resistance to organisational transformation by building the circle of friends, fostering networks of human compassion and interweaving teams of relationships through which new ideas are born and new ways of responding to the mission take form and find expression." Phew!

So this is not a book about leadership in communion with the Holy Spirit. Indeed it is not a specifically Christian book at all. However, it does have a lot to say to Christian leaders because it advocates and aims to enable the creation of an atmosphere of relational trust in which disagreement is seen as a positive move towards creativity and harmony. The author does not recommend carefully structured programmes of relationship building, but a much more fluid approach based on identifying why there is resistance to change and then tackling the issues at source rather than at the point of public expression.

With chapters on truth telling, fostering community with the organisation, and on providing healthy leadership, it was easy to hear the biblical echoes within this book. Most Christian leaders would benefit from a careful study of it, perhaps in close collaboration with other leaders.

Alun Brookfield

Virtual Morality - Christian ethics in the computer age

Graham Houston

Apollos, Leicester, 1998; 224pp; £14.99; ISBN 0 85111 461 X

This book obviously began life as a PhD thesis, and it still reads like one, even to the point of retaining the section numbering. However, it does deal with a subject of growing importance. The growth of information technology and the increasing use of computers in the home for leisure and recreation purposes make this a timely book.

The issue addressed by Houston is whether or not technology is value-free. If IT is morally neutral, then ethics is relevant only in the case of the use to which the technology is put. However, Houston rejects this position. He argues that technology is value laden, and a telling illustration if this is provided by an analysis of the virtual reality tour of the cave paintings of Lascaux in France which are now closed to the general public, so that VR is the only way in which most people can inspect these prehistoric cultural treasures. Of course, VR does have a lot of valuable applications in areas like that of education and training (e.g. pilots, surgeons) but its use for violent computer games, and especially where pornography may be involved, is certainly not morally acceptable. In the world of virtual morality people may be manipulated into behaviour that they would not tolerate in the real world. Even addiction to such forms of behaviour is a possibility.

The breadth of Dr. Houston's survey is impressive. He tackles the technological issues and takes into account the context of post modern culture. His study embraces philosophical disciplines such as epistemology, as well as ethics and theology. In particular, he draws on the work of Oliver O'Donovan,, Jacques Ellul and Philip Wogaman to lay down a theological and moral basis on which his discussion of the issues can be built. However, the specifically Christian and Biblical element in this discussion appears somewhat superfluous. The discussion feels as if it could equally well have been undertaken from a different perspective and still reach the same conclusions. Be that as it may, it is good that there are Christians who are willing and able to grapple with these culturally important matters. Houston has written a pioneer work in a field that is yet to be fully developed, and no doubt there will be others who in the future will take the discussion further.

Philip Clements-Jewery

The Practice of Christian Healing - a Guide for Beginners

Roy Lawrence

Triangle, London 1998; 117 pp; £5.99; ISBN 0 281 05185 2

The Practice of Christian Healing is, as it says, a guide for beginners. It is helpful as a basic introduction, and if you have nothing else on the subject, then it would be a good place to start. Certainly it is a balanced approach, and within the scope of just over a hundred pages covers most of the ground, though in no great depth. Bearing in mind some of the whacky stuff that is around, this would be a good resource to give to folk in our church. Also it could be helpful as a basic training manual for people wanting to be involved in prayer for healing.

Geoff Colmer

Moral Problems in Medicine - A Practical Coursebook

Michael Palmer

Lutterworth Press, Cambridge, 1999; £14.50; ISBN 0 7188 2978 6

This is a book for beginners with no previous knowledge of philosophy or the moral issues in medicine. It is primarily designed as a course book, providing step by step introductions to ethical theory, with each theory illustrated and applied in a specific medical context.

The author's main ambition is to promote some basic understanding of how medical decisions incorporate ethical viewpoints. So the chapter on utilitarianism is followed by a discussion on experimentation, while the chapter on Kant is followed by a discussion on whether doctors should tell patients the truth about their condition.

There are essay questions included and the bibliography is excellent. Scant attention is given to foetal research, organ donation, the allocation of resources, care of the elderly. While the book is effective in what it covers, it does leave large tracts untouched and probably is most helpful to those who are teaching ethics in some context and wish to make the material relevant and not too academic !

Derek Fraser

Ministry and Marriage (Survey of Women Priests in the Church of England)

Patsy Kettle

Christian Research, Vision Building, 4 Footscray Road, Eltham, London, SE9 2TZ, 1997; 59pp; £6.00; ISBN: None

Double Blessing - Clergy Marriage since the Ordination of Women as Priests

Sue Walrond-Skinner

Mowbray, 1998; 258pp; £14.99; ISBN 0 264 67340 9

Five years after the ordination of the first Anglican women priests it is interesting to see what two of those ordained women are making of both their own and others' experience.

Patsy Kettle, a priest in the Guildford Diocese, and Sue Walrond-Skinner, Adviser in Pastoral Care and Counselling in the Southwark Diocese and part of a joint clergy couple, have both conducted original research exploring the interface between marriage and women's ministry. Here the similarities end! Kettle's brief write-up analyses the evidence from 155 women priests who responded to questions on their experience since ordination. It's an easy, accessible read with neat pie charts to illustrate statistics, and it looks like a chapter in a thesis.

Beginning with recommendations for change Kettle identifies needs for greater flexibility in training, curacy, further moves and patterns in ministry to make allowances for the changing needs of women at different life stages. More part-time work is seen as desirable.

Walrond-Skinner's focus is on couples where both partners are ordained Anglicans. Her hypothesis, borne out by responses, challenge the assumption that the marriage relationships would be under greater strain as a result of ordination. Her book contains 14 chapters as well as three appendices detailing methodology. As a starting point for her research she contacted 240 couples, of whom 101 agreed to participate - an estimate of 40% of joint clergy couples. She also used comparison groups where either the man or the woman but not both were ordained. All participating couples were required to complete 4 questionnaires on two separate occasions.

Walrond-Skinner's book is valuable not only for the survey of marriages over time, but for its analysis of the contemporary context and of issues in dual-carer marriages generally. It is certainly up to the standard of her earlier writing in the field of family therapy, providing clear explanations of marital relationship theory backed up by an excellent bibliography.

However, as a member of a Free Church denomination which has been ordaining women for many decades I couldn't help feeling irritated by the arrogance and exclusivity of both these Anglicans who write without reference to the experience of women ministers from different traditions who blazed the trail some time ago! Why do some Anglicans behave as if they invented women's ordination? It's sad that there can't be more sharing of experience in this important area.

Sue Clements-Jewery

Full Face Of God - An Introduction To The Enneagram

David Mahon

DLT, London, 1998; 202 pp; £9.95; ISBN 0 232 52289 8

Along with Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram has become a very popular means of discovering the strengths and weaknesses of our personality. It is a valuable aid to self-awareness.

In Full Face of God, David Mayo provides an introduction to what the Enneagram is and how it works, then goes on to describe in detail each of the nine 'faces'. These are: The Perfectionist, The Giver, The Achiever, The Artist, The Observer, The Supporter, The Optimist, The Leader and The Mediator. Only one of these matches any individual's personality, and through the book, we are enabled to identify which of the nine faces corresponds to our own. The gifts, challenges, and addictions of each type are then described.

The Enneagram is based on Sufi insight. So we are talking about ancient stuff! It has been taken up secularly, but also by the Church, especially by Catholics. It is increasingly available as a course at many retreat houses.

I attempted to read a thick tome on the subject a few years ago, but didn't get very far. This is a far more accessible introduction, written attractively and with clarity, with some apt quotations, and lovely illustrations.

Geoff Colmer

Seeking Spirituality - Guidelines For A Christian Spirituality For The Twenty-First Century

Ronald Rolheiser

Hodder and Stoughton, London 1998; 246 pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 340 65623 9

Probably this is the best book I've read so far this year! It is written by an author whom I've found most helpful through two of his previous books - Forgotten Among the Lilies and Beyond an Infinite Horizon. Ronald Rolheiser is a Roman Catholic priest, a specialist in the field of spirituality and systematic theology, who has a penetrating understanding of humanity and culture. He writes in a style which is very attractive, accessible, and yet far from superficial.

In this age 'spirituality' has become an aerosol-word which is sprayed liberally in any direction. At the same time spirituality is elusive and Rolheiser enables us to get a grip on it while giving it meaning.

His starting point is to ask the question, "What is spirituality?" He answers it briefly in terms of what we do with our unrest, our desire, how we handle our eros. At this juncture he compares the lives of three famous women: Mother Teresa, Janis Joplin, and Princess Diana. This is riveting! He goes on to look at current struggles with Christian Spirituality. And then gets down to the non-negotiable essentials. These are private prayer and private morality; social justice; mellowness of heart and spirit., community as a constitutive element of true worship. The concept of incarnation is central to all that he writes.

There are so many parts of this book which I would like to touch upon. A chapter called, "A spirituality of sexuality" shows a profound understanding of the issue as it relates to our times. Probably the most helpful to me was the chapter, "A spirituality of ecclesiology", in which he asks the question, "So why go to church?", and provides nine answers. One of his answers is that without church, we have more private fantasy than real faith, and that without the church, the individual in quest of God lives the unconfronted life. I found his deep commitment to church, based on reality and not fantasy, contagious.

This book is dedicated to the late Henri Nouwen, and while they are very different in their approaches there is a similar spirit which permeates their writings.

I have come close to being a bore concerning this book, going on about it and recommending it to everyone. Maybe it just happened to speak to me where I am. But there again, the responses that I have received from those who have read it seem to confirm my enthusiasm. I recommend it most heartily!

Geoff Colmer

Driven beyond the call of God

Pamela Evans

Bible Reading Fellowship, 1999; 224pp; £7.99; ISBN 184101 054 5

This is a clearly written, easily accessible book aimed at church leaders. Its author, Pamela Evans, is an experienced GP with training in counselling who has a special interest in addictive behaviour. The book's main thesis is that a lot of contemporary Christian busyness is another form of addiction. The tendency to work very long hours without the ability to say 'no' can mask problems of low self-esteem and difficulties in close relationships. Such driven behaviour arises out of a poor sense of identity and the need to gain good feelings from activity - a form of salvation by works which can lead to stress, burnout and ultimately breakdowns.

Evans' view of the church and the pressures it imposes on those in leadership is very real and as a counsellor who sees a lot of depressed and overstretched clergy, I found her comments perceptive.

The second half of the book picks up the subtitle "Discovering the rhythms of grace" and explores how a right understanding of God leads to good mental and spiritual health. I found this rather repetitive and less incisive than the earlier chapters. Good use is made of Biblical material and each chapter concludes with helpful 'focus points' for study and discussion. A good read for overstretched leaders who want to get the balance back.

Sue Clements-Jewery

The Way Of Renewal - A Report By The Board Of Mission Of The General Synod Of The Church Of England

Michael Mitton (Editor)

Church House Publishing, London, 1998; 152 pp. ISBN: 07151 55 423

This book was the fruit of the MERE Committee in the Church of England (Mission, Evangelism, and Renewal in England). It is a collection of stories depicting the renewal of spiritual life in nine areas of Church life: spirituality, worship, healing, communities, large gatherings, initiation, evangelistic missions, social action, and across cultures. Renewal in this context is greater than charismatic renewal though this is included at several points.

The attraction of this book is its diversity. Renewal through spirituality is fairly predictable, including Celtic, Ignatian, and Taize. Likewise Renewal through worship which looks at the charismatic, the liturgical, and worship in and for the world. Renewal through large gatherings has the contrast of Walsingham and Spring Harvest! I chuckled at my own musing of the prospect of a person thinking they were going to one and ending up at the other! Towards the end of the book Renewal through social action and Renewal across cultures widens the issue enormously.

Inevitably this is a book which is predominantly about the Church of England. But it was fascinating to read of all these different expressions of renewal. Also I appreciated the Theological Perspective. At the end of each section there are questions for reflection, and resources. I used a quotation from the editor at our church AGM, as he seemed to say something very important: "Renewal is something God gives, it is not something we manufacture. Our part is to become open, as we walk by faith. We journey on the road, thereby putting ourselves in the way of renewal".

Geoff Colmer

Living Prayer

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

DLT, London, 1999; 160 pp; £7.95; ISBN 0 232 52304 5

School for Prayer

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

DLT, London, 1999; 128 pp; £6.95; ISBN 0 232 52303 7

Both these books have become classics since they were first published in 1966 and 1970 respectively. I recall first reading them when I was at theological college and I have continued to return to them from time to time, so reading them for this review was like meeting up with old friends.

Metropolitan Anthony is Archbishop in charge of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Church in Great Britain and Ireland. So his perspective on prayer is drenched in the Orthodox tradition. In School for Prayer, the opening interview is fascinating, relating his conversion experience. The chapter on "The Absence of God" would be of benefit to most evangelical charismatics. In Living Prayer, the chapters on "The Jesus Prayer", and "The Prayer of Silence", embody the essence of Orthodox prayer.

Either of these books would be excellent to take on a Quiet Day, simply to chew over, or as an aid to personal devotions.

Geoff Colmer

Iona - God's Energy

Norman Shanks

Hodder and Stoughton, 1999; 230pp; £6.99; ISBN 0 340 72172 3

Having visited Iona fairly recently, I was attracted by the title of this book. I was further attracted by the press release which describes it as "an outstanding introduction and guide to the spirituality of the Iona Community by its leader, Norman Shanks". However, I was strangely disappointed.

Written by publisher's commission, I was left wondering at whom this book was aimed. Those who already have personal experience of involvement with the Community would probably find it useful as a fuller exposition of the spirituality and vision of Iona. However, anyone hoping to find inspiration to live the ideals of the Community, but without having visited the island would find this book difficult to read.

The book explores, among other things, the membership and rule of the Community, the centrality of worship and the ecumenical dimension. But the author's writing style is dry (perhaps because he was formerly a higher education lecturer) and parts of the book were hard to plough through. In fact, I often found his quotations of other authors more appealing and illuminating than his own words. For example, in a chapter entitled 'Where does the Church fit in', he quotes Allan Boesak's pungent comment to "remember the Church is the chosen people of God. But the chosen shall be known by their choices".

The subtitle, 'The spirituality and vision of the Iona Community', is more helpful in explaining the content of the book than the title itself. Iona - God's Energy is a useful introduction to the Community, but only if you have the stamina to persist through the drier parts of the book.

Mary Brookfield

Creativity and Prayer

Ruth Fowke and Pam Dodson

Eagle, Guildford 1998; 144 pp; £5.99; ISBN 0 86347 278 8

This is one of a series of books called "Exploring Prayer". Many in the series are helpful guides on the journey of prayer, and Ruth Fowke has contributed previously with a book on Personality and Prayer, drawing on the insights of Myers Briggs.

The advantage of this series is that the books are well-written and have a distinctly user-friendly approach. They are highly accessible, make no great demands, they are practical and an encouragement to actually get on with prayer. Certainly this is so of Creativity and Prayer.

The book includes praying with nature, music, movement and dance, pictures, writing, and clay. At the end of each short chapter there is either a "Suggestions for prayer activity", or a "Be creative". Creativity and Prayer is produced creatively with water colours, and poems.

This is not a classic, but a good starting point for exploring different ways of praying which will be of use to Ministers and church members alike.

Geoff Colmer

Stardust and ashes - Science Fiction in Christian Perspective

Stephen May

SPCK (London) 1998; 168pp; £12.99; ISBN 0 281 05104 6

The Lantern and the Looking-glass - Literature and Christian Belief

Nigel Forde

SPCK (London) 1997; 180pp; £10.99; ISBN 0 281 04906 8

For those who are thoroughly addicted to science fiction and are almost as serious about their theology, Stardust and Ashes is an enlightening read. For those who are merely Trekkers or grew up on Dr Who and Star Wars but are not so enthralled by the classics of the genre, it is perhaps a little beyond what you are looking for. However, the book contains an informative survey of the science fiction genre and includes the almost mandatory section on modernity and post modernity. The theological reflection is more of a comparative nature, arguing that science fiction is the new mythology for a humanity trying to understand itself without God, yet like Christianity it has a sense of wonder, a delight in the Other and the New. It is a book which must have been great fun to write, that is, if the author actually watched the many films and read the plethora of books he refers to! No doubt it made a great change from lecturing in Systematic Theology in Auckland.

For those interested in the interaction of literature and faith, a second book which is beautifully written is Nigel Forde's The Lantern and the Looking-Glass, in the Gospel and Culture series. This book reflects on how literature works and how it can illuminate faith. It argues and illustrates how the telling of stories are vitally important to our exploration and understanding of such themes as love, death, mercy, sacrifice, forgiveness and redemption in a way that engages the mind and moves the heart. Yet is also at once a more technical examination and explanation of various genres which will probably only interest the more studious literary critics. Indeed a stated aim of the book is to assist creative Christian writers connect their faith and their art at the deepest level. For those of us who simply enjoy reading for pleasure, it helps us to feel not in the slightest bit guilty for so doing! Nigel Forde is a writer, actor and broadcaster of note and was one of the founder members of the Riding Lights Theatre Company.

Mike Thornton

Completely You

Dan Montgomery

Marshall Pickering, London, 1999; 199 pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 551 03182 4

Writing "A Christian Guide to Personality and Wholeness", as this is subtitled, is a tall order. Dan Montgomery is a clinical psychologist with "25,000 hours of counselling experience" (phew! that makes me feel exhausted just to think about it: I must need help from chapter 6, 'The Withdrawn Person'). He makes a valiant attempt to scale the heights of his theme, but unfortunately stays stranded in the lowlands. 1 found this book rather thin.

Then I thought about the supposed reader of this book, lacking in psychological training, but eager for pop psychology. If this points him or her ultimately in the direction of a good counsellor, then it will have done no harm. At least it is better than Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars (if not quite so racy!). The structure encourages the reader to work at their personality, with plenty of "Ask the Holy Spirit to …" and "Pray that …". And yes, I might just do "three things that are frivolous, silly and spontaneous this week. Have a go on a swing in a park; give someone some flowers; give your spouse a massage..." (p. 112.). Yes, I will go and chair that church meeting (that's pretty silly!) and take the church flowers to an elderly member. I might even give my spouse.... the least said the better, on that score!

This book is pop Christian psychology. It also has the silliest index I have ever seen, with 33 entries.

Paul Goodliff

Hearing God - Building an Intimate Relationship with the Creator

Dallas Willard

Fount, London 1999; 226 pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 00 628132 X

Coming with strong recommendations from Richard Foster and Bill Hybels, whose imprimatura these days are indicative of a 'mainstream' Evangelical market, I expected a book which combined imaginative and creative thinking with a Biblical foundation. I was not disappointed. This is not so much another book about intimacy with God, of which we have quite enough, thank you, but rather a fine guide to guidance.

Willard's book is actually a reprint of In Search of Guidance, but these days guidance is 'out', (not 'sexy' enough,) and intimacy is 'in'. This is a shame, because those in search of a good book on guidance may pass it by. Having cleared the ground in the opening chapters, the heart of the book is the defence of the 'still small voice' of God's guidance in the midst of a noisy world. Pro-charismatic, but not advocating the wilder excesses, and firmly centred upon guidance that is rooted in the Scriptures, this is a thoughtful exposition of its theme. I was heartened, for instance, to read the section entitled "The more spectacular is the less mature". I commend this book to you.

Paul Goodliff

From a Parish Base

Kevin T Kelly

Darton, Longman and Todd, London, 1999; 226 pp; £11.95; ISBN 0 232 52315 0

The Richard Baxter Institute for Ministry and its journal, Ministry Today, is committed to placing a theology of ministry within the context of local church practitioners of ministry. Kevin Kelly is one such practitioner, a parish priest as well as an academic moral theologian and these essays in moral and pastoral theology bridge the gap between the local priest or pastor and the professional theologian.

Part one explores the character of parish-based ministry, especially as practised in inner-city Liverpool; part two considers creative tensions in pastoral ministry and part three moral theology at the service of pastoral ministry. The final part explores three pastoral issues of life and death, embryo research, prolongation of life at the point of death and AIDS.

The chapters all began life as essays published in such journals as The Month, The Tablet, The Way or New Blackfriars. Perhaps the weakness of the book is the lack of cohesion between the articles which began life as occasional pieces, I suspect. The true unifying theme is the consistent attempt to work at the interface of theology and praxis, and here the book succeeds. Catholics, Anglo- and Roman, will find the territory familiar, but others from a non-conformist or more Protestant milieu will benefit also from Kelly's wise book. Would that more such thoughtful practitioners from all traditions of the church reflected thus upon their practice as Kelly does.

Paul Goodliff

Anglo-Saxon Christianity

Paul Cavill

Fount, 1999; 211pp; £7.99; ISBN 0 00 628112 5

This is a fascinating book. By studying and reflecting on the actual texts of the period, Paul Cavill, lecturer in Old English at the University of Nottingham, has given us a striking insight into the beliefs, practices and struggles of 7th century Christians.

The last 50 pages are particularly interesting, consisting of translations of all the texts explored earlier in the book. For anyone who is interested in the way the Christian faith was practised during the so-called Dark Ages, this book is a must.

Cavill's style is relaxed and readable, drawing the reader into his scholarship without being patronising. His sense of humour is irrepressible as he warns the reader that some texts are "not for the squeamish" (p.171) and as he clearly enjoys telling us that "Nottingham in its early form meant 'the settlement of the family and followers of Snot'" (p.38).

However, although I enjoyed reading this book, I confess that it left me a little confused in places. By treating each text separately, it was difficult to gain an overall picture of what the texts were telling us. The chapter headed "Conclusion" tells us that the three major characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Christianity were engagement, pragmatism and integrity. I can't help feeling that if he had told us that at the beginning and used it as a set of unifying themes, the book would have enjoyed greater coherence.

Second, Cavill seems to want to draw a very sharp line between the Celtic Christianity of the missionaries who evangelised the northern Saxon invaders and the Christian faith and practice which grew from the missionary enterprise. Cavill is too good a scholar to believe that such a sharp division can be drawn, but nevertheless the book left me with that impression.

Buy, read and enjoy this book, but read the conclusion first.

Alun Brookfield

Short notes

The first volume of The Complete Christian Classics (HarperCollins, London 1999; 587pp; £17.99 Hardback; ISBN 0 00 628122 2) edited by Owen Collins, contains the somewhat eclectic mix of On Loving God by Bernard of Clairvaux and The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, Calvin's Institutes Of Christian Religion, Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Jonathan Edwards' Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, and Spurgeon's Treasury of David. This useful work of reference would surely have been greatly enhanced had there been an introduction to the works it contains.

Dying for a Drink (Eerdmanns, Grand Rapids 1999; 62pp; $8; ISBN 0 8028 4622 X) is co-authored by Alexander Dejong, a pastor who is an alcoholic, and Martin Doot, his doctor. This unusually frank book tells the story of Dejong's successful recovery and at the same time explain the social, medical and psychological elements of alcoholism. Although written within the North American scene, it may well be of help to alcoholics and their families in this country. It is available through Alban Books, 79 Park Street, Bristol BS1 5PF at £4.99.

Galatians (Routledge, London; 290pp; £16.99; ISBN 0415 110 378) by Philip F Esler, Dean of Divinity and Professor of Biblical Criticism at the University of St Andrews, is an illuminating and lively exposition of the Galatian letter. Esler believes that social scientific criticism is the key to the understanding of this book. Fascinating reading.

In Understanding Be Men (IVP, Leicester 1999; 198pp; £8.99; ISBN 0 85110 567 X) by T.C. Hammond which first saw the light of day in 1936, and was revised by D.F. Wright in 1968, has been reprinted yet again. Clearly this basic handbook of Christian doctrine meets a need, since over 100,000 copies have been sold. However, it is high time it is revised yet again. Not only are the extensive bibliographies dated, so is the title itself with all its sexist overtones.

Fans of Joyce Huggett will be glad to learn that Praying the Parables has been re-issued under the title Hearing Jesus: Exploring the Sower and the Good Samaritan (Eagle, Guildford, 1999; 144pp; £5.99; ISBN 0 86347 304 0). Part of Eagle's Exploring Prayer series, here is a book to savour slowly.

Nico ter Linden is a retired Dutch clergyman with a gift for story-telling. Under the generic heading, The story goes...., ter Linden is in the process of producing a five-volume work spanning most of the Biblical record. The first two volumes available in English are The stories of the Torah (SCM, London 1999; 296pp; £14.95; ISBN 0 334 02764 0) and Mark's story and Matthew's story (SCM, London 1999; 291pp; £14.95; ISBN 0 334 02765 9). It is important to note that ter Linden is more than a story teller - he is also an expositor. I found his interpretation very stimulating. Unfortunately there is one major drawback: the author's radical approach to the Biblical record. For example, ter Linden maintains that Jesus was never buried, and that the resurrection narratives are inventions of the evangelists.

The Essential John Stott (IVP, Leicester, 1999; 657 pp; £14.99; ISBN 0 85111 758 9) contains in one combined edition The Cross of Christ and The Contemporary Christian. Stott in his preface writes of the former, "More of my heart went into the writing of (it) than into any other book I have written. This is understandable, because the cross remains the very centre of our Christian faith, life and mission." Of the latter, subtitled "An urgent plea for double listening", he writes: "We listen to God as he continues to speak his word to us particularly through Scripture. But we must also listen to the often strident voices of the modern world, its cries and sighs of pain, its questioning, alienation and bewilderment, even its shouts of anger.