Customer Reviews

Light in the Shadow of Jihad: The Struggle for Truth

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first book that I have read that deals specifically with the 9/11 attacks. I always find Dr. Zacharias' approach to the great and terrible issues of our day to be sound, clear, and well thought out, with the entire logical ramifications in perfect order. Moreover, Dr. Zacharias has that rare ability to meld mind and heart in his theology, so much so, that I prefer his style to many of his more popular peers.

So what are we to make of the 9/11 attacks? Dr. Zacharias devotes six chapters, plus an appendix to covering this vexing question. I suggest reading the appendix first, got get a thumbnail of the arguments used in this rather slim book.

Chapter One sets the stage for the book, reminding us of what all this worry is about. Our memories too often are like the Short Attention Span Theater, with all segments not being over seven minutes. Sometime reality doesn't make it to the commercial break.

Chapter Two is a discussion of moral absolutes. Dr. Zacharias has come up with a concise definition of why moral relativism is bankrupt:

"Rarely have I met a true relativist. Hidden somewhere in the words of everyone who argues for complete relativism is a belief that there are, indeed, some acts that are wrong. The bottom line is this: When someone says that all truth is relative, he or she is making either a relative statement or an absolute one. If it is a relative statement, then that statement, by definition, is not always true. On the other hand, if the belief that all truth is relative is absolute, then the very statement itself must be denied, because it denies absolutes. The pure relativist cuts off the branch on which he is sitting while telling you the branch cannot be severed. The landing is mind-shattering." (p. 20)

In logic, this is called the "Self Inclusion Fallacy."

In Chapter Three, Dr. Zacharias discuses the essential nature of Islam, weather it is good or bad. ...

I think that we make sweeping generalizations against Islam, since the key to understanding the two Islams is how one translated "jihad." Dr. Zacharias makes the case that Islam is not inherently evil, but that the fundamentalists have hijacked it He spends some time discussing the blasting cap book of radical Islam, "The Missing Religious Precept," which focused on the negative, violent definition of "jihad."

Chapter Four is an interesting chapter that deals with Biblical prophecy about 9/11. We have read the Nostradamus "pious frauds," but this is the first time I have read a specific hermeneutic or theology on the attacks. Dr. Zachairas focuses on the Image of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel, and the incidents surrounding the birth of Ishmael and Isaac. The lineage is important, since so much depends on weather Ishmael or Isaac had the birthright.

The question of God's presence or absence during the attack is the subject of Chapter Five. I think Dr. Zacharias raised a poignant question, when he suggested a thought problem. If God appeared to you, and announced his existence in all his glory and fire, would you belie? Well, yes. But then, suppose you then accidentally ran over you child as you were backing up. Would you be content with you sure vision? (p. 84-89) He makes the point that we are not purely intellectual being, and that we need the whispering of the Spirit to our heart even more so. Doesn't the Bible speak of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter?

He rounds off his discussion in Chapter Six with confirming our faith in God. The issue isn't death, since we will all die, but on what we do with our allotted days.

This book is a very gentle book, yet it has a backbone along with its brain and heart. I recommend it for anyone wanting a strong philosophical answer to the question raised by the falling towers.

In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, Dr. Ravi Zacharias sat down to collect his thoughts, and wrote this book. First off, he looks at good and evil, and calls on America to return to morality. Then he looks at the struggle between truth and falsehood, and asks questions that Muslims must answer. The next chapter of the book looks at prophecy and the modern Middle East. And, the final two chapters ask the questions of where was God, and where do we go from here.

But, don't stop there. Be sure to read the appendix, which is entitled, "Steadying the Soul While the Heart is Breaking." It is a very touching postscript.

In many ways I feel inadequate in writing this review. I wish that I could easily boil down Dr. Zacharias' thoughts, but this book is just not like that. It is a book that came from his soul-searching, and it made me search my soul as well. If, as a Christian, you are willing to peer into your soul, as you prepare for the years ahead, then I would highly recommend that you get this book.

Light in the Shadow of Jihad is eloquent and seemingly heart-felt sermon, but a little short on substance, it seemed to me. Zacharius' main points are that relativism is unhelpful in meeting the needs of modern man, and unprincipled absolutism -- a la bin Laden -- is no good either. It's also kind of a patriotic crie de couer. All right. Rousing, but not that enlightening. But maybe that's because I've heard the sermon before.

I tend to agree with most of what Zacharius says. But from the title I thought I might learn something about Islam here. I did not. The book is primarily about relativism. Zacharius is from India, but he seems to know more about Western philosophy than about non-Western religions, which is a pity, because Americans do need to learn about other religions from a prophetic, rather than uncritically affirming or denying, perspective. If that is what you are looking for, I recommend Paul Fregosi (Jihad), Maxime Rodinson (Mohammed), Bernard Lewis, V.S. Naipaul, or Peter Partner (God of Battles) for an honest and more informed look at Islam. I also highly recommend the works of Vishal Mangalwadi, another Indian Christian who writes with passion, but also it seems to me broader knowledge of other religions. If you want an eloquent sermon on the errors of relativism, this book may meet your need, however.

This is a small book, but it says volumes. I read it in two short settings, there's just so much content that I had to allow it time to digest.

I don't think I would have picked it up on my own, simply because I've had my fill of the tragic events of 9/11 and the aftermath. I received it as a gift and it came highly recommended. From the time I opened and perused it, I was captivated.

I now feel that my own healing process has begun; not only for the events of 9/11, but for other tragedies in my life as well. I feel obligated to say that the author is Christian and the book is biblically based. There was a time in my life when that may have offended me, and I would have wanted to know. However, there can be no greater love than God's love and this is the message of this wonderful text.

This book takes a very interesting look at our current world situation. One might think based on the title that the book is about Islam, but in reality this book is geared toward introspection regarding our own relativistic society (and the problems related to it). These problems have been brought to the forefront due to recent world events.

I read this book during a bus ride and found it to be an extremely interesting read.

This engaging book looks at 9/11 from a Christian perspective, seeking to make sense of the tragedy while placing world events in historical context. In chapter one: Hand From The Rubble, the author lays out the questions relating to 9/11 by analogy with Genelle Guzman who was the last person rescued from the rubble of Ground Zero. He discusses religion in public life, the categories of good and evil, mentions author Peggy Noonan and comes to the conclusion that America's moral strength and spiritual commitment will determine the future of the nation in the war on terror and the unfolding of history.

Chapter 2: The Struggle Between Good & Evil investigates relativism with reference to Alan Dershowitz amongst others. The author looks at the arguments of atheists like Richard Dawkins, Bertrand Russell and Kai Nielsen and shows from their own words that reason alone cannot lead to morality. America functions within the moral framework of Judeo-Christian assumptions: Life is intrinsically sacred because God created and sustains it. He discusses George Washington's farewell address and two major points in it: morality cannot be maintained without religion and if religion is excluded, reason and experience forbid us to expect morality to prevail.

In Chapter 3: The Struggle Between Truth & Falsehood, he looks at the history of Islam including the Sunni/Shia split, the sources of authority in Islam like the Qur'an, the Hadith, Sira and Tafsir, the doctrine of abrogation and the persecution of Islamic scholars questioning the primary sources. Recent history of the religion is explored with reference to Hasan al-Banna and the Muslim Brotherhood, Muhammad Farag and his book The Missing Religious Precept, and intolerance in Muslim countries.

Chapter 4 deals with prophecy as the author recounts the story of Daniel and in particular the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. He contrasts the goals of Islam and Christianity: the one aims at world domination through geographical extension and the other seeks to bring the rule of God into the human heart. He then points to the root of the conflict in the story of Abraham and the contest between Isaac and Ishmael. Events in the Middle East are being played out on an ancient historical template centred on the city of Jerusalem. The prophecies about the nation of Israel are being fulfilled with the establishment of independent Israel in 1948 representing the dawning of the world's salvation.

The problem of the "hiddenness of God" or divine hiding is discussed in chapter 5. There is a purpose behind God's visibility or invisibility, based on the fact that mankind is not only mind/intellect but spiritual essence too. Here the author refers to Blaise Pascal, Anthony Bloom and CS Lewis in identifying the importance of communion with God. The only real safety is found in the presence of God.

Chapter 6 includes discussions of God and culture, culture and country, and country and history. He dissects and criticises the author Andrew Sullivan's failure of logic and equivocating statements expressed in the article This Is A Religious War in the New York Times Magazine of October 7th, 2001 where Moslem extremists and Christian fundamentalists are indiscriminately lobbed together. This is the Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle. It explains that just because 2 things have one thing in common, it doesn't mean that they have everything in common. This chapter closes with a discussion of God's hand in history and some comforting words from Isaiah.

In the Appendix the author recounts his personal experiences upon getting the news of 9/11 and how the supportive words and actions of various individuals meant so much to him in that dark hour. He observes here that democracy and Christianity share a fundamental tenet: that of self-determination. The beautiful Psalm 74 is reproduced here and this section concludes with a moving poem based upon the comforting words of Isaiah 4:10.

Life In The Shadow Of Jihad is a beautifully written, informative and measured look at the issues confronting us at the start of the 21st century. For further reading, I recommend The West and the Rest: Globalization and the Terrorist Threat by Roger Scruton, Dream Palace of the Arabs: A Generation's Odyssey by Fouad Ajami and Oriana Fallaci's furious screed The Rage and The Pride. These three books explore the same issues from different angles and complement this inspiring and informative work by Ravi Zacharias. Other works of interest:

Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror

Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America

This is finally the book that I have been waiting for that really, REALLY gets to the heart of the matter of 9/11. It is a quick read but is definitely not a light read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to think deeply about issues. After reading this book, I personally realized how many other people along with myself, were in the dark about the real issues of 9/11.
This is a must read for America!

This is a good short book that highlights some of the fundamental strengths of Christianity as they relate to September 11th. It provide a good philosophical view of how we as Christians can help bridge the gap. Warning, Mr. Zacharias is an intellectual and you'll need to bring your A game to truly absorb the philosophy behind his thoughts.

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a decent, well structured, set of essays. Having recently waded through a relatively pointless Umberto Eco novel and struggling with the light-weight redundancy of the "Left Behind" series, I found Ravi's carefully wrought essays a refreshing wind of intelligence. For anyone inclined to things multi-cultural this little gem is a must. There are few observations that are particularly prophetic in the light of the more recent blood letting in India. Do your mind a favor.

This book sheds light, offers hope and provides warnings for what's at stake for the future. I believe this is a great book to read for any of the world's citizens.