Reviews

Preece offers a critique of Peter Singer’s ethics from a specifically Christian perspective.

This is an excellent book by a devout Muslim who is in a unique position to give a bird’s-eye view of modern Islam. It is refreshingly honest and extremely insightful.

The Lotus and the Cross. Jesus Talks with Buddha. Ravi Zacharias. Oregon: Multnomah Publishers Inc., 2001
This is a very useful and penetrating book, which helpfully covers some of the foundational Buddhist concepts. I did feel somewhat uncomfortable at the device Zacharias uses, involving a projection of what Jesus might have said. Jesus was notoriously unpredictable, […]

This is an excellent book aimed at equipping western-trained to teach in cross-cultural situations. There are chapters on the hidden curriculum, understanding traditional learning strategies, formal schooling and traditional learning, intelligence and learning styles, the role of the teacher, teaching for change, false expectations and learning to teach cross-culturally.

Multicultural Ministry. Finding Your Church’s Unique Rhythm. David A. Anderson. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2004.
This is a useful book with some helpful insights, though its orientation is decidedly American. Racial reconciliation between whites and blacks pervades the entire book and, indeed, the Racial Reconciliation Continuum (97ff) and the series of practical helps supplied in the […]

This immensely helpful book provides a guide for resolving conflict employing “the Four G’s”: (1) Glorify God; (2) Get the log out of your eye; (3) Gently restore; (4) Go and be reconciled.
The Peacemaker / Sande

Calvin insists that fallen people sin of necessity, but voluntarily without compulsion and that only God’s grace converts and inclines the will to good.
Will and Grace: As Viewed in John Calvin’s Institutes

This book has continuing relevance for the Protestant-Catholic debate given the major attention it devotes to the operation of God’s grace.
The Provincial Letters / Pascal

In this book Piper is especially concerned to establish the supremacy of God in missions and does an admirable job of demonstrating this.
Let the Nations be Glad! / Piper

The story-line of the 24 books of the Iliad is traced and some summary observations are made.
The Iliad / Homer

With a view to addressing the relationship of religion to science, Wolterstorff seeks to determine what implications one’s identity as a Christian has for the practice of scholarship.
Reason within the Bounds of Religion

This book is dense with information and insights. It looks at Relating to Our Muslim Neighbours, Understanding Islam, Entering into Discussion and Dialogue, Facing Fundamental Issues and Sharing Our Faith.
Cross and Crescent. Responding to the Challenge of Islam

A Thousand Splendid Suns. Khaled Hosseini. New York: Riverhead Books, 2007.
This is an absorbing read, skillfully crafted by an accomplished author. Along the way, one gains valuable insight into Afghanistan’s modern history and culture.
About the Author
Khaled Hosseini, now a California resident, is an Afghani who serves as a US envoy to UNHCR, the United Nations […]

In the Name of Honour. A Memoir
Mukhtar Mai (with Marie-Thérèse Cuny) [Translated by Linda Coverdale; London: Virago, 2007]
Introduction
Before 1947 Pakistan was part of India and although it is a Muslim country the caste system still operates, as this true story strongly indicates. Mukhtar Mai was born into the peasant Gujar  caste. The names of a […]

The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Mohsin Hamid. Harcourt, Inc: Orlando/Austin/NY/San Diego/Toronto/London, 2007.
There are many points of contact between the author and the central character of this ‘fundamentally’ anti-America novel, Changez. Both are raised in Lahore, Pakistan. Both are Princeton educated, intellectually sophisticated, socially skilled and have developed familiarity with American culture from personal experience.
In the book America is […]

Here are some significant things I learned and took note of from a great book on multiracial/multiethnic congregations, namely People of the Dream by Emerson and Woo.