Religion Hurts: Why religions do harm as well as good by John Bowker (SPCK, £14.99; 978-0-281-08016-8)
“The world contains a bewildering variety of religions, each containing an equally bewildering variety of practices and beliefs. How have religions developed and become so widespread? Why do they matter so much to so many people? Why do some beelieve that their faith requires them to terrorize and kill others? Why do religions do harm as well as good?”
Bonhoeffer on Resistance: The word against the wheel by Michael De Jonge (OUP, £20; 978-0-19-882417-6)
“Provides a comprehensive and accessible account of Bonhoeffer's thinking about violent political resistance in the context of his ideas about resistance of all kinds and of political life in general, in the broader context of his theology.”
Holy Resilience: The Bible’s traumatic origins by David Carr (Yale, £15.99; 978-0-300-24000-9). New in paperback.
“Human trauma gave birth to the Bible, suggests eminent religious scholar David Carr. The Bible’s ability to speak to suffering is a major reason why the sacred texts of Judaism and Christianity have retained their relevance for thousands of years. In his fascinating and provocative reinterpretation of the Bible’s origins, the author tells the story of how the Jewish people and Christian community had to adapt to survive multiple catastrophes and how their holy scriptures both reflected and reinforced each religion’s resilient nature.”
Inspiration: Towards a Christian interpretation of biblical inspiration by Gerald O’Collins (OUP, £25; 978-0-19-882418-3)
“It anchors its study of inspiration firmly in the Scriptures and examines the inspired nature of the Bible and its inspiring impact.”
A Vicar in Victorian Norfolk: The life and times of Benjamin Armstrong (1817-1890) by Susanna Wade Martins (Boydell Press, £25 (£22.50); 978-1-78327-330-0)
“This first full biography puts his story into the context of the period in which he lived: a time of turmoil in the church, with its conflict between high and low forms of service, and theological arguments, stirred up not least by controversies over Darwin's theories of creation.”
Selected by Frank Nugent, of the Church House Bookshop, which operates the Church Times Bookshop.