Reimagining the Landscape of Faith, by Mary and Charles Hipplsey 

'An excellent practical tool for ways of developing faith when life is going normally, and also handling faith when the moral and spiritual battles of life threaten to overwhelm us and sink the ship'

Reimagining the Landscape of Faith
By Mary and Charles Hipplsey
BRF
ISBN:  978 1 80039 271 1
Reviewed by  Martin M’Caw 

 

Looking at maps can be very interesting such as recalling past journeys or marking out a journey for the future.  Reimagining the Landscape of Faith presents the journeys of faith as the factors which brought us to faith and where we might be heading in faith as a journey with difficulties or an adventure with all sorts of challenges.
 
There and are eight main chapters, and each one has sub-headings that helpfully clarify our perception of the points being made. For example the heading for chapter two ‘Where has your map come from?’ has nine subsections which sharpen the focus, such as What has shaped your faith map? Cultural and Christian assumptions, being enriched by working out what we believe to be true, being enriched by maps from other Christian traditions which leads to how is my faith serving me as I go forwards?
 
To query where we are at is not a denial of our faith. It is a test of faith to ask what am I facing in life, how am I handling it, where are my resources and what decisions do I need to make that will give me a true reflection of where I am in the landscape of faith. 
 
The second part of the book asks the key question ‘Where are you on your journey?’ which is examined by further questions. What’s the process through your journey to maturity on Christ?  How can we avoid getting stuck? How do we learn to grow through times of challenge? What can we do to co-operate with God in the process? 
How does a fresh perspective affect how we travel onwards? The section headings ease our reading as they indicate pertinent points in the evolution of our faith:  skip some and concentrate on others.
 
The chapter on disorientation, ‘what happens when your faith runs out?’, is very relevant in the face of questions such as why the does one finding oneself in a torrent of growing problems through mental health issues. 

The short section headed ‘What’s going on in disorientation’ is pertinent across the board whether one is a new or
mature Christian. 
 
Reimagining the Landscape of Faith is an excellent practical tool for ways of developing faith when life is going normally, and also handling faith when the moral and spiritual battles of life threaten to overwhelm us and sink the ship.  It’s a book to recommend and a must for the church library.

The Revd Dr Martin M’Caw is a retired Baptist minister and Wing Chaplain No2 Welsh Wing RAF Cadets (also retired)