MOUNTAINS MOVE: Achieving Social Cohesion in a Multi-Cultural Society PB

Society is made up of various cultural groups trying to live together. We aim for social cohesion, but how do we do this as society becomes increasingly complex, aided and abetted by political correctness?

Steve Bell peels back the complex layers of our multi-cultural society to reveal the inner workings of our national life. Using the metaphor of a mountain range, he identifies the major obstacles to meaningful and mutually respectful interaction between Christians and Muslims and encourages intelligent Christian engagement with western culture.

It seems mountains can move, but only when grace and truth are involved in all spheres of society, as fair-minded people of all faiths and none, learn to model the necessary attitude and actions.

Content Benefits:
Looks at the issues of living in a multi-cultural society and asks how we can achieve social cohesion in a mutually respectful manner.
Metaphor of a mountain range allows the various obstacles in our national life to be challenged
Examines issues such as the legacy of colonialism, racism, political correctness and Christian/Muslim relations
Unpacks the idea that minority social groups are now at odds among themselves
Shows that with mutual respect in all spheres that there is a way forward to social cohesion
Encourages honest and respectful debate by learning how to ‘face facts’ about one another without ‘fuelling fear’ of one another
Will enable us to understand why we think as we do in our country, and how that insight can help bring change
Engenders mutual respect that can lead to new and constructive dialogue that facilitates change
Suitable for anyone who wants to see a more cohesive society
Helpful for anyone in leadership, whether faith based or secular
Ideal reading for students engaging in multi culturalism/ interfaith dialogue
Author is an internationally recognised communicator with forty years’ experience in cross-cultural issues


As reviewed by Dr. Stephen McQuoid in July 2021- 'In this book Bell attempts to define ways in which Christians can learn to relate appropriately to their Muslim neighbours so that they can ultimately reach them for Christ. He uses the metaphor of a mountain range in order to help us grasp the cultural landscape in which we currently operate and dedicates a chapter to each. For example, there is Mount Imperial (ch.3) where he examines our colonial past, Mount Hegemony (ch.4) deals with political, financial and military influences, Mount Ethnos (ch.5) with racism, Mount Correct (ch.6) with Political Correctness and so on. In each of these he discusses how our culture is working and what that means for our witness to Muslims.

Bell is a brilliant and lively writer and as he comes from the BAME community and has worked in many countries, he is able to write with an added credibility. His chapter on Political Correctness (ch.6) is simply brilliant and eminently sensible. Perhaps the most useful chapter, however, is Mount Mission (ch.9) where he analyses four styles of interaction with Muslims, namely Conversation, Dialogue, Apologetics and Confrontation. He explains the benefits of each and also the dangers involved if each is done badly. Even if you are not called to be a witness to Muslim neighbours, his cultural analysis is brilliant and well worth the read. It has been a long time since I enjoyed a book so much. It is full of encouragement, optimism, common sense and very good advice. A must read for church leaders and serious Christians who want to be more relevant in ministry and witness.'

Product details
Publisher : Authentic Media (10 July 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages