150 Book Reviews

Muhammad, the life and duty of the community (Church/Umma – including ethics, doctrines and rituals), the state of the mission of Church/Umma and eschatology. Aware of diversity within Islam and the Anglican theologian describes his own point of view as “relatively conservative.” Theology has taught him “that if something isn’t at least 500 years old, it’s probably little more than a fad” (p. 52). While no new insights into either of the faiths are offered, the presentation of the different aspects as a piece of the “big story” appears to be a help for a deeper understanding of what drives Christianity and Islam. The fact that “sooner or later some Muslims must try to establish political control or influ- ence” (p. 102) makes sense in the framework of the Islamic narrative. Interestingly, in the very beginning and on some pages in the end of his book the author refers to the “third metanarrative” of secular humanism. Under the headline of “Why secular (atheistic) humanism will fail” (pp. 103–110) Miller argues that the governing ideology of the present Western world is a “faith” with doctrines, anthropology and creation myths itself and has no chance to survive long term because of its inherent characteristics. The real options for the future are Islam and Christian faith. Miller makes no secret of his own com- mitment to the Christian metanarrative. At times, the book’s transition from thorough research to engaged opinion and plea seems a bit too smooth. Some parts read rather like a manifesto di- rected towards sleeping Christians than a study. But this comes from a man with deep knowledge and a lot of experience and is thoroughly provoking deeper understanding about the real nature of Islam and Christian faith.

Wolfgang Häde Martin Bucer Seminar, Turkey [email protected]

Andrew M. Eason and Roger J. Green, Eds. Settled Views: The Shorter Writings of Catherine Booth. Lexington Books, Lanham, MD, 2017. Pp. xi + 287. $110.00.

This scholarly anthology is devoted to Catherine Booth (1829–1890), the co- founder of . It is a balanced resource for evaluating her influential role in the formation and development of this evangelical orga- nization, which now operates in close to 130 countries around the world. A welcome sequel to Boundless Salvation: The Shorter Writings of

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(2012), it begins by offering a helpful and detailed overview of Mrs. Booth’s life and thought. The ensuing five chapters explore her “settled views” or firm convictions about salvation, holiness, female ministry, Victorian social issues, and world missions. This anthology makes clear that Catherine Booth helped to construct the theological foundations of the Salvation Army. Here, especially, she ensured that the Army reflected the Methodist beliefs of her upbringing. Like John Wesley and his Methodist followers, she emphasized assurance of salvation and the need for entire sanctification. These Wesleyan beliefs became the es- sential creed of Salvationists, informing their spirituality as well as their mis- sion to the wider world. Catherine, however, did depart from Wesley in setting aside the sacraments of and the Lord’s Supper. Second, Settled Views correctly highlights the social dimension that lay behind Mrs. Booth’s Christian beliefs and practices. Like John Wesley, she held that one could not love God without caring for one’s neighbour. Consequently, Catherine spoke out against the things she deemed to be evil, such as alco- hol consumption among the working classes and matters related to prostitu- tion (the Contagious Diseases Acts, the White Slave Trade, etc.). In so doing, Mrs. Booth added her voice to the nonconformist conscience, which cam- paigned for higher moral standards within Victorian society. Third, in both her words and her actions Catherine Booth was a leading advocate of woman’s right to public ministry in the Christian religion. Marshaling an array of biblical, historical and pragmatic arguments, she did much to challenge the nineteenth-century assumption that women should remain silent in the church. The commentary and primary sources found in chapter three of Settled Views make this abundantly clear. Finally, this volume demonstrates the depth of Catherine Booth’s commit- ment to world missions. Although never serving as a missionary in a foreign country, her evangelistic vision encompassed the entire globe. Possessing evangelical convictions about the fate of the unsaved, she urged her fellow Salvationists to take the gospel to the non-Christian world. Believing that the sole task of the missionary was to preach the gospel to the “heathen,” she re- jected the more conventional civilizing mission of her day and age. Through Catherine’s shorter writings – and the accompanying scholarly commentary – the reader will quickly grasp the evangelistic zeal and biblical convictions that gave rise to the Salvation Army. It is also fair to say that the five topics addressed in this book remain relevant to our contemporary con- texts. From a sociological perspective, they illustrate the dynamic aspects of new religious movements, which often seek to recapture the mission of Jesus and the early church. For anyone interested in the passion and fervour of the

Mission Studies 36 (2019) 145–175