THE LIES WE ARE TOLD,
THE TRUTH WE MUST HOLD
Worldviews and their consequences
By Sharon James
Christian Focus. 304 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 527 107 960
Sharon James is well-informed and writes well. She has managed to cram a huge amount of information into this helpful book. The book is divided into two parts.
The first deals with the ‘lies’ that form the foundation of the worldviews that have shaped thought in the past two centuries. These worldviews are explored all the way down to their taproots and all the way up to the toxic fruit they produce, not least when, in some form, these ideas are smuggled into Christian discourse. This section is a comprehensive primer on how ideas develop and gain traction in human society. This is a complex field where a reliable guide is needed. The author writes:
‘I aim to equip you with a road map to navigate the minefield of current claims.’
This reflects the motivation that has shaped this book. The author, who now works for the Christian Institute, was a history teacher, where she observed first-hand the detrimental effects of being exposed to misleading worldviews. For example, many people are shaped by the idea that right wing is bad. left wing is good, capitalism is the enemy of human well-being, and that all institutions are potentially oppressive. This can lead to a mindset that wants to redraw boundaries, tear down statues and cancel culture.
The practical aim of this book is to help people when they hear something in the news, a conversation or in the classroom to instinctively ask: ‘What is the Biblical worldview on this?
There is a small caveat: it might be possible to dismiss this book as a reflection of the type of right wing, anti-woke writing we might associate with The Spectator magazine. This would be to mistake both the motivation and tone of the author, but maybe there is room for more nuance in talking about the virtues of capitalism and the benefits of institutions. Critical Theory is appropriately critiqued, but there might be value in thinking about how systems, both right and left wing, can abuse power.
The second half of the book is a robust laying out of a Biblical worldview that is rooted in the conviction that God is at the centre of all things and we have unique value and responsibility as those made in God’s image. It is this Biblical vision that perfectly combines beauty and power, that fosters true freedom and substantial transformation. The author affirms that: ‘The only solid basis for defending human dignity and achieving justice is a Biblical worldview.’
The book is enhanced by brief summaries and lists of resources for exploring further, that ends each chapter. Recognising the need to make the contents of this book widely accessible, the author has also produced a shorter version of this material:
Track: Worldview
A student’s guide to worldview
Christian Focus. 112 Pages £3.99
ISBN 978 1 527 108 431
