Books

Martin is the author of three books and more than 100 published articles. His first book Unveiling God aimed to help the persecuted church express their beliefs in non western terms. His second book Good for Society  examining the historic values of the English speaking peoples was published in 2020. His latest book Christianity in the first Millennium examines the arrival of Christianity in England and its struggles to survive in the face of Pagan Saxon and later Viking invasions and how the eventual conversion of these created the foundations for our national identity.

Christianity in the first millennium: its arrival and survival on Mersea Britain's most easterly inhabited island

An examination of the arrival of Christianity on a small island community which provides a window on Christianity in England during the first millennium. The book examines early Christianity during the Roman period, its survival in the face of pagan Saxon and later Viking attacks and invasions before each of these converted to Christianity and laid the foundations for what we now know as the English nation.

Good for Society: Christian Values and Conservative Politics

Dr Parsons brings together expertise in politics, careful biblical study, research in Islam and experience of life under the Taliban in Afghanistan. He mounts a powerful case for identifying Christian values and view of the world in the development of the laws, liberties and institutions of the English speaking peoples. He also identifies these values in the approaches of Conservative politics and politicians. These must be recovered in order to develop a narrative and values to address the threat of Islamism which seeks to impose sharia both subtly and violently. Liberal secularists who might disagree with Dr Parsons need to demonstrate a more convincing case than he presents on all fronts.
Canon Dr Chris Sugden, Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life
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Dr Parsons has written the definitive book on Conservatism and Christianity.
Rev. Dr Jules Gomes, theologian and political journalist

Magnificent, detailed and authoritative
Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, former Conservative MP and Shadow Home Secretary

In ‘Good for Society’ Martin Parsons has written a book well worthy of its sub title ‘Christian Values and Conservative Politics.’
Rt Hon Lord Tebbit CH, former Chairman of the Conservative Party, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Secretary of State for Employment

Unveiling God: Contextualising Christology for Islamic Culture

Parsons had shown how fresh appreciation of the Jewish monotheistic context of New Testament christology can assist the contextualization of Christology in Islamic contexts today. This is an important book not only for Christians in dialogue with Muslims, but also for all who wrestle with the relationship between belief in the one God and the Christian confession of the deity of Jesus Christ.
Professor Richard Bauckham, FBA, FRSE
Professor of New Testament Studies
and Bishop Wardlaw Professor
University of St. Andrews

In this study Martin Parsons....makes a most valuable contribution to the task of seeking greater understanding between Christians and Muslims. In a context of increased tension between the West and Islam in the early 21st century, such a skilful and insightful study should be warmly welcomed by Christians and Muslims alike.
Peter G. Riddell
Professorial Research Fellow, School of History, Philosophy and Religion, SOAS, University of London and Senior Research Fellow Australian College of Theology, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities
 
Parsons, by dealing with arguably the greatest theological problem that the common Muslim faces in comprehending a biblical view of God in Christ has, as his title suggests, contributed to the task of “unveiling God” for the Muslim, and the Christian too.  And to that extent he has taken a step toward fulfilling Temple Gairdner’s dream that Islam would “compel us to explore unknown depths of the riches of the revelation of the Triune God.”
J. Dudley Woodberry
Dean Emeritus and Professor of Islamic Studies
School of Intercultural Studies
Fuller Theological Seminary