Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute MUST HAVE for EVERY evangelist AND skeptic!, November 9, 2003
When I saw the title of this book and its companion "What If the Bible Had Never Been Written?", I thought it would be the usual, "If Jesus had never been born, we would all die in our sins and spend eternity in Hell." Fine, but there are loads of books like that--I don't need another one.This book is *completely* different. Other reviews here talk about the topics covered. This book is mainly for three groups: evangelists, Christians trying to *demonstrate* that Christianity is not "just another religion" and SKEPTICS. Many people say, "Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, whatever. What makes *your* religion different?" This book shows the *result* of Christianity compared to other religions. Consider this: in nations strongly influenced by Christianity, non-Christian religions are generally well-tolerated, although not actively encouraged. Generally, in nations with little or no Christian influence, religions other than the main religion are actively persecuted, and even punishable by beating, imprisonment, torture or death. Although Christianity by no means has an unblemished track record, its problems have not been due to Jesus' teachings, but rather, the failure of Christians to follow those teachings. And yet, as this book amply demonstrates, even with imperfect people imperfectly putting his teachings into practice, Jesus Christ has had a much more positive influence on the world than any other person who has ever lived. This book documents the *tangible*, substantive benefits of his teachings, instead of debating that--philosophically--Jesus' teachings are better than some other religions' teachings.
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24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The evidence is all around us, August 1, 2000
I must say this book was not exactly what I expected. I guess I was looking for a detailed analysis on what life might have been like if Jesus had never happened, but instead I was treated to a litany of what Christianity has accomplished. I don't for a minute dispute the claims Mr. Kennedy makes primarily because the evidence is all around us. There is no doubt that many of the laws, institutions, traditions and notions spawned by man's love for Christ has raised the human condition beyond anything that could have been imagined before Him. It is also a fact that wherever Christianity has gone freedom, wealth and love of neighbor soon follow. If you think about the worst poverty, disgusting living conditions and religious and human persecution that exists on Earth today it is in countries where they've have no positive exposure to Jesus Christ. Many countries like Sudan, India, China and many Arab states openly persecute Christians. These are not nations fleeing immigrants are dying to get into like they are the Christian nations of Europe and North America. Kennedy does tend to preach to the choir throughout the book and I doubt a skeptic or non-believer would be swayed by his arguments. Still, most of the facts presented can not be so easily disputed. Skeptics have a way of focusing on one or two negative aspects and declaring the whole Jesus movement as bankrupt. Would these people say the same about the American experiment? If so, then thanks to a certain President, the America we love has been completely discredited.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An extremely concise & compelling look at Christ's influence, March 25, 1999
By A Customer
The authors have compiled quite a compendium of information regarding the impact of the life of Jesus Christ on the world and its checkered history. Although we may have heard or read of some of the information contained in its pages, this book takes the time to research many of the sources of that information and relates it in a very clear way. It also points out that, even though Christ was perfect, His followers are often flawed. Without overlooking the foibles of these followers and the "church" in general, Kennedy makes us step back and examine a world without the Incarnation. The book points out that even detractors of Christianity use many of its tenets to either live by or apply extra-biblicly. It is a great resource for Christians to have in their library. Probably more than that, it is a book that is geared to the skeptic or person who believes that the effects of religion, Christianity in particular, have been detrimental to human development. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to know how God intervenes in the affairs of human beings and His effect upon our present world.
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