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Christianity, Islam and British politics

Courage to face PC

CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND BRITISH POLITICS
By Alan C. Clifford
Charenton Reformed Publishing (7 Woodside Park, Attleborough, NR17 2JL — http://www.christiancharenton.co.uk)
64 pages. £3.00 (+ p&p)
ISBN 0 9526716 9 7

This slender volume includes the text of a paper given by the author at a political conference in November 2005, plus some seven appendices on related themes.

Also printed, between the address and the appendices, are two brief reports: one on the conference and the other on an outing around Oxford. Little of substance is gained by the inclusion of either. Notwithstanding that, both author and publisher are to be congratulated for stimulating an informed and reasoned analysis of matters political and theological.

Clifford sets the scene with a brief review of some key events in European history: the battles of Hastings and Agincourt; the martyrdom of Latimer and Ridley; Luther’s protest against Roman superstition and corruption; and the Gunpowder Plot. He then asserts, and illustrates, that the ‘threat of Islam is but the latest assault on the hard-won Christian-based cultural, political and social values of the United Kingdom’ (p.11). In the next section he demonstrates that, despite ‘whatever secularists or other religious commentators say about Islam’ he is ‘utterly persuaded that radical authentic Christianity alone provides the best basis for scrutinising and assessing it’ (p.17). The author concludes his survey by listing four definitive truths about Jesus Christ. He is convinced that, individually and together, they bear witness to the uniqueness of Christ and demonstrate he is different to any and every other religious leader, both historical and living.

The appendices include comments on the claim that Islam is a tolerant and moderate religion (appendices 1 and 7) and on Christ, the Trinity, and Muhammed (appendices 4 and 5). As well as being informative and stimulating, this volume also represents an example of how Christians may be courageous in the face of political correctness and related pressures.

George Curry,
Newcastle upon Tyne