The paranormal concerns happenings and experiences which defy rational or scientific explanation. Most people believe that they occur, but scientists tend to dismiss them as superstition, and the churches seem frightened of them. Experienced author, Bishop Hugh Montefiore, makes here a serious study of this fascinating subject. Never averse to controversy, he is not afraid to take on Professor Richard Dawkins, the well-known populariser of the natural sciences, who dismisses the paranormal out of hand. Here the subject is dealt with in a balanced and reasonable fashion. He cites many cases, giving reasons for and against accepting them as paranormal. Suggesting criteria by which to judge them, he leaves readers to make up their own minds, until the last chapter, where he gives his own conclusions. He ranges more widely than previous books on the subject by including the paranormal in religion. In the first part, he examines alleged cases of telepathy, precognition, automatic writing, mediums, ghosts, poltergeists and hauntings, and even astrology. In the second part, he considers the paranormal in religion, including near death experiences, exorcism and reincarnation. In the third part, he examines specifically Christian experiences, including visions and the extraordinary experiences of mystics. He even suggests that the paranormal is to be found in the scriptures. This remarkable book, which includes interviews with those who have experienced the paranormal, should prove to be irresistible reading.

At a time when there are often as many adults as young people preparing for confirmation, the concept of notes written in adult language, which the younger candidate can grow into, is particularly appropriate for today's needs. The growing number of adult study groups, working through mutual questioning within group discussions, will find it helpful to have these clear succinct notes about the content of Christian belief and practice. Few books have been more influential in confirmation preparation than Hugh Montefiore's 'Confirmation Notebook', written while he was vicar of the University Church in Cambridge. After five editions, with nineteen printings of the fifth edition alone, the notebook is now in a handy pocket-sized format that includes space at the end of each chapter for notes. Existing chapters have been updated and, in most cases, enlarged, while new chapters have been added on 'Common Worship', Christian festivals and fasts, Christian responsibilities, Christian behaviour, and the Christian view on sex and marriage.

This book by a distinguished Roman Catholic marital counsellor and senior consultant at the Central Middlesex Hospital, and the former Anglican Bishop of Birmingham, who was also Chairman of the Church of England's Board for Social Responsibility, arose out of the Margaret Harris lectures given in Dundee in 1988. It is probably the first time that a Roman Catholic and an Anglican have joined forces in this way, and the result is an important contribution to the discussion of sexual ethics today. After an introduction to sexual ethics, Hugh Montefiore contributes chapters on homosexuality, and abortion and infra vitro fertilization; Jack Dominian writes on masturbation and pre-marital sexual intercourse, and marriage and marital breakdown. Both speak as loyal and committed members of their respective churches, but believe that this loyalty and commitment requires them to look again at some of the human dilemmas experienced in these intimate questions of love and sex, sometimes leading them to conclusions which differ from the official teaching of their churches.

Bishop Hugh Montefiore tackles the question of how the full range of Christian doctrine may be understood by people today. Writing in an accessible style, he addresses the questions posed by science and other modern disciplines.