Books read May 2017

1. Fifty-Six: The Story of the Bradford Fire by Martin Fletcher  (Author)

An horrific account of a 12 year old bot going to football with his father, brother, uncle and grandfather but returning alone with the marks from a fire that killed 56 people. Amazingly, later he was also present at the Hillsborough disaster. His story. an emotional roller coaster is well told as is his investigation into why the official enquiry was so brief and reached a questionable verdict. The civil case brought by his mother found negligence and brought considerable compensation. Reviewers have criticised his research into the fire but it seems reasonable to me and totally incredible that the team's chairman could be without any culpability when his businesses had so often gone up in flames and he was enriched by insurance money. But if he was still alive would the publishers have printed the book as it is?  Minor criticism. Why no photos? Why only one map of the stand and that diagram far too late in the book. The author was of course chronically affected by his experience but he was also at times very unwise in his behaviour. One feels for him.

2. Victorian Pharmacy Remedies and Recipes by Jane Eastoe  (Author), Ruth Goodman (Foreword)

As a retired pharmacist I found this an informative and enjoyable rad. It starts with health and disease in Victorian Britain. It was nor a healthy plan, especially for the poor. There was ignorance as to the causes of diseases and few specific cures. The development of pharmacy is related with the licensing and appearance of chemists and druggists who complemented the traditional apothecaries, surgeons and physicians. Recipies for many  cures are given. I spotted one mistake. Cinchona bark does not come from South Africa but from South America. I started in pharmacy six decades after the end of the Victorian age and learned how to make many of the kinds of products described here but by 1963 pills were no longer made though they were still with us as a misnomer for tablets.

3. John Newton - Walter Chantry (editor)

2007 saw the bicentenary of the death of Newton. This issue of the Banner of Truth magazine commemorates the event with nine excellent articles, staring with John Newton 'a wonder to myself' by Iain Murray who as ever is an exceptionally accomplished historical author. The articles give a real feel for Newton, the catholic calvinist, warm and wise, an exceptional pastor.

4. Cricket and All That Hardcover by Henry Blofeld (Author)

Published in 2001 we have here an entertaining history of cricket  but it stops short of the 20:20 game. Sadly the history here begins and ends with gambling. How it affected the integrity of early cricket is not clear. But the love of money is the root of all evil and the modern affliction with Asian gambling has had a sad effect, some of which we will never know as it seems to have been officially hushed up. But the stories are great. Never again will I look upon Grace as a hero. Amazing cricketer he was but venal and unscrupulous totally belying his name. A game full of characters well portrayed by a gifted journalist.

5. Understanding the Scriptures: How to read and not to read the Bible (Christian perspectives series) by Arnold H De Graaff  (Author)

This is co-authored with Calvin G Seerveld and comes from Canada but its background is Dutch Reformed . Its purpose s to give what it calls a reformational reading of scripture. First it rightly asserts the Bible is not a book of moral tales to instruct in right and wrong but a history of God's covenantal dealing with his people. A covenant theology is the lens though which the progress of revelation is seen. At first I found disconcerting the view that the Bible does not teach propositional truths about God. But what this means is made clearer when the usual ways of reading Scripture are critiqued. These are put as fundamentalist evangelical which seeks to draw moral lesson, neo-orthodox which deconstructs text by rationalistic literary criticism and finally an orthodox scholastic approach which sees task as to  the find theological doctrines in Scripture. A case study is given in how to understand Numbers 22-24 from a covenantal perspective. I believe the authors are right. If you merely want moral lessons any literature can provide it. You might as well studyuyy Shakespeare. But the Bible is salvation history and must be read from the perspective of the saving acts of the covenant God.

6.Christianity and Islam under colonialism in northern Nigeria by Jan Harm Boer (Author)

This booklet was written in response to a Nigerian newspaper article in 1974 which the writer equated British colonialism in northern Nigeria with christianisation. Boer did his doctorate on the relation between colonialism and a Christian mission in this country and this booklet draws on that more detailed study. British missionaries were supporters of the colonial enterprise. They were children of their age. They especially welcomed it for putting an end to the slavery which is horrifically described here. But the British government chose to rule through the Muslim emirs and not to disturb their political hegemony by allowing the missionaries to evangelise. Missions were restricted to the area of followers of traditional African religion. The missionaries believed such restrictions unwarranted, a denial of religious liberty. They also objected to being told that for their own health they could not live within 440 yards of the locals. It was erroneously thought that mosquitoes could not fly that far.There was co-operation in some work. notably education but the missionaries were concerned that government grants meant government control and secularised education. The general conclusion of this book is that the colonial regime was more helpful to the spread of Islam rather than being in cahoots with Christian missionaries, some of whom took very courageous stands against the powers that be and on one occasion maintained discreet silence so as not to embarrass Britain in WWI. A most excellent small corrective to the myth of colonialism being the friend of Christian mission. Remember, the British kept Carey out of their India. The one spect of colonialism praised is the abolition of the slave trade as soon as the British came to rule. However he fails to mention that slavery was not outlawed until the 1920s.

7 Christians and mobilization by Jan Harm. Boer (Author)

The author was a career missionary with over 30 years service in Northern Nigeria. His concern is the mobilise the Christian poor to communally take action against injustice and corruption. He investigates why the rural peasants have traditionally been subservient, suffering under an often unjust authority structure. He also sees submission to hierarchy in church life too. Pastors may be part of the problem. So this is his liberation theology for northern Nigeria.

8 .Wholistic health care of, for and by the people by Rev. (DR.) Jan H Boer

When an African is helped by Western type heath care, he may go to a practitioner of African Traditional Medicine for further help. Boer says this is because what he calls biomedicine is concerned solely with the physical aspects of life to the neglect of the whole man who is a spiritual psyco-somatic unity. How to make biomedicine wholistic is the theme of this book. It describes a practical programme for wholistic health care by Christians in Northern Nigeria.

9, Can We Have Our Balls Back, Please?: How the British Invented Sport by Julian Norridge

If you want to know the origins of a given sport, look here. Some, like baseball, will surprise you. Only one big sport, basketball, has no British links. This British history of sport is inextricably intertwines with two things, class and gambling. Perhaps a chapter on the history of bookmaking would have been appropriate.

10. African Art (World of Art) by Frank Willett  (Author)

Here we have a comprehensive guide to the study of African art. Its history is examined as is African architecture and sculpture. The highlight is many illustrations most in colour.

11.The Christian Idea of the State (University Series Historical Studies) by Herman Dooyeweerd (Author)

The Dutch Christian philosopher, Dooyeweerd is not easy to read. I never mastered his New Critique of Theoretical Thought so the latter part of this work which draws on his modalities of theoretical thought is hard going. Tis is the translation of a 1936 address to the youth movement of a Dutch political party. Dutch political youth in 1936 must have had a much superior understanding. But they would have been familiar, as I am, with the concept of sphere sovereignty. The study starts with rejection of the nature/grace dichotomy and dualism which comes from Aristotle and Aquinas. I can see here where Schaeffer later derived his views on Aquinas, nature and grace. He shows how the pagan idea of the state puts reason at the centre of being. The state is the highest bong of human society and societal relationships are but dependent parts. This leads to the totalitarianism  of National Socialism. He shows the Roman Catholic view of the state falls away from the Christian conception of the kingdom of God over all. Similarly Lutheran dualism falls short with its law gospel polarity. He says Calvin had the Scriptural view of law as boundary between God and creature. He critiques the modern humanistic world and life view. He sees this producing an individualistic idea of the state. State absolutism holds absolute sovereignty of state over church which is relegated to the private sphere only. Sphere sovereignty opposes autonomy of the state controlling all of life. There are separate sovereign law spheres. The state exists because of sin and therefore unilateral national disarmament is a denial of the duty of the state to protect its citizens. The state is not subject to an ecclesiastical creed . But I am unclear as to the place of religious pluralism. Not an easy read but much to provoke thought and discussion.

12. Psychology: The encounter of Christianity with secular science (Foundation series) by Robert D Knudsen (Author)

Written from the perspective of Reformed Christianity means that this booklet asserts there is no such thing as a neutral psychology as the secularist would advocate. Trends in psychology are examined as per the 1980 setting of the booklet. Fundamental to Christian understanding is a Christian philosophical anthropology. The traditional doctrine of the soul is rejected in favour of man as a unity. with transcendental relations. The implications are examined for counselling and the phenomenology of religion. Not the easiest of topics to understand.

13. Road Accidents: Prevent or Punish? by J.J. Leeming  (Author), G.M. Mackay (Author), K. F. M. Pole (Author)

Written in 1969 this excellent book is in need of an up to date revision as things have moved on in the last 48 years. But the basic thesis of the book is still relevant. Why is the motorist always held to be the one responsible for road traffic accidents? The principle author, a road traffic engineer shows this is wrong. Other factors like the condition of the road or signage are often to blame. There are contributions from both a lawyer and a doctor who both question received wisdom. Some of the points raised will be a surprise. What evidence is there to show that  banning drivers prevents accidents? Are absolute offences like exceeding the arbitrary blood alcohol level  just laws? One concludes that good points have been made by the authors but they have been ignored by the powers that be and by prejudiced public opinion.

14.The Holy Qur'an: Transliteration in Roman Script with Arabic Text and English Translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali (Translator)

My copy was first published in 1934 and I was given it in 1983. I have read it once before. It is the only book I have read a second time out of duty not for pleasure.  Roman script translation into English of commentary as Muslims would say as the Quran is only in original Arabic.  There is additional helpful commentary which gives the resumed setting of the various chapters. Why it is revered in this seemingly random order is a mystery to me for they are not chronological concerning their supposed revelation. The order seems random not orderly. Comparison with the Bible is inevitable but unreal. Here is no variety of literary style. No history, psalms or epistles and certainly no gospel. There are many references to Bible characters but no detailed telling of their stories. The nearest is probably Joseph and here there is some difference in the history. Overall this book does not move me but bores. It is often about hell fire in each sura. Salvation is by the will of God according to works. Any grace is an arbitrary judgment of an absolute ruler. 

15. It's All Free for Seniors: Cash Sources and Free Benefits by John Clarke 

This is not a list of freebies for OAPs but a handbook for claiming benefits and getting credit. If you have money do not spend it on this.

17. The encounter of Christianity with secular science: Sociology by Robert D Knudsen

Mine is a 1981 edition. Modern sociology is considered in terms of foundation problems, form and content, norm and fact, general and specific. Then the problem of individual and community, universalism, individualism. Marxist sociology is examined. The author rejecting any secular, neutral common ground moves to formulate a Christian sociology from a largely Dutch reformed perspective. From a reformation view of calling we move to Kuyper's development of sphere sovereignty examining family, state, industry and church.

18. Understanding the Times by G. I. Williamson

Published in 1979 but still relevant this seems to be a study guide for Christian groups a each chapter concludes with questions and projects. The storm of rejecting of traditional Christianity is described in different spheres of life, the the causes, attempted solutions and the biblical answer. The author draws a lot on the work of Francis Schaeffer and this book sums ups lot of Schaeffer's thought and  work.