BOOK OF THE MONTH: Struggling with God by Christopher Cook, Isabelle Hamley and John Swinton

JANUARY BOOK OF THE MONTH

REVIEWER: Richard Frost

STRUGGLING WITH GOD

BOOK: Struggling with God: Mental Health & Christian Spirituality. 
AUTHOR: Christopher C H Cook, Isabelle Hamley & John Swinton
(SPCK, May 2023) 140pp, hardback 

‘Jesus comes alongside us in our struggle and transforms what can seem like a struggle with (against) God into a struggle with (alongside) God.’ With the subtitle, ‘Mental health & Christian spirituality’, one is reminded that when most people talk about mental health, they are actually thinking about mental ill health. In this book, the three authors give very clear explanations of what mental illness is and is not. The overall focus is primarily on mental health challenges, as the authors call them, and the way these relate to Christian spirituality, prayer and church life.

They challenge common attitudes, not least stigma, and explore the relationship of disability and the vision and mission of the church. We are reminded that Jesus noticed people’s problems, but he didn’t begin there. Yet so often, the church has a ‘disabling theology [which] leads to disabling attitudes.’

Several biblical examples of illness and healing are explored, often drawing on the related physical health problem to provide insights about mental illness. Although making only a passing reference to the man from Gerasenes (a brevity which surprised this reviewer, it has to be said), the authors helpfully address the importance of not interpreting mental illness as demonic possession. 

Written by two professors and an eminent theologian, this book is not in the least academic. While making reference to appropriate medical evidence, it is easy to read and understand. Each chapter ends with a biblical reflection, some questions for individual or group study, and suggestions for further reading. There is also a helpful chapter on hermeneutics and much of the book lends itself well to preaching not only about mental illness but also about healing. This is particularly important because ‘recovery’ from a mental health challenge does not necessarily mean the complete absence of symptoms: something which those praying for healing often expect.

This is a very good book and one which many will find helpful in enabling a better understanding of this important aspect of human flourishing.

Reviewer: Richard Frost
Richard Frost is a former mental health professional, author, Anglican licensed lay minister and writes a blog at workrestpray.com