Customer Reviews

The Lamb and the Fuhrer : Jesus Talks With Hitler (Great Conversations)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is the latest installment of Ravi Zacharias's "Great Conversations" series. Essentially it is a dialogue between Hitler (after he dies), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (a German pastor who tried to assassinate Hitler), and Yeshua (Jesus). The book is short, to the point, and pretty easy to read.

In a sense, the book is kind of like cardboard. Yeshua, the king of kings, doesn't sound so eloquent, and seems to "debate" not as you might expect. There is not a lot of mentioned about the Jewish question (Hitler discussing the "Jewish Problem" with the Jewish Messiah would have made quite a discussion ...). At times the book seems to be more of a defense of Bonhoeffer's choice to assassinate Hitler than anything else. And the ending of the dialogue was a bit strange, but of course what you expected (ie, Hitler's separation from God).

But despite these deficiencies, I think the book is a great example of the Socratic Method, which is seemingly rarely used in literature today. The topic could not be more interesting, and in fact the whole reason I got the book. And it is easy to criticize anyone trying to say "what Yeshua would say." So how regal should Yeshua sound? Can limited man represent what The Almighty might say, etc. So I can't be too harsh here.

In the end, I think this book is a wonderful idea but it just didn't work as well as I had hoped. I plan on checking out one of the other books in the series. Id give it 3.5 stars in reality.

But this book does accomplish one thing for sure; it will be a center piece of discussion. For a fascinating Bible study, try a discussion about the dialogue (using Bible verses to support your claims). It doesn't get more Jewish than that; the topic of the Holocaust, and open discussion would make for a great study, and in particular a great Messianic Bible study. You see, this is why the book works. The dialogue is a bit forced, and the script is a bit contrived. But the topics are essential cornerstone about good and evil, and cannot be ignored by anyone who is interested in philosophy, religion, and so on. Id check it out.

This book looks terrific! It is a beautifully designed gift book, along the style of THE PRAYER OF JABEZ bestseller.

This is also a very intriguing topic and title for the book. But, unfortunately, too little time is spent on the actual conversation between Jesus and Hitler themselves.

The book is written in a script format, where the "name:" and colon appears, then you read what that person is saying.

It's too bad that the book gets sidetracked from the beginning, starting out with a totally excessive, fictional dialogue between two young adults, traveling through Germany, discussing contemporary views, all meant to set up the Jesus/Hitler dialogue. Any reader of Ravi's is already understanding the concept of a fictional conversation between these two famous figures, both of whom are responsible for major turning points in human history, so we do not need the fictional characters to re-explain the concept, or to make the fictional conversation seem logical. On top of that, the fictional characters don't even end the book, but just disappear after their introduction. So this fictional device is not only unnecessary, but it is also poorly executed. Ravi is much better at non-fiction construction, indeed.

The two fictional contemporary adults are a bit too elementary and frustrating to read through, and I would have much more preferred reading Ravi speaking in his own voice, explaining any historical or thematic elements that he felt needed to be said. This would have saved time and made the book better paced and more succinct.

The main section of the book is about Hitler being on trial by Jesus, with several witnesses being called, presumably on Judgment Day, (depending on which details of Scripture you may lean towards in your understanding of the final judgments, etc). This section gets bogged down, too, with extended dialogues from the witnesses. It seems like Hitler spends as much time in dialogue with the witnesses as he spends with Jesus. These witnesses may have good points, but it is STILL not what the book cover promised--dialogue between Jesus and Hitler!

Then the worst part is after Hitler is found guilty and condemned, the punishment is glossed over. Instead of a fiery torment as the Bible teaches, Hitler is merely banished from the presence of God. What non-believer is going to be afraid of not being around God? Non-believers have spent their whole lives ignoring God, and they are not likely to be concerned about a punishment that only amounts to not being around God -- a punishment they cannot grasp the ramifications of, nor will they be intimidated. Jesus tells the story of Lazarus and the rich man, and the rich man is ON FIRE, in Hell, forever. We do NOT need to weaken the terror and torment of how Jesus describes Hell and eternal damnation. It is fine to say Hitler is out of the presence of God, but please do not leave out the fire and brimstone. That is the only thing that concerns non-believers, punishment--not solitude. The book's ending gives a watered down version of what the Bible teaches about Hell, and I am a little surprised. This is the weakest bit of theology that I have ever heard or read from Ravi, to date.

I really enjoy author Ravi Zacharias' weekly radio shows! His is the most intellectual and cerebral of any Christian radio personalities broadcast in my area. He is VERY good at explaining Biblical concepts using logic that can be understood even by non-believers, and he is a welcome addition to the many radio shows that do not offer that accessibility for non-believers who are deep thinkers.

I have read Ravi's new autobiography, WALKING FROM EAST TO WEST, which is a real page-turner for any listeners or readers of Ravi's. It is pretty much his Christian testimony about his own life and how he got Saved! I am currently reading Ravi's non-fiction book THE REAL FACE OF ATHEISM, which is also a good read. Both of these books are non-fiction, and much better written than this gift book, THE LAMB AND THE FUHRER.

I just wanted to note for potential buyers that this is not a book. It's only 90 pages long, written like a play script:

Hitler: Why is that?

Jesus: Because of such and such

Hitler: But what about so and so?

I am a very slow reader and read this entire pamphlet in about 40 minutes. While I enjoyed the content, I guess that Mr. Zacharias wrote a bunch of other books just like this as well and instead of putting them all together to make one book (and charge one book price), they kept them all separated out and charged a full book price for each one of them.

The content itself is enjoyable, which is why I gave it two stars instead of one.

Ravi Zacharias is a wonderful story teller. His illustrations in his talks are incredible. Therefore you would expect nothing less in his book series of Great Conversations.

In this book Ravi opens our minds to what it might be like if Jesus Christ, Adolf Hitler, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer (the German pastor who resisted Hitler prior to World War II) were able to sit down and have a conversation about life, authority, and what it means to have power. Ravi uses actual historical documents, history itself, and Scripture to weave together a fasinating account. As you would expect, Hitler is deffient of Jesus and attacks Him because of His race, the hated Jews. Jesus responds in authority as the absolute righteous judge. Bonhoeffer remains the passive aggressor history shows him to be and stands against all that Hitler preached and lived.

The book is not as lively as Ravi's first book in this series, THE LOCUS AND THE CROSS where Jesus speaks with the Buddha but it still is engaging. The historical viewpoint of Hitler is clearly shown throughout the book and you can obviously see from reading the book that Ravi has done his homework. He leaves nothing untouched in the book. In the end, the disciple of Jesus will come out seeing what true power looks like in the form of the servant Son of God. You will also see how far evil can drive a man and will do so in our hearts if we don't surrender to the absolute reign of Jesus in our lives (Philippians 2:5-11).

Overall I recommend this book and encourage you to see what it might have been if Jesus could speak with Hitler and we listen in on this great conversation.

Ravi introduces his book by comparing Jesus to Adolf Hitler. What he forgets to mention is the blood-soaked history of Christianity, especially over the thousand years that were the Dark Ages. He ignores the true meaning of the word sacrifice (a permanent loss given up for the greater good) and lumps Jesus in the same category as Bill Gates and Doctors Without Borders. They sacrificed far more than Ravi's mythological figure, who, according to his own bible, is in heaven enjoying eternal bliss. Could he get any more petty and condescending to victims of human and natural tragedies? Probably so, but such is not the subject of this book.

I have to give Ravi credit, however, for being honest enough to wear his motivations on his sleeves. Not only does he concede that this book is an open attempt to convert non-Christians to Christianity (although the specific brand of his religion seems deliberately nebulous, only described in nebulous terms such as "love" and "justice"). Again, he ignores the many verses in the bible used to justify slavery and genocide. If you are familiar with his book The End of Reason, Zacharias is happy to dismiss Jesus' silence on the issue of slavery simply by stating "Jesus was silent on a lot of issues." Wow. That's it? No explanation of why slavery was unimportant for a loving god to denounce? Good grief. People like Ravi deserve no respect on this issue.

Ravi's thinly veiled attempt to present Christianity as the best moral framework is pathetic. The Ten Commandments are mentioned near the play's outset. What he forgets to mention are the numerous genocides carried out in the Old Testament (and which are frequently dismissed by apologists using special pleading). He also dismisses the well-documented studies that show non-religious countries (Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium etc) as having the lowest rates of murder, theft, rape and abortion. Where does good old Christian America sit in? As one of the most violent first-world countries existing today. Google the information. Google Nation Master if you doubt me. The facts are irrefutable. Religion allows people to justify anything with the get-out-of-hell free card that is "repentance." That destroys moral accountability before Christianity is even out of the gate.

While this book is well-written, that is pretty much expected for someone with the funds of a megareligion at his disposal, and deserves no additional stars. This is a demagogic play, written with no motives save that of money and deceitful conversion.

Lastly, I would like to comment on Ravi's comparison of Jesus and Hitler. According to Ravi, Hitler epitomizes evil, hatred, pride and destruction, while Jesus exemplifies peace, love, humility and life. Bunkum. Complete and utter bunkum. What could be more arrogant than claiming that one is the son of god? Little save claiming to be god himself. And would a loving god not start and end creation with heaven? Why set two beings up to fail? Christianity was used to justify slavery, as most honest individuals will admit.

Ravi Zacharais writes of a conversation that a very alive Jesus and Dietrich Bonhoeffer could have had with Hitler. This is a view of how much Hitler could rationalize like humans are prone to do.

The conclusion is riveting as Jesus calls Hitler to stay close to him as He walks to the "narrow gate", and what Hitler might have done as he approached it. I won't spoil the ending for you. It is well worth the read.

Ravi Zacharias does an excellent job in his portrayal of how Hitler probably acted when he was confronted with the Real ruler of the world, Jesus Christ. I was struck with the parallels between the way that Hitler thought and the way alot of dictators in the Middle East think today. Some of the very same agendas are still propagated. The only way to defeat the Darkness that so pervades this world is with the Prince of Peace, Jesus. I hope Ravi may continue this series, as all of his Great Conversation books have shone the light of Jesus on the world's way of thinking.

As with any book or movie or song or anything else where the author plays the role of Jesus/God and is speaking for Him without using the Bible the task is very difficult. For the most part I feel as though Ravi Zacharias did a good job of this. However, this book was a little disappointing to me. It just seems to me that the conversation between Hitler and Jesus went in a direction I never expected it to go. Historical points are touched on through out and Hitler's part is done ok. I do wish however that the Jesus of the book would have used more scripture and less Ravi-Speak.
Still a pretty good book and I recommend those who love to read, read it. It's a great transition book between two long books you may be reading.

Anything Ravi Zacharias publishes has been completely thought through and homework done on the topic. When my father told me about this book, I had to read it. WOW...intriguing, real, and unexpected. I absolutely enjoyed reading and learning.

I'm a huge Ravi Zacharias fan. I enjoy his works, it's why i purchased this book. This book is worth the price. It's 96 pages of very good material. It's easy read but with good philosophical insights. As i was reading through the pages, sometimes you just want to sit back and ponder on what you just read. It's why I enjoy Ravi so much, because he knows how to write like a true philosopher, may many more Ravi rise up in our nation and around the world.