REVIEWS

WEST

Written by: Kenneth Steven

Published by: Wild Goose Publications

Price: £6.99

This evocative volume by one of Scotland’s best known poets of faith is essentially a tribute to his late sister, a committed member of the Iona Community and a well-known peace campaigner.

But it is not just a labour of love – it is a journey through words depicting the dramatic and glorious landscapes of Scotland, captured in a tiny number of words that vividly recreate images in the mind.

A small number of poems will be familiar to regular readers of Life and Work, but many are new and as ever, beautiful in their sparsity of words.

Rooted in Celtic spirituality and a deep seated Christian faith, the book is beautifully illustrated with Celtic symbols which add to the appeal of the volume, which steers readers not only around Scotland, but its everchanging seasonal landscape.

The volume will be enjoyed and appreciated not only by those who support and endorse the work of the Iona Community but has widespread appeal not only to literary enthusiasts but to those both inside and outside Scotland with an interest in some of the places featured in Steven’s finely woven word pictures.

RICHARD DAWKINS, C S LEWIS AND THE MEANING OF LIFE

Written by: Alister McGrath

Published by: SPCK

Price: £7.99

As a leading Oxford academic (he is the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford) Alister McGrath has written extensively about the work and views of two fellow Oxford academics – the famed scientist and atheist, Richard Dawkins and the atheist turned Christian and celebrated author, the late C S Lewis.

Drawing on his extensive research and understanding of the two fellow academics, he off ers a conversation based on some of the big questions both have raised within their work and perspectives.

Whilst the conversation could never have taken place (C S Lewis died in November 1963), the ideas adopted by both academics had the potential for a fascinating conversation – and it is this which is the source of inspiration for the book.

In an introduction McGrath explains that discussion is sometimes more interesting and helpful than debate in exploring diff erence and some of the big questions of human existence and off ers what might have come from a conversation between both. He explains that he has learned much from reading and listening to the views of both academics featured within the book. He writes: ‘Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist who moved from a somewhat nominal Anglicanism to a committed atheism; Lewis is a literary scholar who moved from atheism to what he styled as ‘mere Christianity’ – a form of Christianity that downplayed its denominational aspects. Both are gifted writers with an enviable capacity for communication, especially in making difficult ideas easy to grasp. And both were leading Oxford academics in their day, perhaps making it appropriate for me – another Oxford academic! – to reflect on their ideas.’

McGrath’s writing is always compelling and fascinating but on this occasion he concedes that he is allowing the two constrasting writers and academics to ‘speak for themselves’ and simply off ering comment or reflection from his own experience.

EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS WITH MATTHEW

Written by: John Holdsworth

Published by: SCM

Price: £12.99

The author, the Venerable Dr John Holdsworth is currently working as Executive Archdeacon of the Anglican Dioceses of Cyprus and the Gulf.

Noticing that the gospel of ‘Matthew has fewer friends than he once had’, he has written the book with the stated aim of encouraging readers to rediscover the book of Matthew, whilst also shedding light on to its diff erence with the books of Mark, Luke and John.

He endeavours to bring the Gospel into the lives and circumstances of readers with a journey through Matthew in eight chapters and can be used individually or as part of a group study.

The premise of the book is perhaps best summed up by his final words of introduction: ‘At the end of the book I hope it will be clear that reading Matthew is a matter of entering into a conversation with someone to whom Jesus meant much; and trying to find out why it mattered and why it matters to us.’

NO NEUTRAL GROUND

Finding Jesus in a Cape Town Ghetto

Written by: Pete Portal

Published by: Hodder and Stoughton

Price: £13.99

Testimonies of a journey to faith are always powerful and fascinating to readers and this book is no exception.

From a traditional Anglican tradition (including time as a choirboy) to studying theology at New College in Edinburgh, Portal felt a powerful call to serve in South Africa.

The call led to one of the poorest ghettoes in Cape Town and ultimately to the planting of a church community among the most downtrodden and poorest in society.

The book brings together the journey and a collection of inspiring and transformative stories amid the challenges of hopelessness and despair, demonstrating the power of a God at work.

Lynne McNeil