Rodney Schofield

Whereas Victorian optimists imagined that armed conflict would gradually disappear as the world continued to head for universal peace and prosperity, the 20th century wiped out any such illusions. These reflections mark the centenary of WW1, whose true horrors gradually unfolded despite official attempts at censorship. "The pity of war" is first examined through the eyes of artists and poets, before turning to an overview of how thinking about the conduct and morality of war developed down the centuries. Are there still lessons to be learnt? - read on in the final chapter.

The Emerging Church offers an overview, not of the theological teachings that developed in the apostolic Church, but of its liturgical life and social organisation. The distinction is not of course absolute, since the character of Christian communities reflected the beliefs they held.

In Christian Europe, witchcraft beliefs took over 1700 years to recede, and occult practice is still in vogue in certain circles. In Africa, and in Malawi in particular, supernatural beliefs continue to be widespread. Mystery or Magic considers what lies beneath such beliefs: e.g. the need to deal with loss, suffering and death. It then presents Christian responses to these conditions and illustrations from biblical teachings. Some subjects dealt with in detail include: Christianity in Aprtheid South Africa and Malawi today; faith and falsehood in the Old Testament; Hebrew perspectives on sickness, suffering and dealth; Christian affirmations; and boundaries of belief. The author is a theologian, and missionary priest. He is Director of Research at the ecumenical Zomba Theological College, Malawi.