A passionate but somewhat simplistic call to return to God’s ways when addressing modern-day problems.
A minister of religion in Britain looks at some key societal problems and offers solutions based on Christian writings.
In his nonfiction debut, Walker deals with three prominent, contentious issues in modern society: the scourge of depression, the difficulties of child-rearing, and the degradation of the environment. In all these cases, his approach should be familiar to his fellow fundamentalist Christians: The word of God is the only guide, the only safeguard, and the only accounting. “God will never abandon you,” the author assures his readers. “You are the most precious thing he has created, and as the Father, he will always be there for you, in whatever situation you are in.” In this way, he contextualizes his subjects along biblical lines. While examining pollution, for instance, he reminds his readers that in the book of Genesis God originally charges Adam to “tend” the Garden of Eden. Walker then deftly broadens his assessment to deliver a fervent call for greater environmental conscientiousness when it comes to things like recycling plastic. His passages on depression are more worrying. He urges his readers to resist the devil and his minions when it comes to fighting their way through depression. Depression is not caused by demons, and stating otherwise is incredibly baffling in the 21st century (the author references the story of Jesus and the Gadarene swine). Walker’s long section on parenting is full of basic and useful advice: that homes should be kept neat, that families should stay together, that children should be raised responsibly, etc. The author asserts that “we are instructed by God on how we are to bring up our children”—which requires selective Scripture quoting in order to avoid God’s instruction that rebellious children should be executed by their parents. Christian readers will likely be acquainted with these kinds of carefully sculpted homilies.
A passionate but somewhat simplistic call to return to God’s ways when addressing modern-day problems.Pub Date: June 29, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5462-9091-9
Page Count: 108
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Review Posted Online: Nov. 20, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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