Customer Reviews

What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?: The Positive Impact of Christianity in History

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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.

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.

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.

A very good book that brings together Christian historical figures that contributed to the betterment of mankind. The positive impact of Christians in science, medicine, education, etc. on the world is amazing.

A great book for those who are tired of Christianity being continually blamed, such as the false premise that "more people have been killed in the name of Christianity than in any other name". A breath of fresh air for those who continually hear Christianity's heritage demeaned.

This book does a fine job of describing the positive impact of Jesus Christ upon Western Civilization, offering very specific examples relating to modern issues - role of women, slavery, economic reform, just to mention a few. It is exceptionally readable and useful for any layperson. Some limitations include a very limited schope, for example, most examples rest in the era of Roman empire and the misuses of Christian power as it became a dominant religion were glossed over.

As James Kennedy quotes of Hitler, "If you say a lie long enough and loud enough, it becomes like the truth." Like the truth, but far from it. Many loud popular lies from the secular community are dispelled in this book. Such as women who are christian are identifing with their oppressor.

Kennedy, goes through history, art, cannibalism the treatment of slaves and women and compairs the historical contrast after Chirstian influence. He lists controbutions of christianity such as ophanages. Kennedy also writes about individual lives that were gloriously saved and transformed by Jesus Christ, such as former slave trader John Newton, who went on to write Amazing Grace, and Mary Magdalene a former prostitute who was saved and transformed into a valueble member of Jesus' ministry.

This book is not only historical but philosophical in its approach, explaining that if you are a lover of Jesus, you belive that man is made in Gods' image and extreamly valueble, that God preordained you existance before you are born. Where as if you are atheist you have no choice but to agree with DuMaurier that we are, "A fungus on the surface of one of the minor planets." The later giving little value to human life.
Little wonder that with the on set of DuMauriers' philosophy James Kennedy sites that in the last 20 year there have been 1 BILLION babies aborted throughout the world.

All in all this book was a great read. Divided into topical sections, not chronologically ordered. James Kennedy is a Ph.D. and has writen many other book. Anyone who questions his facts needn't look to far, since nearly everything is footnoted and cited.

There you have it. The loud lies dispelled.

Looking for an even more academic read, full of amazing thought provoking material?

check out "More Than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell, I highly recommend both books!

This book deals with an issue that our culture needs to consider. Our world is a better place because of Christ working through His people. However, Kennedy was too general in his discussion. I believe his book would be more powerful if he had given more details. As one who is interested in history, I find this book lacking in historical context.

"When these [patriarchs] in turn had sown the seeds of true religion in numbers of men, a whole nation, sprung from the ancient Hebrews and devoted to true religion, arose in the world. ... From the Jews the movement spread, and soon the characters of most heathen races began to grow gentler, thanks to the lawgivers and thinkers in every land. Savage and cruel brutality changed to mildness, so that profound peace, friendship, and easy intercourse were enjoyed."

Thus did the 4th century A.D. Church historian Eusebius describe the civilizing effect of the Jews in Old Testament times. Much the same thing happened in the career of Christianity in its centuries of growth. Turning the bloodthirsty savages of northwestern Europe into mild Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, and Englishmen is a revolution of the spirit not to be sneezed at. One might even argue that every good thing in the Third World, from the implements of basic hygiene to the freedom of speech with which the South's representatives rail at the West have their roots in Christianity.

History may or may not have eventually provided some other cultural engine to propel humanity upward through the ages, but the fact remains that it was Christianity which became the agent for progress in the West. It was in the Christian milieu that the great universities were founded, that magic and superstition gradually became scientific inquiry, that the options of charity and loving-kindness were extended to the nasty, brutish, short-lived populace, that the great political concept of liberty was forged. The ancient Chinese did not lack ingenuity and talent, but their philosophies enforced fatalism, not aspiration. To the religions of the Indian subcontinent, reality was an illusion to be dispelled, and life a cycle to be transcended. And, once the Arabian ascendance had passed, only the brilliance of the Ottomans kept Islam for awhile from the incurious fundamentalism of the yoke of the Koran.

This is not a scholarly book; rather, it is aimed at the Zondervan and Joshua's Christian bookstore crowd. The author scores a perfect bullseye on his own foot in one chapter, however. After having lauded the role of Christianity in the lives of the founders of modern science, he embarrasses himself by reverting to a defense of biblical inerrancy. He deploys a few shopworn creationist assertions that any informed and unafraid middle-school student could refute with ease. But, if you do the author the courtesy of skipping that part, he makes his case with clear if simplistic earnestness.

The book is the best at defining the impact Jesus had on the world. Without Jesus the world was doomed to be a constant remake of Sodom and Gomorrah or total self destruction. The United States is the perfect example of a nation on the decline by evicting God. Don't believe it? Read the book. Awesome! Thank you, Amazon.

Amazing how the world would be different if Jesus were not born. All aspects of life, in every part of the world would be different. This needs to be taught in our churches, in Sunday school and from the podium.