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On revivalA critical examinationConfusedON REVIVAL In the summer of 2002, The Centre for Theology and Culture at King's College, London, organised a two-day symposium on revival. The aim was 'to tease out its nuances and highlight its ambiguities'. Authors from a 'wide range of theological traditions and academic disciplines' delivered 15 papers. This book preserves those presentations. The editors have organised the papers into three sections. Part one is Theological Perspectives. Part two is Historical Perspectives. Part three deals with The Contemporary Scene. In spite of the foreword by Roger Forster and commendations from Derek Tidball and Joel Edwards, the book does not have a clear and accurate message, simply because the authors offer such diverse opinions. Tidball is plainly inaccurate to state that it is 'simply the most helpful introduction to the subject of revival.' Whatever it is, it is not an introduction. There is no agreed definition of revival, and the themes overlap and frequently contradict one another. The book would have value for a well-read student of revival, but not for the average church member who reads. A few writers are orthodox evangelicals. Most have commitment to varying types of charismatic experience, or are from Pentecostal backgrounds. There is a lot of academic discussion, frequently demanding a high level of prior understanding of the issues under debate. Commitment to some form of charismatic 'theology' is often simply assumed. The non-charismatic perspective is not treated as a serious option. It is certainly not explained adequately. Probably the most heart-warming parts of the book are historical. Mark Stibbes's contribution includes an illustration of revival in the telling of the little-known story of Norway's Wesley, Hans Hauge. There is a useful account of the 1859 revival in Aberdeenshire by Kenneth Jeffrey. However, Nigel Wright's comparison of the 1904 Welsh revival with John Wimber is far-fetched. Rob Warner contributes a whole chapter basically supporting the Toronto Blessing, and arguing that British charismatics, 'accustomed to filtering out American excesses, ƒ ultimately filtered out the Toronto blessing itself.' There are 15 pieces in this jigsaw. The resulting picture is confusing. D.J. Stephens,
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