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Christian thoughts and moral guidance

Archive - Books reviewed in 2008

Cherishing the Earth - How to Care for God’s Creation by Martin J Hodson & Margot R Hodson This book represents a personal journey of learning and faith by the joint authors, one a theologian and one a scientist. In it they weave together different aspects of the present environmental debate and they argue that the size of the problem demands that a spiritual as well as material response be brought into effect to enable us to face the demands that climate change and other environmental challenges bring. Drawing heavily on their own travels and scientific experiences and using biblical examples, the two authors examine many of the threats facing our world today and offer a word of hope that the church is finally waking up to its environmental responsibilities. Review by George Taylor  (14/10/08)

Climate Change and Christian Faith CD Sir John Houghton CBE, FRS conversing with Canon John Young No ISBN, the number quoted is purely for the use of our data base. This is one of several York Courses topic tapes/CDs covering diverse subjects. Climate Change is the ‘hot topic’ in much of the media and rightly so. This conversation was recorded prior to the G8 Summit in 2007 and is between a Scientist and a Theologian. Their discussion could have been above the average listener’s head, but not so. I listened with interest and understanding, and then listened again, and shall do yet again. Sir John has had a fascinating and influential career and to start with John Young encourages him to talk about the work he has been involved with throughout the years. Sir John considers Climate Change and associated problems to be of prime concern to all peoples and explains why and what will happen over time if we do not act now. They discuss this opinion at length then move on to Sir John’s Christian belief and inevitably what he thinks of Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion. John Young prompts him to talk about how he can believe when many scientists do not. Sir John points out that many scientists do believe in God, and they discuss this at length. Highly recommended. To find out about Sir John’s writings see www.jri.org.uk A very special deal of a multipack of 5 copies is available for £10 (UK p& p free). This is to enable churches or groups to buy them as giveaways or even to sell on if they wish. Review by Mary Bartholomew  (30/01/08)

Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living by Nick Spencer & Robert White Essential reading for any Christian who feels strongly that their discipleship involves a concern to do something about climate change and even more essential reading for those who don’t! This book is so much more than a book of ‘green theology’ and whilst it includes some aspects of environmental theology the theological approach is much wider, drawing on the basics of relational theology and our responsibility to our neighbour and for justice within our world. The detailed science of climate change is explained simply for the lay person; as is the Biblical basis for our need to care for the whole of creation; leading to a final section offering a realistic vision of a world of sustainable living, which provides a better future for us all, and clear recommendations of how we might begin to fulfil that vision. Review by Mary Austin  (09/01/08)

Living With the Planet - Making a Difference in a Time of Climate Change by Catherine von Ruhland From March of the Penguins to an Inconvenient Truth, the issue of Global warming is a topic we can not and should not avoid. Often these Hollywood films are apocalyptic in nature, “if we do not, then.....” as are many books on the subject. If they are not doom and gloom, then books from a “green perspective” are usually manuals on how to recycle bottles and change to energy efficient light bulbs. As someone who has been involved with the environmental movement for nearly 20 years it is nice to come across a book that doesn't either hype the situation or treat me like a child. Yes we still need advice on how we can change our habits but we need to be treated like intelligent adults. Thankfully Catherine von Ruhland does just that. No stranger to the environmental debate (she wrote Going Green: A Christian Guide 15 years before the similar How Many Christians Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb came out) von Ruhland takes a different path to many books and breaks the issue down in a number of ways. The first way is to look at Global Warming across the continents, including Antarctica, and also looks at the situation as a whole for the land and the oceans. It is this that gives the chapter outlines. In the chapters there are heroes, those who changed the way we look at the world around us. These include Jacques Cousteau, Rachel Carson (who alerted the world to the dangers of DDT), Chico Mendes, and Peter Scott founder of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. The chapters also contain success stories where habitat and wildlife have been saved, action points of what we can do and contact agencies where we can get help or information. Even so this book is not without fault. The USA is seen as the bad guy for not signing up to the Kyoto agreement yet no mention is made of the other nations (including Japan and Australia) who have also shown a reluctance to sign something which they see as unscientific. Also no mention is made of the USA being a leading centre for alternative fuel technology for cars - nearly all our hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been developed in the USA with government backing at some level. As Lion is a Christian publishing house it would have been nice to see some use of Scripture, but the book is no weaker for that. One for anyone who wants to do what they can for God's Earth. Review by Phelim McIntyre  (30/08/08)

Planetwise - Dare to Care for God’s World by Dave Bookless The author, Dave Bookless, is a contemporary evangelist who has taken his ministry into areas of environmental concern. His book argues that as human beings we need to look at climate change as a symptom of our misuse of our planet’s resources and look beyond the use of technology to solve the problem. He uses the Bible holistically to support his argument and does not rely only on certain selected Bible verses but also takes the reader on a journey from the creation to the events surrounding Jesus. This is one man’s view of the story of God, and how his work is being treated by mankind and how God is entrusting his people to repair, renew and care for his Creation. Review by George Taylor  (14/10/08)

Saving Planet Earth by Colin A Russell This book, we are told, is for busy, ordinary people. From someone used to writing academic books, this book is very readable and amidst the serious business of this subject there is frequent humour. In the first chapter, Colin Russell grabs our attention by tackling the four main reasons that people use to avoid the subject: It’s depressing, difficult, demeaning or even dangerous. The book then covers the main issues that Christians should be mindful of – earth is our God-given home, it has become polluted and ravaged and climate change is a fact that won’t go away. Dealing systematically and clearly with the facts, and opposition to them, we are left in no doubt about the seriousness of the problem and the book then develops into a well-structured presentation of the need for Christians to respond to the matter. There is a useful appendix recording the Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation. This is a timely book and I thoroughly recommend it. Review by Paddy Beresford  (17/04/08)

‘L’ is for Lifestyle - Christian Living Doesn’t Cost the Earth - New Edition by Ruth Valerio
ISBN: 978-1-844-74343-8 Price: £7.99	Published: 2008
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A Moral Climate - The Ethics of Global Warming by Michael S. Northcott
ISBN: 978-0-232-52668-4 Price: £12.95	Published: 27 August 2007
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Books reviewed in 2009

Books reviewed in 2008

Books reviewed in 2007