Customer Reviews

Time for Truth: Living Free in a World of Lies, Hype, and Spin

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The title of this review is a direct quote from this book (p. 80). Os Guinness exposes falsehood in society at large and in the United States in particular. Guiness throughout this book takes on the stance of "relativism" in the modern world, and then shows from history the result of that belief system and its consequences. He quotes Nietzche who said, "It is our preference that decides against Christianity, not arguments (p. 114)." Guinness lays out that those who believe in no absolutes, like Nietzche, have false beliefs that will betray them in the end. Guinness draws out an argumentation that says truth, which is reality, will always have the final say. Guiness pulls no punches when he attacks governmental leaders as well. He quotes Tacitus, who was a Roman poet who said, "The more corrupt the state, the more laws (p. 86)." Then Guinness takes the argument for truth and living by the truth, straight back to God who requires true living. Guinnes shows how false beliefs affect not just the individual who has those beliefs, but how when this belief system becomes the common way of thinking, it affects the society as a whole. Guinness does give the answer for a return to a truthful society and the great consequences on one's life and the society's as well. I have read some of Guinness' other works which I highly recommend. But if I had to pick one of this author's book to recommend to anyone, it is this book by far. And, that's the truth.

The title of this review is a direct quote from this book (p. 80 hardcover edition). Os Guinness exposes falsehood in society at large and in the United States in particular. Guinness throughout this book takes on the stance of "relativism" in the modern world, and then shows from history the result of that belief system and its consequences. He quotes Nietzche who said, "It is our preference that decides against Christianity, not arguments (p. 114)." Guinness lays out that those who believe in no absolutes, like Nietzche, have false beliefs that will betray them in the end. Guinness draws out an argumentation that says truth, which is reality, will always have the final say. Guinness pulls no punches when he attacks governmental leaders as well. He quotes Tacitus, who was a Roman poet who said, "The more corrupt the state, the more laws (p. 86)." Then Guinness takes the argument for truth and living by the truth, straight back to God who requires true living. Guinness shows how false beliefs affects not just the individual who has those beliefs, but how when this belief system becomes the common way of thinking, it affects the society as a whole. Guinness does give the answer for a return to a truthful society and the great consequences on one's life and the society's as well. I have read some of Guinness' other works which I highly recommend. But if I had to pick one of this author's books to recommend to anyone, it is this book by far. And, that's the truth.

(Review is from hardcover edition).

Os Guiness, a top quality sociologist, is uniquely gifted at explaining difficult cultural factors in a manner that the general public can grasp. This book is not a comprehensive refutation of postmodern and modern epistemological systems. Rather, it is a critique of our cultural values and practices as a result of the modern and (especially) the postmodern theories of truth. Many of the examples he uses are easy to remember and embody the point he is trying to make (I will never look at Jay Leno the same - you will know what I mean if you read the book). It is not a difficult read, and the case is plainly made for Truth.

One of the basic human defense mechanisms we follow to protect ourselves from unwanted situations or painful emotions is denial. We just put it away from our conscious mind even though the facts are staring us in the face. This book helps us to look at life "the way it really is." The insightful remarks on Vaclav Havel, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Primo Levi are truthful yet marked with humility and sensitivity. These threee men have suffered greatly from modern governments that deny truth regarding human beings. These regimes have regarded people simply as mere biological units who exist for the pleasure of the state. What is to prevent the same thing happening in the 21 first century that happen in the last? This little book is a clarion call for Christians and non-Christians to proclaim the virtues of integrity, honesty, and plain speaking. I believe a thoughtful reading will lead to the awkward realization that "hey, there is a moose on our table;" however, to paraphrase C.S. Lewis, he is not a tame moose.

The author, born in China and educated in England, has earned his reputation as a thoughtful and intelligent Christian thinker and writer. He offers many valuable insights into the postmodern assault on truth, calling it the mirror image of modernism, born of its deficiencies. The Truth eventually prevails, as illustrated by the historic implosion of the former USSR. Heroes in that struggle relied on this fact in countering overwhelming physical force with the sheer moral force of Truth.

The Judeo-Christian view of Truth captures the best of both modernism (strong respect for Truth) and postmodernism (recognition of human tendency to error/bias), while avoiding their pitfalls (making reason autonomous and denying Truth, respectively).

Although the discipline of living in truth is demanding, it is urgent in our society. "The lies of Western society - particularly as they are compounded by the `culture cartel' of postmodern academia, advertising, entertainment, and youth culture - are more seductive and enduring than those of communist society."

Guinness identifies the 1880s writings of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche as "the most powerful philosophical source of the crisis of truth." He taught that our response to any claims to truth or virtue should be irony, suspicion and an agenda of unmasking, debunking and dismantling those claims.

Examples of modern truth-twisting include the refusal to condemn immoral practices in other societies, the use of creative fiction posing as fact in support of a political/social agenda (e.g. I, Rigoberta Menchu) and Samuel Clemens' creative, but inauthentic, self-reinvention as Mark Twain. Ethics and character are related: if God is dead, as many believe, not only are all things permitted (bye-bye ethics), but any self is possible, and the question of which one is `true' becomes meaningless (bye-bye character).

Although believers may see the rise of Christianity as inevitable and permanent, paganism is making a strong comeback in many parts of the modern world. The sobering implication is that God blesses those receptive to Him and abandons others (including the West?) to sin, darkness and decline.

When faced with raw evil in the world, man can either despair (e.g. "if there is an Auschwitz, there can be no God") or simply (if fearfully) trust that God (and Truth, Beauty, Goodness, Justice) will eventually prevail. This choice is far from merely theoretical or academic, it makes an enormous practical difference, both personally and to society (e.g. Leoni's suicide vs. Solzhenitzen's victory).

A commitment to Truth is important, since without it: 1) the charge that our faith is based on fear, not fact, will stick; 2) we question "the trustworthiness of God himself;" 3) we are all vulnerable to manipulation (i.e. might makes right, e.g. Spencer, Marx, Dawkins); 4) there can be no genuine freedom and fulfillment in life.

Albert Camus, Friedrich Nietzsche and many other secular thinkers had unhappy childhoods and coped by lying to themselves and others. They illustrate that personal problems can make "living in truth" strenuous and demanding. This is the central challenge to living free; do we conform the truth to our desires (by creating and believing emotionally satisfying theories), or conform our desires to the (perhaps painful) truth. The importance of this choice was the topic of Kierkegaard's famous "Either/Or."

Enlightenment thinkers shortchange the role of personal bias, sometimes even arguing (e.g. Bertrand Russell, A. N. Wilson) that belief is inimical to the search for truth. But belief is the basis of knowledge (e.g. the scientific enterprise depends upon unprovable beliefs such as the existence of objective truth and our ability to comprehend it) and wrong beliefs will always color our findings. The role of will was frankly admitted by Aldous Huxley (in Ends and Means): "I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning;...assumed that...and was able without any difficulty to find satisfying reasons for this assumption" and "the philosopher who finds no meaning in the world is not concerned exclusively with a problem in metaphysics [but also to] to prove that there is no valid reason why he personally should not do as he wants." Nietzsche also admitted that "it is our preference that decides against Christianity, not arguments." Guinness cites "an embarrassingly long list of Western thinkers" whose intelligence "outdistanced their morals." Unbelief is not merely a passive "getting it wrong" at a few points. It is, rather, active, willful and rebellious. Its attitude toward truth is, at different points, suppressive, exploitative, subversive, self-deceptive or delusive (creating tension, since truth remains unaffected by attempts to deny it). In contrast, Christian confession involves affirming the true and good, admitting that we've fallen short of it and committing not to repeat the error.

The author's main goals are establishing the gravity of the crisis, lifting the debate out of the modern vs. postmodern rut, and demonstrating the strength of the biblical view of truth. "God laughs at those who think they have killed off truth, yet reaches out to all who long for its rock-like safety." The West is a living embodiment of the biblical promise that "the truth will set you free," but the converse is unfortunately also true. Tocqueville said "if a man has no faith he must obey, and if he is free he must believe." Guinness' last two sentences are appropriate: "The choice is ours. So also will be the consequences."

His analysis of Bill Clinton in this volume as the poster-child of postmodernism is riveting. This book balances philosophy and Scripture wonderfully. Read it!

Take hope you who are seeking truth (as in Absolute)

Just finished reading the book - I would recommend this to any liberal, critic, humanist, relativist seeking serious answers to 'life' in general. Get this book and give it to your university son/daughter or even professor.

This author is so well read - quotes from many sources, poets, statesmn, politcians, religious, scientific - it is such an illuminating read just on the background material he uses. I just wish there were footnotes!!!!

A 120 pager - 2 days to finsih it - I like the fact he takes the post modern view to its logical end (good story from GK Chesterson's life), which is negative; and then provides 'signals of transcendence = the postive side. I gave the book to a humanist friend - Scripture is quoted sparingly, making the book inviting to those of non-Christian/Jewish persuasion.

MUST read

This is a very good book about truth even for people without any religious beliefs. It contains many quotes from Greek and Roman philosophers and recent literary and political writers.

It reviews the recent history of the decline in the belief in absolute truth. I suspect that people at the bottom end of the intellectual scale, such as those who watch television, including PBS and NPR, and those who think that journalists tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth will have their beliefs strongly challenged.

Os Guinness, a rare conservative Anglican and author of other popular Evangelical books such as "Fit Bodies - Fat Minds" has produced a simple, easy to understand, and very short book on the loss of absolutes in a modern and postmodern soceity.

In his introduction, he sets the stage by recounting a speech by Noble Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn on truth. He further states his biase that he finds the "modernists and postmodernists" world equaly dangerous. Guinness strageticaly starts chapter one by discussing a professor's observations on recent classroom discussions involving the story "The Lottery." In short, twenty years ago people were replused by the ending, now students did not find the ending (the sacrifce of someone by the community) all that troubling.

He further analyzes the new art of "spin", especially in the politcal circles and the lack of truth or its necessity. He quickly discusses Darwin, Nietzsche, and Marx then goes on to make a case on their effect in developing a postmodern culture.

The book does have some weaknesses, however; including broad-brushing statements because it is so short. I know the authors intent was to write a primer and therefore a short text, but it is still somewhat of a laibility. One, I think he was willing to take. Because it is a short text, this book is very, very easy to understand (disregard the reviewer who had troubles with this book, it is extermely easy to understand). All in all, it accomplishes what the author intended it to do and it provides a primer foundation for those new to the battle in the postmodern culture war.

Truth is truly under attack in our times. That is what the profound thinker/author Guinness thoughtfully writes about in this work.

He is careful to contend continuously that he is not just making the case against the cognitive virus of postmodernism but against all systems and philosophies which seek to hijack the truth.

His conclusions are salient: the problem is the self. When self delegates truth to itself and self only, that is humanity's ultimate and only problem. It cannot start within us, but from outside from above.

While some including this reviewer appreciate and vibrate to his excellent illustrations from philosophy and literature (which would suggest five star review), many will be frustrated by this inclusions (thus three star or lower) resulting in my four star conclusion.

He does sprinkle in some current event type illustrations, e.g. Clinton but more of these would have helped the layperson to be more engaged with this excellent, penetrating delve into truth in the modern practice of it.