Reviews Articles
The Jesus Myth: A psychologist’s viewpoint, by Chris Scott
This short book is an accessible, non-scholarly exploration of who Jesus was, and what his life and death can mean for us. It challenges what it regards as the Anglican Church’s interpretations or misinterpretations, offering a fresh look at Jesus and the myths that surround him. It looks at â€...
All is One Love by Stephen Sayers
All is One Love: Reflections upon the transpersonal psychology of time and eternity The title All is One Love certainly attracted me, but what in heaven’s name is ‘transpersonal psychology’? Stephen Sayers, with his decades of experience, defines it as ‘setting out to develop the rich synergistic opportunities promised...
Prisons of the World, by Andrew Coyle
This is a remarkable tour de force by Andrew Coyle, an enlightened, experienced governor of prisons, and professor of prison studies.
An Enchanted Place, by Jonathan Stedall
Our Friend Jonathan Stedall is best known as a documentary maker. But after retiring he began writing. His first book was a spiritual autobiography, Where on Earth is Heaven?, followed by No Shore Too Far, poems after the death of his wife. This is his first fiction.
Sowing Seeds for the Future: Exploring the power of constructive nonviolent action, by Andrew Rigby
This is an important book and merits a place in every Meeting house. It is an exploration and evaluation of techniques and concepts by which nonviolent protest can become most productive – or, as Andrew puts it, ‘the intention to bridge the gap between what is and what ought to be’.
A Sudden Mirror: Collected poems, by Roger Iredale
This well-crafted collection of poems is a distillation of its author’s experience and reflection acquired through travels all over the world. The poems conjure up images of people and their plights that are especially relevant for Friends concerned with truth, peaceful relationships, and the alleviation of poverty.
The Gospels: A new translation, by Sarah Ruden
Online searches for ‘Quaker Bible’ tend to find Anthony Purver, who spent thirty years translating both Testaments. He struggled to find a publisher until the Quaker physician John Fothergill bought the copyright and published it in 1764. It was not a success.
Outgrowing Dawkins: God for grown-ups, by Rupert Shortt
I have a feeling that neither atheists nor the irreligious (nor the indifferent) will really feel the need to read this book. They’ve made up their minds, as Rupert Shortt indicates in a chapter entitled ‘A dialogue of the deaf’. But it’s important for the religiously inclined to...
Loving Earth: Some starting points for Earthcare – an alphabet book from the Quaker Arts Network
The Quaker Arts Network, which hopefully is familiar to many readers, has a soul child: The Loving Earth Project. It comprises a series of fabric panels on an ecological theme, and everyone is invited to be part of it. I would personally describe it as creative campaign, using textile art...
We Speak Crisis Here, by Violet White
This small pamphlet of poems is remarkable. I commend it to any Friend who feels deeply the wounds we witness and experience in the world. White speaks from the heart of the intense suffering in our world, and of unbearable and unthinkable atrocities. She lays them before us in poetic...