Bringing God Back to Earth

John Hunt has spent a lifetime in publishing and is now the managing editor of O Books with its fine list. Highly readable and well-informed, this book is a refreshing personal view of the evolution of Christianity and the spiritual condition of our time. His point of departure is the inherent shortcomings of organised religions, with their definitions, rules, boundaries and hierarchies. God is narrowed down to a form or formula in a way that is progressively less credible to modern educated people: 'people don't want to be saved today. They don't understand what it means. They want to be happy and healthy.' However, the need for religion will not disappear since, as the author puts it, 'we have minds that want to know, and hearts that want to love.' Moreover, both the universe and religion are defined by relationship. For John the way forward is a larger understanding of God beyond all paths and labels. The story of Jesus can still inspire us, exemplifying the relationship between suffering, self-awareness and self giving: 'it's in living by faith that we grow. '