Saying Yes to Life: The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2020

by Ruth Valerio, Helen Lloyd (Narrator)

Saying Yes to Life lifts our focus from every day (and perfectly natural) concerns to issues that are impacting millions of lives around the world. As people made in the image of God, we are entrusted to look after what God has made - to share in the joy and creativity of God in making a difference for good. Ruth Valerio imaginatively draws on the Days of Creation (Genesis 1 - 2.2) in relating themes of light, water, land, the seasons, other creatures, humankind, Sabbath rest and resurrection hope to matters of environmental, ethical and social concern. Foundational to the book are what it means to be human and, in particular, to be a follower of Jesus during Lent. Voices from other continents are heard throughout, and each chapter ends with discussion questions, a prayer, and specially commissioned art to aid action and contemplation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Theology, Religion, Christian Non Fiction, Christianity

Audible Audio

Published April 24, 2020

Reviews

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, perhaps, bit off more than it could chew.

[Jean Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much information in this book from different sources and places, it is rather overwhelming to start with. But as you get in to it, it begins to inspire you from a place of authority. It teases out all we can learn about our world, the mess it’s in and how far removed it is from the wonder of the creation story in genesis. And so, being informed, it inspires us to act with responsibility.

[Michael Hillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Valerio relates the 7 Days of Creation in Genesis to the current (ongoing) environmental crisis. Each chapter contains some reflection, theology, a warning of how we are out of sync with God's plan for his creation, and some pratical action to take in response.

[Julia Alberino · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because the Archbishop of Canterbury selected it as his Lent book for 2020, and I try to read these books during Lent every year. I read the book straight through, not a chapter a week as it is designed to be read. With that caution, I can say that the book is worth reading for anyone concerned about climate change or other environmental issues, or about social justice. The relationship the author draws between creation and salvation presents new ways of thinking about issues. So the premise is good and thought-provoking and action oriented. That said, I did find the author's writing style stiff and, to put it bluntly, boring at times. Nonetheless, it's worth a few hours of your time.

[Melinda Seed · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second Abp. of Canterbury's Lent books I have read. Both of them feel as though they were written in a big hurry and if the author had developed their ideas a bit more fully and an editor had done a thorough job they would be very worthwhile. As it is, this book is just not fully formed.

[Alicia Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this book. There were good, interesting parts to it, and I completely agree that we need to reconnect with nature to feel closer to God. I am of the belief that if we don't respect nature, and all within it, then we are not respecting God. I feel close to God when I am in nature, which is no surprise; it is His.
But I struggle with the hypocrisy that goes through books like this, talking about helping our dying planet, but not being vegan. She mentions veganism at the very end, stating, rightly, that we need to go towards plant-based food choices if our planet will recover, but this is a point that should be stressed throughout the book. All issues we face could be reduced by leading the compassionate lifestyle of a vegan, and to have it only near the end was a let down and annoying.
I find the attitude of talking about the environment, kindness, compassion, sustainability but to still eat products of cruelty and suffering unbearable. The attitude of the author is to choose to eat animals who have had a "good life and death", is a joke considering animals are killed way before their natural lifespan and they die in utter fear and pain. How can we have compassion on our lips with death and suffering in our stomachs? We can't and it's hypocritical to think otherwise. She talks about choosing sustainable fish options, again, no such thing, just stop eating fish and then the oceans can repair.
If you care about God's creation, the planet, sustainability, or kindness, go vegan. That's the message this book should have had, but it fell very, very short of this.

[Jo Hurst · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to say it but this was a hard slog. The 6 chapters were designed to be read each week but were still far far too long and arduous. I felt at times that the narrative was a little all over the place and it seemed to have to stretch itself to fit the idea behind the book. I enjoyed some of the sections and loved the part about trees. But you be honest most of it went over my head. I didn’t appreciate the section / “lecture “ about how I should rarely eat meat. I don’t believe that eating meat makes me a bad Christian and I do try to stick to organic high welfare meat where I can. Sadly reading this admist the COVID 19 pandemic renders some sections pointless. The farmers are still doing there thing yet pollution is falling so probably not methane from cows then? However the talk about church’s needing to evolve is very poignant right now as we can no longer met in person due to lockdown. The video service my church did for Palm Sunday made me cry. Maybe this is the call we need. Maybe this book now is less about how to heal the planet by looking at creation and more about healing our spiritual selves by looking at how we engage with God during the current crisis and remembering to take this forward when we are allowed out again.

[Laurie Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started promisingly for me by describing how each chapter is modelled on each of the 7 days in Genesis and I looked forward to a clearly structured book.

However, sadly, within each chapter there is no clear structure. The author makes one point than dives off into a digression, then makes another point only tangentially related. The points and arguments - while perfectly reasonable in themselves - don't build on each other and so it feels like a collection of interesting thoughts and observations and I wonder whether the book began as a short essay and has been 'extended' out?

The most interesting point came towards the end where the author briefly raises the question about whether it is Christian to eat meat but then says it's too big a topic to go into. Given the impact livestock has on the environment - and the author's own views on this matter - I wondered why something so fundamental was shied away from? This could have been a central debate to bring out.

I found some of the practical examples of ways Christians should consider environmental issues helpful. But was rather disappointed with the book overall while not disagreeing with anything it says

[Derek Winterburn]

Although this is presented as a Lent book, it could be read at any time of the year. Valerio takes the 7 days of Creation as launchpads for discussing the Bible's teaching on the environment and each part of it. The beginning of each chapter is a fairly comprehensive treatment of the element of that day's creation supplemented with information about the state of that aspect of the planet at the hands of humanity. There are some (but not very many) suggestions about what the reader might do in response.

Valerio writes openly about her life, her travels (wide!) and her attempts to lives in a sustainable / planet friendly-way. (I think there was more in her previous books - this one might have had some practical guidance in side bars.)

There is plenty of food for thought here.

[Michael Macdonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extended advert for Tearfund, weak theology to justify the author's self-righteousness

This book is a classic symptom of why the Church of England is ignored by the rest of society. Narrow minded, skewed theology to justify a privileged upper middle class sense of moral superiority and a plea for your money. Badly argued, internally inconsistent and deeply patronising, this pumps up the vanity of the author. Multiple references to multiplying your offspring and travelling the world to discuss climate change highlight the abysmal record of the church to tackle overpopulation and the poverty it causes.

[Rachel Glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking for a book like this for a while, so I'm really grateful to Valerio for writing it. She uses the Genesis creation passage to discuss the environmental issues we are facing today, giving a theological argument for action and suggesting ways in which individuals and churches might do something to make a difference. I thought the chapters were logically laid out, and the writing clear and informative without being too 'heavy'. The discussion questions, which I didn't use as I was reading it alone, were probing and thoughtful. Thanks to the author for a great resource!

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of excellent material for reflection, with a breadth of biblical material and reflection of the state of many issues relating to the climate and ecological emergency. The content feels quite scattered, and the links to the central text of Genesis 1 can feel tenuous, but overall it is very good. Great questions to challenge one's personal lifestyle - reflecting on it has taught me to be more thankful for the resources I use on a daily basis, and on being a more faithful immage bearer.

[Rob Eastwood Dewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and helpful book. I like Valerio's style, the structure of the 7 days of creation works well and I especially appreciated the breadth of her reading and her reference to theologians from all over the world. Important that the AB’s lent book should be on creation care.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and thought provoking Lent study book based on the Genesis 1 account of the creation.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

the content was good and the overall structure of the days of creation was good, but it felt like a lot of individual magazine articles strung together which made it a bit bitty to read.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm giving this a 2.5. I wanted to like it and learn from it but it was all a bit confusing and hard work, if I'm honest.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important read, but one I struggled to engage with

[Brigid O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a good book and teaches you a lot about how to look after the planet. It’s a long read but worth it once you get into it.

[Andy Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great sentiments, poor execution. There are so many strands as if this boosts the validity of the argument. The illustrative and anecdotal sections are a diversion rather than a support.

[Peter Tickler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read, inspired by the account of Creation in Genesis, but looking very seriously at the state of our world today, and posing the challenge, can we save it?

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if you are up on what is happening to our climate, this a wonderful book about how to engage with these problems with the added strength of faith.

[Andy Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for both its scientific knowledge and its theology.

[Flooodle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a very long time to read and was very much more of a adulty book than a book for a teenager but it was very interesting and life-affirming.

[R J · Rating 1 out of 5]

It would be good if the Archbishop chose a book written by someone who can actually write. The prose is turgid, the imagery mundane, and the content predictable. Don't bother, hope for better next year.