Tom Lennie reviews ‘The Challenge of Islam: Understanding and Responding to Islam's Increasing Influence in the UK’, by Tim Dieppe (2025)

The acts of violence – real and threatened – that make Islam disturbingly unique among the world's major religions

The Church’s role in the advance and downfall of Western civilisation

Second in a series looking at ‘The State of the West’ (Read Part 1 here)

Author and publisher Peter Sammons takes on the multi-faith agenda.

‘The Empty Promise of Godism: Reflections on the Multi-Faith Agenda’ (Glory to Glory, 2009). Review by Maureen Trowbridge.

In the foreword to this book the author discusses the common view that all religions are essentially the same. “What sort of God do we believe in? Can we logically hold the notion that all religions are sent by God?”

Sammons sets off to explore the claims of the multi-faith ‘godists’ vis-à-vis the authentic Gospel, the true and consistent nature of God and his unique characteristics as revealed in Scripture.

Before opening up the multi-faith agenda, Sammons wisely lays a strong foundation with several chapters on the Bible’s revelations of who God is. Sammons spends time unpacking the Ten Commandments, which show clearly the true heart of God, including the command that “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3).

Then, as the rest of the book unfolds, there are clear explanations of what the author terms ‘godism’ (a more nebulous approach to spirituality that holds that all religions have something to offer but none have a monopoly on the truth) in clear and challenging opposition to the truth of Christianity. All the comments and explanations are backed up by the word of God.

For anyone who is perplexed by, or wishing to respond to, the common belief that there are various paths to God and that no one religion or belief holds all the answers, this is the book to read. The author finishes with the way to find a true faith and with the positive affirmation from Jesus that “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6).

I recommend this as an excellent and thought-provoking book for understanding and growing in the Christian faith, especially in the context of postmodern, multi-faith Britain.

The Empty Promise of Godism (382pp) is available from the publisher for £10 + P&P. Also available for free as an e-book.

‘The Prince of Peace; Finding True Peace in a World that Wars’ (GlorytoGlory Publications, 2015). Review by Rev Dr David Moore.

Peter Sammons’ ‘The Prince of Peace’ is aimed at a general readership, readily accessible also to those without any prior knowledge of the Bible. ‘Peace’ is here understood in the wide terms of the Hebrew word shalom (peace, wholeness, wellbeing, salvation, etc) and finds its focus and fulfilment in the person of Jesus Christ, the Messianic Prince of Peace.

This understanding enables the author to explore, in a semi-conversational style, a wide range of Bible-teaching: salvation and the Gospel, Jews and Gentiles, Israel in the purposes of God, other religions, world peace and eschatology (including Jerusalem/Zion). As such, it is a little ‘body of divinity’ which introduces the reader to the Gospel, the Bible and Christian theology.

For the more theologically literate Christian, the book is also of interest in that it clearly grows out of the conviction that Replacement Theology distorts the place of Jew and Gentile in the integral meta-narrative of Scripture. This holistic stance provides a key to biblical end time prophecy where there is often confusion over what applies to the Jews and what relates to the Church, the so-called ‘new Israel of God’.

‘The Prince of Peace’ should appeal to both the serious seeker and the thoughtful Christian alike.

The Prince of Peace (137pp) is available from the publisher for £8.99 + P&P.

About the author: Peter Sammons is a writer and publisher based in Essex. His publishing house, Christian Publications International (formerly GlorytoGlory Publications) supplies a variety of books and resources, with particular emphasis on Christian theology, healing and Hebraic roots. As well as books for purchase, the CPI website also hosts free and downloadable resources. Click here to find out more.

Revolutionary winds of change are beginning to blow across Europe. CLIFFORD HILL asks: Are we heading for a new social revolution?

There is a groundswell of protest from ordinary people who are fed up with politicians who have held a stranglehold on power for decades. New political movements are spawning and growing fast. People are tired of the political establishment and are looking for alternatives - any alternative!

In Greece a protest party came from nothing in a little over five years and are now ruling the nation. Could a similar thing happen in Britain? Could UKIP, SNP and the Greens break the stranglehold of the two-party system that has ruled Britain for 100 years? People are looking for change.

Grassroots Unrest

The social unrest at the grassroots has been sparked by unemployment, the credit crunch, austerity measures; and the corruption, lies and deceit that are being exposed among politicians. People no longer trust their leaders.

But there is something deeper going on, similar to a kind of ‘Peasants’ Revolt’ spreading across Europe. Widespread immigration has led to rapid cultural change. On 15 April this year it was reported that 8,000 migrants had crossed the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy in the past week, some of whom will no doubt head for Britain. Such influxes often lead to fear that precious social heritages are being lost. At the same time freedom of speech is being strangled by so-called Equality Laws. But the challenge to the political establishment from the grassroots is beginning to impact political and cultural leaders as demonstrated in two significant events.

Unrest from the top down

Two significant events have occurred in the past month that may signal change from the top down as well as from the grassroots up!

The first is a resolution passed by the Council Assembly of the European Parliament entitled "Tackling intolerance and discrimination in Europe with a special focus on Christians". Its object is to draw attention to the fact that the "expression of faith is sometimes unduly limited by national legislation and policies which do not allow the accommodation of religious beliefs and practices”. In plain language – we are losing our freedom of speech! Christians can’t talk about their faith for fear of offending someone and losing their job! Most significantly, the resolution calls for member states to “uphold freedom of conscience in the workplace” (Section 6.2.2).

It is in the workplace where many Christians have fallen foul of British equality laws. There have been reports of Christians being entrapped by hostile colleagues who ask questions or pretend to want advice or prayer and then complain to the authorities that they have been offended. Many Christians have lost their jobs and reports of these dubious practices created by the equality laws have been highlighted in the press and have outraged public opinion. At last, the European Parliament is getting the message! The so-called “tolerant society” has become a monster of intolerance!

"It is in the workplace where many Christians have fallen foul of British equality laws. But at last, the European Parliament is getting the message!"

The second significant event is the action of Trevor Phillips, the former Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality. He has made a groundbreaking exposure of the multicultural mess that exists in Britain created by the social engineering of idealistic politicians pursuing Utopian dreams based upon their secular humanist principles which ride roughshod over centuries of Judaeo-Christian tradition.

The Racket of Multiculturalism

Trevor Phillips has attacked what he calls the ‘racket of multiculturalism’ sparked during the Blair Government era, that led to the silencing of debate on racial issues and the intimidation of anyone who dared to question the action of those in authority in society. The so-called ‘hate’ and ‘equality’ laws have been responsible for enormous harm in our national life.

"The 'racket of multiculturalism' has led to the silencing of debate on racial issues and the intimidation of anyone who dares question the action of those in authority."

Thousands of girls in Rochdale, Rotherham, Oxford and other cities have had their lives ruined by gangs of Pakistani men who have systematically groomed and sexually abused them. Although many people in authority in the so-called 'caring professions' as well as the police were aware of this abuse, they were afraid to speak out in case they were accused of being racist or Islamophobic or some other modern invention of secular sin.

The height of stupidity in our multicultural mess was surely when the actor Benedict Cumberbatch was immersed in a barrage of criticism for using the word 'coloured' instead of 'black' when making an important point about the lack of employment opportunities for young people.

Election Challenge

Now is the time to challenge politicians and would-be politicians in the run-up to the General Election. We have the chance to put on the political agenda all these issues that affect our freedom of speech.

Christians should be taking every opportunity of raising these issues in local newspapers, in hustings, on chat shows, local radio and social media. It is not enough to say “a plague on all your houses!” to the politicians; we have to make the voice of sanity heard in the nation or we will lose our freedom of speech forever.