Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A passionate presentation of the strengths and historical truths about Christianity, December 2, 2008
I found this book to be wonderfully refreshing. We live in a time when books promoting atheism and attacking religion (especially Christianity) are best sellers and promoted nearly everywhere. This book stands up for Christianity, but in an intellectual and systematic way. D'Souza has not provided a book of testimony or a scriptural defense of faith. He spends twenty-four chapters examining the arguments made against religion and answers them using history, philosophy, and careful reasoning. Chapters 25 & 26 are the closest the author comes to promoting Christianity and inviting you to examine its benefits. However, it is hardly an aggressive missionary approach.
D'Souza presents the basic material examining Christianity in seven parts (the eight being the last two chapters). The first is "The Future of Christianity". The author lays out the current bump in popularity in militant atheism, but why it is really a long term loser. Despite atheism's best efforts, outside narrow intellectual circles religion is growing in most places in the world. In particular, Christianity is growing the fastest of all and in its future is bright. The second part looks at the historical rise and contributions of Christianity to Western Civilization and again demonstrates that many popular notions are simply wrong or fabrications.
The third part looks at science as a wonderful tool and a very poor faith. I particularly loved the chapter correcting the popular notion that Galileo was imprisoned by the Church because the Church was trying to suppress scientific truth. In fact, he was put under house arrest because he published a book he had promised not to publish and insulted the pope in a very egregious way. However, Galileo's scientific truths were being examined by the leading intellects of the day, who were in the Church, and while much was accepted, it did turn out that Galileo was wrong about some details.
The fourth part examines the various arguments against the Church because of evolution and natural selection. D'Souza shows the evidence for creation, that evolution per se says nothing against religion or faith, and how what is understood in the natural record comfortably corresponds to religious teaching over the millennia. Yes, all human knowledge has expanded, but the core religious truths have not been overthrown.
Part five is an interesting examination of the limits of the reason that the atheists say overthrows faith. D'Souza makes an interesting use of Kant to demonstrate a problem in Hume's thought. We also get treated to an interesting discussion of why miracles are reasonable and the skeptic's wager. That is, if there really is nothing, one hasn't lost much by believing in God and yet if there is a God not believing in him presents a great cost.
Part six looks at the notion of suffering as an argument against God and Christianity. The author corrects the notion that religion is responsible for the great mass murders in history and exposes the lame attempts by atheists to try and keep their skirts clean by pushing Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, and Mao in the camp of believers.
Part seven spends several chapters examining the problem of morality for atheists, despite their great efforts to construct their own morality, the notion of spirit, why so many find unbelief (even a passive unbelief) so appealing, and the problem that evil in the world presents to those who believe in God. I think D'Souza does a good job with each topic.
I recommend this book to any Christian of any sect to get great information about the history, power, and strength of your history and faith. No, it is not a replacement for your communion with the Spirit or the nourishment of your faith in the scriptures. However, it will help you deal with the nagging frustrations you feel when you see Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and others on TV or read their words in articles and books. While they are very confident in their faith (and that is exactly what atheism is at its core), most of what they are presenting is testimony rather than fact and sound reasoning.
If you are in doubt about choosing between a search for faith or giving up and accepting materialism, I also urge you to read this book, but to also seek to join yourself with a community of believers who can help you on your journey. My faith is strengthened by worshiping and living in faith with others and you probably will, too.
If you are an atheist, I also think you should read this book. No, I don't expect that it will open a mind already committed to an opposite point of view, but it will give you a good look at the strength of argument on the other side. If you simply dismiss them out of hand or disdainfully push them away, you haven't won anything because you haven't actually participated in an exchange of ideas. Sure, you have every right to do so, but I don't find such pride and contempt of others to be very becoming.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
very good defense in every way, March 23, 2009
Whatever else one may say, D'Souza has written a book that gives compelling arguments in favor of Christianity.
The book is a relatively easy read, with only a few places that were difficult.
Tackling origins, philosophy, history, science, and more, this book presents Christianity in a very positive light. The author does not sugar coat Christianity, however. He does acknowledge that there have been mistakes made and wrongs done by Christians. At the same time, Christianity has been the cause of many great advances in this world. D'Souza tackles the issues of the existence and possibility of miracles, Pascal's wager, and morality, too. In all these things he handles his subject matter well.
As a Christian reader one of the things I most appreciated was his treatment of the Inquisition, the Crusades, and Galileo. His coverage of the Galileo event sheds an entirely different light on the things that happened in those days. In the end, one must conclude that true science and Christianity have never been enemies. D'Souza's section on Galileo is worth the price of the book.
In the section on morality the author speaks to the problem of evil. While I think he could have come to a clearer conclusion about the subject, it is well that we see it addressed. I especially liked the fact that he presented Christianity as having the only good solution to the problem of evil.
In the end, he presents Christianity as unique, worthy of one's consideration, and beneficial to the one who believes. In fact, the author presents Christ within us as being that which we need. An appropriate ending to the book indeed.
A recommended read.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mere Christianity for the 21st Century, February 21, 2009
I just finished reading this book about five minutes ago. Sort of like Mere Christianity for the 21st Century...this work is not partisan. You will not find any sectarian bent. What you will find is an eloquent defense of the Christian faith by one of the conservative movement's foremost thinkers. If you have an agnostic friend, do that person a favor...read this book and when you are finished buy them a copy.
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