Books read in December 2007 (10)

1. Evangelicalism in Britain, 1935-95: A Personal Sketch by Oliver R. Barclay

Barclay starts with,"In the late 1920s, Hensley Henson, the then Bishop of Durham, famously described evangelicals as 'an army of illiterates generalled by octogenarians'. ... In the 1990s the situation is clearly very different." Reading this modern historical study of 60 years of growth of evangelicalism is most encouraging. It is easy, from a decent distance in time, to have a good perspective on the history of centuries before one's time, but being close to the history of one's own time, a view with real depth of perspective is more difficult. Barclay manages this well . he writes with personal knowledge of the people involved. his perspective is English and Anglican so coverage of the other UK countries is thinner as are comments on the charismatic movement where Barclay was not so involved. Ten years after this book was published, things have moved on. here you will find no New Perspective on Paul nor Emerging Church, but you will have a superb overview of how evangelical Christianity has developed and grown in the U.K. since its low point in the 1920s and you will get to know more about the characters involved . Here also is wise counsel on the strengths and weaknesses of the older and the more modern developments in evangelical belief and life. For example,
"Evangelicals are not good at the compromises that are a necessary part of practical politics, because they tend to want to fight for a totally Christian solution, and therefore often get nothing. The nineteenth century reformer such as Wilberforce and Shaftesbury knew how to get something rather than nothing and then how to build on that progressively, even though they were sometimes misunderstood as compromisers by their contemporaries. They also knew how to pitch their campaigns so as to win the support of many who would not be in agreement doctrinally."
Barclay also shows how the academics are often behind the times. After WWI, society was disillusioned with the previous optimism about human progress but the academics still clung on to an optimistic liberal theology. Their students though were increasingly coming to an evangelical faith still scorned by the academics.


2. A Delicious Slice of Johnners by Brian Johnston

I know of only one book funnier than this one, "1066 and All That". This book is autobiography, history of the BBC, a compendium of cricket history and stories plus a treasure trove of humour which will serve as an good resource for all after dinner speakers or any one who loves to relate a good joke or cricket tale. Th author was an Eton and Oxford man, who on demobilisation from the army after WWII, found, through his old boy network, employment in BBC radio outside broadcasts. The delightful world of the old BBC radio is related before the author goes on to fame as a cricket commentator. He enjoyed a happy family life with five children and he movingly relates the arrival of a daughter with Downs Syndrome. He writes in glowing terms of his local parish church though he was but a seasonal attender. If you ant to laugh out loud, their are few better treats than A Slice of Johnners. If you want great cricketing memories read this.


3. Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity and Islam by Joseph Ratzinger and Marcello Pera

Pera is a philosopher and politician. He writes masterfully on Relaivism, Christianity and the West. He sees Europe as a culture demoralised by relativism. His critique is devastating. He sees little hope against a resurgent Islam. The Pope writes very well on The Spiritual Roots of Europe. Being who he is he is more restrained and certainly unlike, Pera, very quiet on Islam. Ratzinger shows a real understanding of Evangelicals and their message, much more so than the media critics of Bush. He would not agree with Pera on Iraq and later in the book disputes Pera's interesting idea of an established non-denominational Christianity as the civil religion of Europe. but then how could the Pope put his imprimatur on any church other than the Roman variety? After all is is the only true church is it not? Ratzinger gives a brilliant critique of secular muticulturalism and recalls Europe to Christian roots. He is a pope this Presbyterian can applaud.In the second half of the book the two men exchange one letter each. I wish it had been more and that an index had been added. An excellent book which should be read by all who care about the future of Europe.

4. Through Many Dangers: The Story of John Newton - Brian Edwards

I rarely pay a book the compliment of a second read but the opportunity to hear the author speak on Newton at Newton's old church in London prompted me to reread and i was not disappointed. This is not the up to date and scholarly work of Aitken but a good spiritual biography of a great and influential man whose life was turned around by that grace of God which newton praised in his famous hymn. The major shortcoming of this book is a lack of footnotes to source the quotes. Quotes are displayed in an unusual style and I did find one instance where they were opened and not closed. Minor factual criticism is over the contemporary use of tobacco. From Cowper's "Ode to TobaccO" which lauds its delights I cannot agree that Cowper considered pipe smoking as a foul practice or that he was derisive with his words, "Smoke-inhaling Bull". For two centuries Englishmen had enjoyed there pipes undisturbed except for the criticism of a certain king imported from Scotland. My only other dissent is a matter of taste over the architecture of St. Mary, Woolnoth. As Edwards is a pastor his biography does not give us the political depth of Aitken. But comparisons are odious. This is a biography written in a popular style which will be read to inform and will bless. I think you do get more of the words of Newton from this biographer.


5. Carey, Christ and Cultural Transformation by Ruth Mangalwadi, Vishal Mangalwadi

This brief excellent book is not so much a biography of Carey but rather a tribute to his vastly underestimated influence on modern India. It is all the better for being written by Indian Christians who share Carey's critique of Hinduism as the greatest problem which faces India. The book is as valuable for its explanation of Hinduism as for carey. I learned why this religion can have places for both pure wives and prostitutes, spirituality and sex manuals. This book is as much a critique of Hinduism as it is appreciation of the great missionary. Before I read this book I thought Carey the greatest missionary since Paul of Tarsus. This book confirms and strengthens my opinion. It starts with a quiz to bring out the wide effects of Carey's life and work. and earn him the accolade of the central character in the story of the modernization of India. His shortcomings are not glossed over both in the chapter about his first wife and the one describing him as a jar of clay. But this man plodded on despite all the adversities and trials which apart from physical torture and imprisonment, may exceed those of the great apostle himself. Carey is shown to be no mere preacher and translator but the man whose holistic view of the christian message did help transform India from the backward cash cow of the British Empire which it was on Carey's arrival. The copy I read was inscribed by the author, "For the regeneration of England". This tells how the Christian gospel, applied to all of life, is the only hope for real beneficial transformation in any culture. It also should squash any reader's appreciation of multiculturalism unless their view of this folly can encompass suttee and Juggernaut. I am left desiring more from the authors.

6. Manage Your Mood: Using Behavioural Activation to Manage Your Mood by David Veale , Rob Willson

Depression is a problem for many people. This book may well help. It gives good factual information on depression and how to help yourself overcome it. I only wish I could have read it more than thirty years ago. It tells you not to navel gaze when depressed. Do not seek to ascertain why you are depressed but instead do something to climb out of the slough of despond. if i have one criticism it would be that in doing so the authors fail to critique whether or not modern western society has wrong expectations of happiness. Some people need to start with the realisation that life is a bitch you have to live with. Doctors do not have panaceas to prescribe for all the trials of life. The help drugs may give, their limitations, problems and benefits are fairly related but what is strongly advocated is behavioral activation and cognitive behavioral therapy. Help is given to get the reader started. this is a book to give hope and help. If you are depressed, read and act. If you want to understand, help and counsel the depressed, this will be of benefit. The authors are not in any way religious but they have a holistic approach with a place for the spiritual. A professing Christian, skeptical of unbelieving psychiatry may read this book with benefit.

7. DICKIE BIRD: MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY by DICKIE BIRD

When one considers the nonentities who now get top honours one is left wondering why this greatest living Yorkshire-man is not Lord Bird of Barnsley. This book alone should have earned him a knighthood. It is a million times a better read than Rushdie who unlike Bird has brought no joy to Bradford. Bird soars. He is the sublime Yorkshire-man, the eccentric Englishman to perfection. To read him is to love him. Our greatest ever umpire and now a best-selling author too. Eee by gum. There's none to match him. Cricket history and funny stories here abound, all mixed with Yorkshire grit and common sense, an attribute sadly in short supply in our PC mad world. Fair and funny, a Bird to enrich the garden of life is Dickie.

8. Schott's Almanac 2008 by Ben Schott

I asked for this on my Christmas present list on the strength of an appealing advertisement on Classic FM. I was not disappointed. It is a traditional almanac with reviews of the past year and calendar information for the coming year. But it's delight is the esoteric lists it gives from past and present. One significant omission is a table for tax free day in different countries. I would also like some information on birth rates according to etnicity. This book is a mine of useless information and will be a great help to anyone wanting to compose a trivia quiz. I love it and may but it on myCchristmas list for the 2009 edition.

9. Scottish Life and Society: A Compendium of Scottish Ethnology: Scotland's Domestic Life v. 6 (Scottish Life & Society 6) by Susan Storrier

I got this book by mistake from the local library. I asked for the volume on religion but was sent this instead. however it proved to be a fascinating read on all aspects of Scottish domestic life with the possible exceptions of alcohol and tobacco which I think deserve inclusion. There is a comprehensive history here of all things domestic which will add to anyone's learning. Fof example I learned of Cromwell's tax on soap and Christmas banned in Scotland long before England's Commonwealth.

10. Absurd Adverts - Tobar Ltd.

Humourous ads, some deliberate, some by miatake. A goood laugh.

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