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For those books that need to be included but do not fit into our other categories

Cuttle Fish, Clones and Cluster Bombs by Michael S. Northcott In Cuttlefish, Clones and Cluster Bombs Michael Northcott presents us with a book comprising a collection of his own sermons. A “must-read” it deserves a much wider audience than any he had when speaking from a pulpit. Deeply disturbing, they are far more than a series of rants by an “intellectual lefty”, as their author describes himself. He unerringly puts his finger on some of the many issues that trouble those who are concerned about the world they live in, peace and justice. Fossil fuels, the arms trade, man-made climate change, the downside of globalisation, and the abuse of developing countries by the western world are but five of the difficult areas on which he focuses. Northcott’s point of view is uncompromisingly that of a committed Christian, not that of the politician. He stands shoulder to shoulder with the poor and the weak without a trace of sentimentality. Cuttlefish, Clones and Cluster Bombs deserves to be read and to have its message heeded. Review by Bob Page  (30/08/10)

Living Dialogue - Chiara Lubich on Christian Unity by Chiara Lubich This book is a selection of talks given by Chiara Lubich at various ecumenical meetings in Switzerland in 2002. Chiara Lubich was the founder of the Focolare movement (in Italian “family hearth”) which is devoted to the ideal of unity between all nations, religions and races. The movement was founded in 1943 in Italy, but has now spread to one hundred and eighty countries and is embraced by over three hundred and fifty different churches, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox, as well as members of other faiths. The aim of the movement is a “spirituality of unity”. The talks that are included in this book embrace all of Chiara Lubich’s fundamental beliefs: universal love and understanding, even in diversity, mutual forgiveness and trust and friendship among all people of all faiths. These talks are full of profound and precious ideas. They are above all a message of hope “that they all may be one.” Review by John Irvine  (30/08/10)

The New Atheism - 10 Arguments That Don't Hold Water by Michael Poole In some respects I have found it a challenge to review this book. Michael Poole is in favour of the old earth approach and seeing God as either directing or initiating evolution, also he does not see the opening chapters of Genesis as a literal description of Creation. This enables him to take a liberal view of the Bible. Michael Poole’s book addresses arguments raised by the new atheists from a largely philosophical standpoint. He shows several examples of faulty reasoning in their philosophy of the new atheism. In addition he highlights inaccuracies and distortions in their books. For example Dawkins does not mention in The Root of All Evil any Christians who have done good works for society, i.e. Wilberforce, or atheists who have done evil, i.e. Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot. Michael takes a position of fairness towards Dawkins, Dennett and Hitchens.. He notes that Dawkins titles his book The Root of All Evil , but later in print Dawkins says he dislikes the title as no single one thing could be the root of everything. Michael notes this as a point of fairness to Dawkins, yet as far as I understand, Dawkins has not changed the title of the book or put a disclaimer regarding the title in the book. I would recommend reading this book in order to have an understanding on the New Atheists and the weakness in their views, however this goes with the warning that Michael does write from a liberal view of the Bible. Review by Barbara Stoneham  (23/08/10)

Philip Pullman’s Jesus by Gerald Collins In Philip Pullman's previous writing he issues a serious challenge to the reader to look again at the Gospels, and ask whether or not it is reasonable to believe what the Church teaches about the founder of the Christian faith. Gerald O'Collins, author of over 50 books and professor of theology at the Gregorian University in Rome for over 30 years, wrestles with these 'story' claims of Pullman significantly in this helpful and compact little title. "Jesus is not in a position to correct misrepresentations, especially serious ones that the public, often pretty gullible in these matters, is inclined to accept at face value," O'Collins writes. He believes that Pullman's aim is always a predetermined garment of doubt on "belief in the divine identity of Jesus". The Jesuit priest asks if the author used "or rather misused the story of Jesus to wage war on Christianity". O'Collins outs Pullman for "picking, choosing and changing" what he wants from the gospels, altering the story "over and over again in the interests of his own 'truth' or ideology", making historical errors and conducting poor historical research. This slim volume is written with authority, passion and flair and is a vital and timely cultural response! Review by Johnny Douglas  (23/08/10)

Broken Hearts & New Creations - Intimations of a Great Reversal by James Alison James Alison’s latest collection of essays and addresses is as stimulating as ever, containing many refreshing explorations of scriptural passages, and full of humanity and wit (I loved the way he used the famous composer Rossini, in chapter 2!). His debt to the writings of René Girard comes across clearly, and I must say he helps me at least to begin to grasp the meaning of Girard’s notions of ‘mimetic desire’ and the ‘scapegoat mechanism’ (and its undoing). He writes passionately about being gay, as a “regularly occurring minority variant in the human condition, rather than a vice or pathology.” Despite Alison’s evident love for the Church as ‘God’s way of giving us eternal life’, he has come to believe that “the current characterisation of gay people held by the Roman congregations is not true” (page 57 Review by Barry Vendy  (18/08/10)

7/7 Muslim Perspectives Edited by Murtaza Shibli This is an important book that all Christians and those of no faith at all would do well to read. We are fed by the media with half truths and their biased perspective. This book is a collection of essays by Muslim individuals, not speaking on behalf of any organisations, but giving their own very personal and objective observations on the affect of the 7/7 terrorist bombings in London. This point is made very strongly by the contributors; these men were terrorists, acting contrary to the teaching of Islam not to hurt innocent people. We forget that four innocent Muslims died among the 52 victims of 7/7. Muslims had much to grieve about, and yet the media encouraged fear of all Muslims, and it is interesting to learn that this fear was generated not just between Non-Muslims and Muslims but between Muslims themselves. These contributions are from those who have been able to take advantage of the opportunities available in this country. They are highly educated, intelligent men and women who are working diligently to encourage integration and participation of minorities in the political and social life of Britain. The brief biographies at the start of each piece are well worth reading on their own. Would that the media spread more news of this aspect of Islam. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Review by Mary Bartholomew  (14/08/10)

Suffer the Children - Dispatches To and From the Front Line by Andrew White – ‘The Vicar of Baghdad’
ISBN: 978-1-847-06374-8 Price: £9.99	Published: June 2010
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Baptizing Harry Potter - A Christian reading of J.K.Rowling by Luke Bell
ISBN: 978-1-587-68058-8 Price: £11.50	Published: 30 September 2010
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Thy Kingdom Connected - What the Church Can Learn From Facebook the Internet and Other Networks by Dwight Friesen
ISBN: 978-0-801-07163-8 Price: £11.99	Published: 2009
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The Last Banana - Dancing With the Watu by Shelby Tucker
ISBN: 978-1-906-76821-8 Price: £17.99	Published: 2010
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What Good is God - On the Road With Stories of Grace by Philip Yancey
ISBN: 978-0-340-99614-0 Price: £12.99	Published: 16 September 2010
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The Art of Allowing - The Breath in Meditation and in Life by Louis Hughes OP
ISBN: 978-1-856-07694-4 Price: £11.50	Published: 2010
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Journey to the Common Good by Walter Brueggemann
ISBN: 978-0-664-23516-1 Price: £11.99	Published: April 2010
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Housekeeping for the Soul - A Practical Guide to Restoring Your Inner Sanctuary by Sandra Carrington-Smith
ISBN: 978-1-846-94281-5 Price: £10.99	Published: 2010
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On Juniper Mountain - A Journey in the Himalayas by Angela Locke
ISBN: 978-1-846-94301-0 Price: £11.99	Published: 2010
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Coming Closer to Christ - Confession and Forgiveness by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
ISBN: 978-0-281-06203-4 Price: £10.99	Published: 19 November 2009
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The Good Funeral Guide - Everything You Need to Know, Everything You Need to Do by Charles Cowling
ISBN: 978-1-441-15731-7 Price: £14.99	Published: 20 May 2010
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Mere Theology by Alister McGrath
ISBN: 978-0-281-06209-6 Price: £10.99	Published: 15 April 2010
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Faith in Politics? - Rediscovering The Christian Roots of Our Political Values – Sarum Theological Lectures by Richard Harries
ISBN: 978-0-232-52787-2 Price: £12.95	Published: February 2010
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The Rage Against God by Peter Hitchens
ISBN: 978-1-441-10572-1 Price: £16.99	Published: 22 March 2010
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