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Bible books You are in: surefish > faith > Books of the Month Date: 10 July, 2008
Charlotte Haines-Lyon reviews two new books about the Bible including one from Sir CliffClick on the title of the book to buy a copy from amazon.co.uk and part of the sale will go to Christian Aid The Bible: The Biography Armstrong, a former nun and author of the brilliant Spiral Staircase, resurrects what to some can be a dry, irrelevant and often abhorrent book. There are plenty of people who dismiss the world's most widely distributed book for its violence and it is with this tricky subject that Armstrong presents an interesting challenge. She paints an intricate picture of the wide and varied life of the Bible; accessibly illustrating the politics and cultural complexities surrounding its writing, translation and subsequent exegesis. Finally the contradictions of violence and love, so often alive in the scriptures, are dealt with. Should we, for example, treat the bible as a commentary on the Golden Rule? (Do unto others as you would have done to yourself.) That is to say rather than seeing some passages as supporting aggression and war, they show what happen if we don't behave. Some theologians have suggested that if a passage might denigrate or lead to harm of a person, for example women or people of other religion, then it is not of God. Provoking All very difficult and provoking. No wonder that the book has been criticised as anti evangelical. Yet I don't see this. Armstrong shows great respect for her subject and provides little scandal unlike many biographies. It will harm no one to have to reflect on the use and abuse of their beloved book over the centuries. Vitally, Armstrong's cogent account of the Bible and call for a more charitable reading and exegesis will attract it new readers. When militant atheists are claiming that religion breeds violence, this is an extremely important book.
Another attempt to reintroduce the masses to the Bible has been made by Cliff Richard of all people. Apparently his team thought that Sir Cliff should choose and narrate his favourite Bible stories as part of the festivities celebrating his half century in show business. The book is beautifully illustrated by Stephen Waterhouse and well written by Brian Sibley. They have together produced a welcome addition to Lion's substantial collection of Bible stories for children. Waterhouse's rendering of Jesus and Eden amongst others are both bold and culturally sympathetic. It is also welcome, to have accompanying CDs for a children's bible book, as many youngsters often enjoy listening and following. And Cliff does sound enthusiastic in his reading. But ... Here comes the but . . . I can't for the life of me work out who would buy the book apart from maybe some grandparents. I was brought up on Cliff Richard, therefore as a matter of principle he and other acts I was forced to endure are missing from my music collection. My mum, though a keen fan jealous of my invitation to the book launch, wouldn't buy it as she doesn't relate Cliff Richard to children or to reading stories. I put my concerns to him at the press conference and he was, perhaps understandably, annoyed. “What is the age gap between you and your children? You realise that they think you are old!,” he responded. Of course I am ancient to my girls, but I am more relevant to them (for a few more years at least). Yes, people of all ages go to his concerts and he managed to have a hit soul single played on radio under a pseudonym (as he pointed out to me). But does this make him the right person to narrate a children's book? With apologies to his fans, I'm not so sure. Putting that aside, this is still a great book for your children and grandchildren. Amazon links Click on the title of the book to buy a copy from amazon.co.uk and part of the sale will go to Christian Aid • 50 Favourite Bible Stories Selected and Narrated by Cliff Richard
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50 Favourite Bible Stories Selected and Narrated by Cliff Richard
