William Wilberforce: William Hague

William Hague, once leader of the Conservative Party and now Foreign Secretary, has provided us with a wonderful biography of this great Englishman. There have been several biographies of William Wilberforce but this is written by a politician who sets Wilberforce’s achievements within the political structures and struggles of his day. This makes the read a little laborious at times but surely William Hague has provided the definitive Wilberforce biography.

This is a very sympathetic record of Wilberforce’s labours and Hague really seems to have a true sense of the powerful motivating force of Wilberforce’s personal evangelical faith. It is a fascinating glimpse into an age which is almost unimaginable today. Wilberforce’s commitment to abolishing the slave trade and then slavery itself was the abiding passion of his life. His patience and tenacity in fulfilling what he believed to be his God-given task bore testimony to his personal faith. The delays and reversals would surely have deterred most other men. While bloody revolution and madame guillotine reigned in France and many expected similar events in Britain, through the Napoleanic wars and turbulent times Wilberforce patiently and carefully steered his path through to a solid foundation for abolition of slavery as an acceptable part of ‘civilised’ life.

I would have liked to hear more about the ‘Clapham Sect’, a community of evangelical leaders in society and the political world. This company of like minded believers had an enormous impact on Bible translation and publication, with the Bible Society and with the founding of several mission societies.

A long and sometimes laborious read but heartily recommended.

God's Undertaker. Has science buried God? (4 stars) John C. Lennox MA PhD DPhil DSc

John Lennox is a bible-believing, evangelical Christian, he is also Professor in Mathematics at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College and he holds three doctorates. So, in short, we have some considerable mental muscle behind this book. Lennox has debated publicly with Richard Dawkins and lectures throughout the world on science, philosophy and theology. All this might sound intimidating but Lennox’s book is very accessible to anyone who is prepared to consider his position carefully and has just a smattering of mathematics and biology; I include myself in this select group... just a smattering.

In 12 chapters he covers a great distance and not superficially. His chapter headings give a clear idea of his route;

1. War of the worldviews

2. The scope and limits of science

3. Reduction, reduction, reduction

4. Designer universe?

5. Designer biosphere?

6. The nature and scope of evolution

7. The origin of life

8. The genetic code and its origin

9. Matters of information

10. The monkey machine

11. The origin of information

12. Violating nature? The legacy of David Hume

and an epilogue

This is not street corner argument but a carefully reasoned and well documented consideration of the central claims of Neo Darwinianism. He quotes widely from opponents and fellow-travellers alike. The first chapter and the epilogue summarise his position which is to challenge the current debate about science and religion. Lennox contends that this is a false dichotomy and narrows the discussion to the the nitty-gritty; the contest of differing world views and the all important question ‘which came first “information” or “matter”? The mathematician’s love of the beauty of order shines through this book and Lennox is a master in this field. He has an ability of expressing complex mathematical issues in home-spun illustrations which can appear a little patronising at first but on examination are seen to be very pertinent. Don’t underestimate ‘Aunt Matilda’s cake’ it will become a recurring theme in his reasoning. The book has received a welcome in a surprising variety of quarters.

If ‘to wonder is the beginning of understanding’ Lennox shows that ‘to wonder is the beginning of worship too’. His own Christian conviction is plainly stated and yet it is a scientist who writes this book and he is particularly scathing of the ‘god of the gaps’ thinking that can operate in this area. This book is marked too by an absence of the cheap ‘jibe’ that has so often characterised this debate. You can safely give this book to your Neo-Darwinian friends knowing that it will provoke them to think but not insult them.

As a ‘non-biologist, non mathematician’ I found this book a fascinating read. To listen to an expert who has the ability to communicate is a treat and I would heartily recommend ‘God’s Undertaker’. If you have responsibility of any kind towards young and enquiring minds this book is a ‘must’ in your tool kit.

US ISBN 978-0-8254-7912-0 $14.95
UK ISBN 978-0-7459-5371-7 £8.99