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Can Man live without God? by Ravi Zacharias

This book is based on a set of lectures given in a college setting somewhere. It keeps your mind thouroughly glewed to the pages as it is a book serious in nature. Dr. Ravi Delves into the title of the book. Basically he lets his gift of discernment loose and does a marvelous job of surveying the decline of civilization in the recent past. This though is a sort of back drop that indirectly comes through as he essentially takes three facts and there exact opposite and then he bases the Book from there. They are Atheism, Meaning in life, who is Jesus? He breaks down each of these into there observed expressions through out recent history. He deals with the issues contradictions of Antitheism, showing in the very least the manifest contradictions and various forms of bankruptcy to which it leads. This essentially sets the stage for the next part. What gives life meaning. Having searched and failed he discerns from society the best situations and time. This being set against the worst, of course the first part of the book. Understanding now that there is truth and it is important to acknowledge this he gets into the topic central our well being. Who is Jesus and why does it matter. He answers these questions marvelously and the first part of the book works as a perfect lead in. Perhaps you could say that you often see in history what is happening in your own life or that of others. It just depends on what part of history you are looking to, but regardless this book is an effective portrait of man without God and in need of God!

On a sidenote i read reviews after i read the book and they were literally split. Thosethat believed, liked the book while the atheist disliked. this fact only strengthens the point of the book. I usually do not read reviews and did so this time because the book was based on lectures, therfore it was fast paced and seemed harder to review as a book normally would be. I like it yes, its points were well received and looking at the table of contents i totally understand how it was broke down.. The book however was essentially history laid before us, with Dr. Zacharias tracing the way the various topics played out. Everything was so interconnected, it was as though everything naturally pointed to where it ended up. Seeing that the atheis seemed not fond of the book or the points perhaps proves Dr. Zacharias point more so, or should i say it gives further example to issues he raise about truth and meaning. I would highly recommend it for those interested in the topic and apologetics.....

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Permalink Reply by Matteo Masiello on April 1, 2012 at 3:33pm

I listen to Dr. Zacharias on his show, Let My People Think, as I am always curious about what he will say. He suggested this week that "secular" professors in colleges should be put on trial for teaching those who they taught, the ones who are responsible for the economic debacle we are in because it is the result of secular thinking. It is statements like this which make me think he has a tendency to overstate things in order to build a case against an enemy that is not really there. Does he realize that he attacks good old fashioned American free market capitalism that is supported by Christians like him? Dr. Zacharias is a very articulate person, but I here that some people consider him the foremost Christian apologist living today, I have to say...what? My money is on William Lane Craig, though he has a tendency to play verbal gymnastics and speak much without really saying anything.

I personally find apologetics very difficult because all it really comes down to is whether or not you believe what the Bible says. I find that ay reasonable argument, even in favor of believing in God falls short, because when it comes down to it, from biblical times and throughout history, it is a profound, personal, emotion, and perhaps even subjective experience that brings one to Christ. Paul's experience is similar to Calvin's and George Fox's is even to Dr. Craig's experience. I can't see how one can really be reasonable when God has shown how unreasonable He is when dealing with the world. It is the world that thinks reasonably, like Pharoah, the Pharisees, Saul before he was became Paul, and it is the reasonableness of Calvin's theology that so severely flaws his coming to God (just for an example as I am not a fan of Reformed Theology). In fact, I will go as far as saying that theology is part of the problem in coming to God. It think it is the experience of living our lives, not being in a room alone studying or trying to figure things out (though there is a place for that) that is what God wants from us. If we follow Jesus, really follow Him then it's not about book smart. It's really about living life, being street smart, knowing how to work with your hands and get dirty, learning how to measure people up and knowing your own capacities and vulnerabilities when meeting people where they are and being an example to them of what it means to live life abundantly.

I know that I will eventually get around to reading his new book, but I fear that he has nothing new to say, as he's said in his other books. He generalizes about modernism post-modernism, other religions, and isn't personal in his delivery. His realm is in ideas, but it's not about that, at least not all about that. It's about getting close and personal to people, especially those with whom you disagree with and loving them. And more importantly perhaps, liking them. I think he misses the point of what it means to be a Christian and simply wants to clear house in "academia" so he can install himself there.

Can Man live without God? by Ravi Zacharias

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