Caring and Sharing, Study guides for individuals and groups by Jill Anstey, Barbara Grimes and Margaret Maidment (Albatross Books £1.50)
I AM instantly put off by a nauseating title like "Caring and Sharing" especially when it is accompanied by the inevitable picture of a ,blue-jeaned couple locked in a misty embrace.
But actually this book has sonie useful things to say and
could be helpful to a family trying to live out the Christian life. It consists of a series of topics to study and discuss, with appropriate Bible readings. I am unconvinced by its somewhat woolly ideas for the establishment of talking groups in which everyone offers opinions and re% eals family and personal problems, but the notes could be used for more structured discussions or for personal perusal.
Offering a non-Catholic Christian approach the book has
most pecular ideas on remarriage following divorce, quoting St Paul to show its apparent acceptability, and tends to shy away from even mentioning abortion; contraception, pornography or controversial sex education — challenges to family life which, however much we ignore them are not going to go away. It would be nice to see a' crisper version which offered realistic guidance on these issues. But its a good try.
Joanna Bogle