Lent Talks: A Collection of Broadcasts

by Alexander McCall Smith, Ann Widdecombe, Bonnie Greer

What does Lent mean to you?

Whether it is six weeks of restorative reflection or a blur of busyness in the lead-up to Easter, this hand-picked selection from BBC Radio 4's popular Lent Talks will help you to discover anew the meaning of Jesus' ministry and Passion.

Over the last 10 years BBC Radio 4 have hosted Lent Talks that, across the country, provide a place for people to engage with, and reflect upon, core ideas of faith. They explore Jesus' ministry, the story of his death, and their personal responses to Lent. Leading voices including novelist James Runcie and MP Ann Widdecombe draw on their own unique responses to Easter, and address what they find in the annual looking-back-to of Jesus' death.

Following a dynamic Foreword by Christine Morgan, Head of Radio, BBC Religion and Ethics, six well-known writers and broadcasters offer fresh and arresting perspectives on the life and death of Christ.



This brief but insightful book provides something for everyone on this year's journey towards Easter.

82 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2017

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[Imogen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was given this book as a confirmation present (I got confirmed last year). I wouldn’t have ever bought it for myself. As an evangelical Christian, so used to hearing (very clearly) the reason why Jesus had to die every Sunday at my church, it’s hard to appreciate other people’s interpretations of an event which only touches on aspects of ‘the gospel’.

As interesting as these perspectives are, I thought none of them really got to the heart of the Christian faith and the true meaning of Easter. I’m very reminded of Radio 4’s ‘Thought of the Day’ - I think it’s brilliant to have a slot on public radio to discuss faith, but I very rarely come away thinking, I feel really inspired and spiritually awakened.

[Fraser Coltman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series of thematic reflections by six authors provides a somewhat disjointed read. The themes have varying degrees of connection to the Gospels’ witness to Christ’s suffering and death - the traditional focus of the season of Lent - and the authors vary in their depth of knowledge of Jesus Christ. The book doesn’t really cohere very well.

[Ronald Schoedel III · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some decent insights to be gleaned from this book. I feel richer for having read it, though some of the essays were certainly better than others.