Product Details

• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000Y1FV2M
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,849 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

After 40 years of intense study and world-wide ministry, Dr. Francis Shaeffer completed his crowning work of scholarship - to present profound truths in simple film language. Dr. Schaeffer's brilliant analysis of the past and predictions for current trends have proven so uncannily accurate that this amazing series still feels contemporary almost three decades after its initial release. Ultimately, Schaeffer concludes that man's only hope is a return to God's Biblical absolute, the truth revealed in Christ through the Scriptures. Available for the first time on DVD, this documentary spectacular also includes intimate in-depth conversations with Francis and Edith Schaeffer. With the on-disc study guide, this presentation forms a unique course of comprehensive study. While this series forms an innovative analysis of the past, this outstanding work is more than history. Each episode focuses on a significant era, yet speaks clearly to 21st-century man with answers for modern problems. Bonus Features: * 10-Week Study Guide on Disc * Study Guide is found on both discs * Interview with Francis and Edith Schaeffer - Living with Suffering & Sickness - God's Leading in L'Abri & Our Lives

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three decades later, Schaeffer's analysis of society & culture is still relevant today, November 20, 2008

By 

Daniel C. Markel (Rosharon, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Francis Shaeffer's How Should We Then Live 2-DVD Set (DVD)

Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984) was one of the great Christian thinkers of the 20th century. In 1977 he made this five hour documentary observing the history of Christianity and its influence on society as well as the impact of non-Christian values on society. This two DVD set is divided up into 10 parts. The first part starts 2000 years ago with the Roman Empire and moves forward to other influential periods such The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, The Reformation, The Scientific Age and the series finally works up to the era of The Age of Personal Peace and Affluence of the 1960s and The Age of Final Choices of the 1970s and beyond.

Schaeffer observes that Christianity recognizes that mankind was created in the image of a personal God and therefore mankind has meaning and as a result Christians worldwide live by a consistent and universal set of moral values. When Christian consensus is removed from the laws and policy of a given society, typically humanism fills that vacuum.

He defines humanism as man being autonomous - not answering to any higher authority. The consequences of humanism is that within the society one person or a small group who will come forth as an authoritative elite and place arbitrary absolutes upon this society. Humanism leads to arbitrary, variable sociological laws that are defined by what is perceived as good for society at a given moment.

Schaeffer makes some predictions that are chilling such as the future governments will not be led by a Hitler or a Stalin but by something much more subtle: a manipulative authoritative elite. He warns that the media will manipulate how we view news events on TV and can be used by the government or the authoritative elite to convey their message. He also expressed concern with the growing belief that government has the responsibility to solve every problem and also warned of the abuse of the judicial branch of the government by creating arbitrary laws through loose interpretations of the existing laws and Constitution.

In short, it's a must-see presentation to understand the Christian worldview and how that conflicts with relativistic views that are prevalent in today's and tomorrow's societies. Schaeffer astutely points out that the ultimate solution for freedom, meaning and peace is for people to place their faith and trust in the finished work of Christ for their salvation and follow Christ as the supreme authority over every aspect of their lives just as was the case with the Christians of the first century.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How Should We Then Live?, March 14, 2010

By 

Stephen J. Bogdan "Hisflyingtune" (Cheltenham, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Francis Shaeffer's How Should We Then Live 2-DVD Set (DVD)

It is singularly one of the greatest books which I have ever read in my life. I would make this mandatory reading for both every graduating high school senior and every graduating
college senior. It is unlike anything else that you will read anywhere...utterly profound writing!!!!!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thorough review of culture, February 13, 2011

By 

arp123 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Francis Shaeffer's How Should We Then Live 2-DVD Set (DVD)

This book was purchased as a study guide for a co-op class. I was amazed to see that the students, ages 11 - 16, were all very drawn in by the subject matter. They even seemed to enjoy learning new words like relativism and sycretism and many more. Although the book was written in the 70's the information is still very useful for today. Our culture has been shaped by those that preceeded us so one must ask and answer the question, "How should we then live" within that culture? Must read for anyone who seeks to be a doer and not just an observer in society. Love this book!