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The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism
The Gold Medallion Award-winning book that presents a persuasive case for Christ as the only way to God.Is Jesus the only way to God? This clear, critically-acclaimed, scholarly response to that question affirms the deep need for the Gospel’s exclusive message in today’s increasingly pluralistic global community. The Gagging of God offers an in-depth look at the big picture, shows how the many ramifications of pluralism are all parts of a whole, and then provides a systematic Christian response.
640 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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1311 people want to read
About the author
D.A. Carson
339 books738 followersDonald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 10, 2025
One of the most important books I've ever read, and that it's taken me so long to get to it I am kicking myself. Surely I need to pay an indulgence or something. Anyway, this book slaps. It clearly has influenced the people I read, and reading it felt like I was travelling to the source of a stack of ideas that have been floating around in my head. I don't think I'm being over the top when I say every Christian leader would be better off if they waded through it. As the subtitle indicates, Carson is addressing the issue of pluralism, and how the Christian gospel, which makes exclusivist claims all the time, should interact with it and be articulated in the midst of it. Where does the church fit into this world? Carson leaves no stone unturned. He addresses pluralism, postmodernism and deconstructionism, hermeneutics, political theology, the mission of the church, contextualization, evangelicalism and its many definitions, hell and conditional immortality, the story line of Scripture, and the gospel. The scope of sources he interacts with is breath-taking. The book feels punchy and timely even though it came out in the 90s. Prophetic in the least cringe sense of the word. Highly recommended.
November 9, 2023
Thorough would be an understatement.
One can tell this is a book originally formed as a series of articles. Each chapter is almost a book in its own right (and some of those chapters Carson turned into books later). This meant the detail at times felt In unnecessary/ overwhelming. The flip side being this is a resource to return to when needed.
The overall critique of pluralism was helpful, and the assertion that God has spoken and His gospel has a biblical structure to be found in creation, fall, redemption, inauguration was really helpful.
His argument is essentially pluralism is destructive to our God of truth; to counter it, preach His truth in the way He has given it to us.
One can tell this is a book originally formed as a series of articles. Each chapter is almost a book in its own right (and some of those chapters Carson turned into books later). This meant the detail at times felt In unnecessary/ overwhelming. The flip side being this is a resource to return to when needed.
The overall critique of pluralism was helpful, and the assertion that God has spoken and His gospel has a biblical structure to be found in creation, fall, redemption, inauguration was really helpful.
His argument is essentially pluralism is destructive to our God of truth; to counter it, preach His truth in the way He has given it to us.
July 24, 2019
A classic for a reason. Carson is unparalleled in his analysis, carefulness, and critique of philosophical pluralism. This book was written over 20 years ago but still is remarkably applicable today. The scope of the book is impressive: Carson begins with an analysis of postmodern hermeneutics with a laser sharp response, then moves to demonstrating how the story line of the Bible excludes an inclusivist and pluralist interpretation, then carefully lays out the current cultural landscape—how philosophical pluralism has radically fragmented our society and how thoughtful Christians ought to engage with it—then ends with how pluralism has incipiently infiltrated the evangelical churches today. It is a staggeringly good book.
October 13, 2017
Overall, Carson's "The Gagging of God" is a good and valuable book. Carson holds up truth, the authority of Scripture, sovereignty of God, and defies relativism so rampant around us.
I have two primary critiques with the book. The first is an unhealthy emphasis on the exclusivity of the Abrahamic covenant to the exclusion of the Noahic covenant. What I mean by this, is that he has no category for the "God-fearer"--gentile believers outside of the Mosaic covenant. Carson seems to exclude God's salvific work outside of the Mosaic covenant even into the New Covenant Age, with Cornelius, and other God-fearers in the New Testament. He's too concerned with arguing against pluralism, that he cannot see that God has worked outside of Israel for hundreds of years, if not longer.
The Old Testament shows us many gentile "God-fearers" like Melchizidek, Jethro, the Ninivites, and so on. Yet Carson doesn't recognize their position within the fold of believers.
Secondly, Carson's eschatology is a problem. He's too pessimistic about the future, and consequently too concerned with the idea of defense and retreat. This does not read like a book that believes it is possible to overcome the postmodern, pluralistic ideology that he saw on the rise.
These two criticisms aside, the book is a good one.
I have two primary critiques with the book. The first is an unhealthy emphasis on the exclusivity of the Abrahamic covenant to the exclusion of the Noahic covenant. What I mean by this, is that he has no category for the "God-fearer"--gentile believers outside of the Mosaic covenant. Carson seems to exclude God's salvific work outside of the Mosaic covenant even into the New Covenant Age, with Cornelius, and other God-fearers in the New Testament. He's too concerned with arguing against pluralism, that he cannot see that God has worked outside of Israel for hundreds of years, if not longer.
The Old Testament shows us many gentile "God-fearers" like Melchizidek, Jethro, the Ninivites, and so on. Yet Carson doesn't recognize their position within the fold of believers.
Secondly, Carson's eschatology is a problem. He's too pessimistic about the future, and consequently too concerned with the idea of defense and retreat. This does not read like a book that believes it is possible to overcome the postmodern, pluralistic ideology that he saw on the rise.
These two criticisms aside, the book is a good one.
April 22, 2013
This book will be tough sledding for most of us. It’s not an easy read. The book is an introduction to postmodernism and pluralism, its affects on our culture, and some of Christianity’s answers to them. I really appreciated the chapters that gave an overview of the Bible. I found it to be a great summery that was probably (my copy is lent out at the moment) around 100-150 pages total. The whole book was somewhere around 600 pages.
If you are going to college, in college, or are interested in reasoning with the culture this is a book you are going to want to read, mark up, and use as a reference.
If you are going to college, in college, or are interested in reasoning with the culture this is a book you are going to want to read, mark up, and use as a reference.
July 27, 2013
I haven't always been a Carson fan, but this book does deserve respect. Carson sounded the warning on all the areas Evangelicals were weak: every area! Seriously though, in this book one sees an early and perceptive response to the eroding views of inerrancy, final judgment, and postmodernism. Recommended as a reference source. It's sad to see that so many New Evangelicals have embraced all the problems outlined in this book.
October 3, 2024
There's a lot to commend about The Gagging of God. Here are a couple aspects of the book that I found very helpful:
1: Carson does an excellent job of giving the reader tools on how to make sense of the ways we can understand God's self-disclosure in Scripture TRULY, if not EXHAUSTIVELY or PERFECTLY. While we can and should accept postmodernism's critiques of modernism when helpful, we can't accept the idea that it is intolerant or impossible to believe that God has spoken clearly and authoritatively in His Word. While we must frequently check our cultural biases and presuppositions, as we submit to the text of Scripture over and over, we can come closer and closer to truth, and grasp truth truly, if not exhaustively or perfectly.
2: One of Carson's main arguments in the book is that a strong biblical theology that maps the key plot-lines of Scripture is a key need of our time, in an extremely pluralistic society without a shared sense of what we were created for, what life's purpose is, what is wrong with the world, what the solution is, and what the end will be. If Christians do deep thinking in these areas, it will be a great help in heralding the gospel in a pluralistic age. Carson's point, and the section in which he walks through the key plot lines of Scripture is a very enjoyable and helpful read.
The things keeping this from being a five star book are its length and scope. I really admire the way Carson engages with so many theologians and scholars he disagrees with, but he tends to use five examples when he could use one or two. This felt like a book that could have been 300 pages instead of 550, without losing anything vital. As a whole, the book feels a bit broader than the title suggests, and I found myself wishing Carson would have just simply written 2-3 books instead of 1 book that tried to incorporate too much.
However, this is a well-written, helpful, and important book for our time, even 30 years after it was written.
1: Carson does an excellent job of giving the reader tools on how to make sense of the ways we can understand God's self-disclosure in Scripture TRULY, if not EXHAUSTIVELY or PERFECTLY. While we can and should accept postmodernism's critiques of modernism when helpful, we can't accept the idea that it is intolerant or impossible to believe that God has spoken clearly and authoritatively in His Word. While we must frequently check our cultural biases and presuppositions, as we submit to the text of Scripture over and over, we can come closer and closer to truth, and grasp truth truly, if not exhaustively or perfectly.
2: One of Carson's main arguments in the book is that a strong biblical theology that maps the key plot-lines of Scripture is a key need of our time, in an extremely pluralistic society without a shared sense of what we were created for, what life's purpose is, what is wrong with the world, what the solution is, and what the end will be. If Christians do deep thinking in these areas, it will be a great help in heralding the gospel in a pluralistic age. Carson's point, and the section in which he walks through the key plot lines of Scripture is a very enjoyable and helpful read.
The things keeping this from being a five star book are its length and scope. I really admire the way Carson engages with so many theologians and scholars he disagrees with, but he tends to use five examples when he could use one or two. This felt like a book that could have been 300 pages instead of 550, without losing anything vital. As a whole, the book feels a bit broader than the title suggests, and I found myself wishing Carson would have just simply written 2-3 books instead of 1 book that tried to incorporate too much.
However, this is a well-written, helpful, and important book for our time, even 30 years after it was written.
June 15, 2021
Warning: this one is DENSE.
What a book by Carson. Likely the top Biblical theologian in the world, he takes Postmodernity to task by showing how to find objective truth. He then turns his attention to the world of religious pluralism by showing how Christianity is harshly distinct from any other world religion or a pluralistic approach that seeks to combine Christianity with anything else. Carson (writing this in the 90’s) almost prophetically, predicts many of the political issues we face now. He predicted leftist cancel culture to the T and also predicts that we who do not conform to western pluralism will one day pay the price if the government fully adopts radically pluralistic ideals. It sure seems we are heading in that direction.
Overall, a fantastic book that was worth the long and intense read.
What a book by Carson. Likely the top Biblical theologian in the world, he takes Postmodernity to task by showing how to find objective truth. He then turns his attention to the world of religious pluralism by showing how Christianity is harshly distinct from any other world religion or a pluralistic approach that seeks to combine Christianity with anything else. Carson (writing this in the 90’s) almost prophetically, predicts many of the political issues we face now. He predicted leftist cancel culture to the T and also predicts that we who do not conform to western pluralism will one day pay the price if the government fully adopts radically pluralistic ideals. It sure seems we are heading in that direction.
Overall, a fantastic book that was worth the long and intense read.
October 1, 2024
A big book which dives deep into pluralism and outlibing the way forward for the Christian. This book not only gives the background and foundation to understanding the world we live in, a pluralistic one, but also helps the Christian think through how to proclaim the gospel and live in this world in light of the truth of God. recommended.
November 18, 2011
Many consider this massive tome to be Carson's magnum opus. Considering the number of quality books that Carson has produced over the years that is certainly a compliment!
Though it will take some time to read it (it is over 600 pages in paperback form), it is well worth your attention. Carson has certainly done his homework and the book's research is exhaustive.
Side note: I've seen some comment that this book is too dated to be worthy of much attention. It is certainly true that contemporary Western culture is changing rapidly and that many of the people Carson interacts with here are no longer "front and center." However, many of the concepts that Carson discusses are still important even though the names behind them have changed. For example, compare Carson's discussions about John Hick with the contemporary Rob Bell and you'll see the relevance of this book quite quickly. There is nothing new under the sun.
Though it will take some time to read it (it is over 600 pages in paperback form), it is well worth your attention. Carson has certainly done his homework and the book's research is exhaustive.
Side note: I've seen some comment that this book is too dated to be worthy of much attention. It is certainly true that contemporary Western culture is changing rapidly and that many of the people Carson interacts with here are no longer "front and center." However, many of the concepts that Carson discusses are still important even though the names behind them have changed. For example, compare Carson's discussions about John Hick with the contemporary Rob Bell and you'll see the relevance of this book quite quickly. There is nothing new under the sun.
December 6, 2025
A magisterial work. I hesitate to even attempt to sum this one up. But it’s a book that I shall return to often and would not hesitate to read again, so well does it help aid my thoughts as I ponder this current age in which we live and the prevailing paradigm of thought that shapes and influence this world in which we live. We do indeed live in a world that is increasingly small and connected, even more so than when this book by Carson was written (over 30 years ago now!) and it’s easy and frankly just good manners to assign equal worth and value to various beliefs, religions, and ways of thinking. Surely the very thought of objective truth is a bit regressive these days, no? Carson aims to confront such and openly and plainly does so as someone who believes in and holds true to the doctrines of orthodox Christianity. I was wondering when I started reading this if Carson’s thoughts would be a bit dated now as surely we have moved so much past where we were when Carson wrote this back in the day. Thankfully though things have changed some, Carson writes with wisdom and keen-sighted conviction and most of what he writes rings true even now (though perhaps some of his examples are a bit out-of-vogue!). This is a historical work and much of what he references in the 80s and 90s are “ancient” history now, so it is fascinating to see what present-day theologians thought of certain philosophical and Christian progressions in thought and practice.
These are far too many introductory thoughts perhaps because I don’t think I can properly sum up this book in a small post here. I tore into this book the past month and eagerly looked forward to every moment I had to read more. I loved and was thrilled to see how Carson began this work by working through epistemology and setting a groundwork for the philosophies we see present in this world today. He then unapologetically moves forward with describing a Christian worldview and why we as Christians are warranted to believe and understand the doctrines of God and salvation as laid out in Holy Scriptures. Carson engages with many other authors (some I knew and had actually read, others I have now added to my mental rolodex) and many other philosophers to attempt to describe an evangelical Christian’s understanding of this world in both its seen and metaphysical reality. I think it was en vogue then and is en vogue now to consider Christians who believe in the reality of the authority of the Bible and its accounts (especially as regards to the supernatural and miraculous) as simple and unintelligent, people who are not really that bright but simply clinging on to their religious beliefs as part of their cultural heritage. This book is one in which the author attempts to show that the beliefs of Christianity are not only perfectly valid and philosophically sound but also may certainly be core to the truth that points us to the true God who is there. Carson works through the storyline of the Bible and brilliantly shows how as we properly and carefully interpret the Bible around its central plot-line, we understand that it is one cohesive work from a God who in this word communicates to us his creation how we might be right with him.
I know that I am not intellectually suited or prepared to fully take in and argue the points that Carson makes, but I am grateful for works such as this that remind me yet again what it means to be a Christian, why I believe what I believe, and then the question that always comes next – how then do we live? Carson engages with the wider Christian community and then even the “evangelical” camp (whatever does that mean? Carson tries to explain) in how we as Christians should work out our faith in this world, even as we attempt to witness to this broken world of this glorious gospel with which we have been entrusted. I’m sure Carson’s orthodox views may be too dogmatic for some, especially as he grapples with some of the harder questions and seeks to counter the “wider mercy” views that some Christians hold. Carson firmly holds onto what we have seen revealed to us in Scripture and refuses to countenance relying on thought studies that go beyond Scripture. At the end of the day, once we have decided we can only serve a God made in our image, we have committed grossest idolatry as we in our arrogance dare to sit in judgment of the Almighty who is revealed. While we cannot fully understand God’s ways and purposes, it is folly for us to contradict that which has been revealed in Scripture simply because it makes us squeamish. I’m sure this will rub some the wrong way, but I do appreciate the fact that Carson does not shy away from boldly and unapologetically holding fast to the God of Scripture (as interpreted in honest and holistic fashion). At the end of the day, I cannot say I fully understand God or know Him as I ought. Yet I am ever so grateful for books such as this that honestly and carefully examine our beliefs and thought patterns and help me further grasp the God who is. God is my salvation, my strength and my stronghold and my deliverer. Even in this age where myths and dogmas rise and fall in foggy chaos, I can with confidence say that I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last I shall see him, even these very eyes shall see him – this God who was pierced for me.
These are far too many introductory thoughts perhaps because I don’t think I can properly sum up this book in a small post here. I tore into this book the past month and eagerly looked forward to every moment I had to read more. I loved and was thrilled to see how Carson began this work by working through epistemology and setting a groundwork for the philosophies we see present in this world today. He then unapologetically moves forward with describing a Christian worldview and why we as Christians are warranted to believe and understand the doctrines of God and salvation as laid out in Holy Scriptures. Carson engages with many other authors (some I knew and had actually read, others I have now added to my mental rolodex) and many other philosophers to attempt to describe an evangelical Christian’s understanding of this world in both its seen and metaphysical reality. I think it was en vogue then and is en vogue now to consider Christians who believe in the reality of the authority of the Bible and its accounts (especially as regards to the supernatural and miraculous) as simple and unintelligent, people who are not really that bright but simply clinging on to their religious beliefs as part of their cultural heritage. This book is one in which the author attempts to show that the beliefs of Christianity are not only perfectly valid and philosophically sound but also may certainly be core to the truth that points us to the true God who is there. Carson works through the storyline of the Bible and brilliantly shows how as we properly and carefully interpret the Bible around its central plot-line, we understand that it is one cohesive work from a God who in this word communicates to us his creation how we might be right with him.
I know that I am not intellectually suited or prepared to fully take in and argue the points that Carson makes, but I am grateful for works such as this that remind me yet again what it means to be a Christian, why I believe what I believe, and then the question that always comes next – how then do we live? Carson engages with the wider Christian community and then even the “evangelical” camp (whatever does that mean? Carson tries to explain) in how we as Christians should work out our faith in this world, even as we attempt to witness to this broken world of this glorious gospel with which we have been entrusted. I’m sure Carson’s orthodox views may be too dogmatic for some, especially as he grapples with some of the harder questions and seeks to counter the “wider mercy” views that some Christians hold. Carson firmly holds onto what we have seen revealed to us in Scripture and refuses to countenance relying on thought studies that go beyond Scripture. At the end of the day, once we have decided we can only serve a God made in our image, we have committed grossest idolatry as we in our arrogance dare to sit in judgment of the Almighty who is revealed. While we cannot fully understand God’s ways and purposes, it is folly for us to contradict that which has been revealed in Scripture simply because it makes us squeamish. I’m sure this will rub some the wrong way, but I do appreciate the fact that Carson does not shy away from boldly and unapologetically holding fast to the God of Scripture (as interpreted in honest and holistic fashion). At the end of the day, I cannot say I fully understand God or know Him as I ought. Yet I am ever so grateful for books such as this that honestly and carefully examine our beliefs and thought patterns and help me further grasp the God who is. God is my salvation, my strength and my stronghold and my deliverer. Even in this age where myths and dogmas rise and fall in foggy chaos, I can with confidence say that I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last I shall see him, even these very eyes shall see him – this God who was pierced for me.
February 20, 2010
This massive, sprawling work is a gold mine. Read it, even if it makes your head hurt. That's good for you!
January 4, 2014
I started reading this in 1996, so I can't write a valid review. Parts of the book are good, parts are tedious. It is too long.
October 1, 2022
Second read - October, 2022
September 11, 2018
A gag is something that prevents someone from speaking. Therefore, the gagging of God is literally man’s attempts to silence the word of God. How this is accomplished is through the re-interpretation of scripture, making what God has revealed to us worthless. The main proponents of this gagging are what are called “pluralists.” What is pluralism ? Pluralism can mean many things: on the one hand, in Evangelical theology, pluralism is synonymous with universalism: no matter what happens or what you believe, all people will eventually be “spiritual” enough to go to heaven, or whatever conception of “heaven” pluralists concoct (think Nirvana in terms of Buddhism). Other definitions of pluralism include philosophical pluralists; post-modern existentialists who relegate all truth to the individual. In any case, after Dr. Carson defines pluralism, he spends the next 500 or so pages combating such philosophies.
There are four parts of the book that are as such: 1) Hermeneutics; 2) Religious Pluralism; 3) Christian Living in a Pluralistic Culture; 4) Pluralism Within the Camp. In part one, Dr. Carson talks about how the reason we have arrived at religious pluralism is through faulty hermeneutics, or as he calls it, the “new hermeneutic.” If you are unaware, hermeneutics is simply the process of interpretation. How can there be people today who believe that hell is not real, that salvation is not based on a subjective faith in Jesus Christ alone, amongst other things the Church has held to for thousands of years? With the rise of post-modernism and thought that was genuinely “radical” at the beginning of the 20th century (accelerating in the 1960’s), it’s not a surprise that this has spilled into the religious realm. The first attack on Christianity has always been the Bible because without its authority, you break up into the periphery or “spirituality” as it is called today.
Part two delves into religious pluralism. The most interesting chapter, I thought, was entitled “What God has Spoken: Opening Moves in the Bible’s Plot Line.” Dr. Carson’s defense of traditional Christianity from the perspective of the meta-narrative that occurs beneath the plot of the entire Bible. Often times pluralists will take sections of the Bible as proof for their point of view. These “proof texts” however, are easily dismantled when examining the Bible as a whole work, and not merely two or three sentences that agree with your position.
Part three was really interesting I thought. Dr. Carson moves from the theological realm to the intensely practical: how do you live out Christianity in an ever growing pluralistic culture? He looks at this through the lens of the government, the Church, the community, among others. Philosophical pluralism does not and has not just affected the Church: it is literally everywhere. We look at the condition of our political system and the vast sexual revolution that is taking place right in front of our eyes and we have to attribute somewhere along the line, something radical took place for such things to occur. Philosophical pluralism is sure a good place to start. But how do you combat that? Dr. Carson talks about this extensively in this section.
Part four looks at Pluralism within Evangelicalism. He looks at such issues as “Contextualization in Globalization” and the “Changing Face of Evangelicalism” (see my book review on 4 view of Evangelicalism to read more about the content of this chapter).
Overall, there is just too much going on in this book to discuss at any length here. This is a really good book, but a really difficult book. Like I said, I will have to read it again..
There are four parts of the book that are as such: 1) Hermeneutics; 2) Religious Pluralism; 3) Christian Living in a Pluralistic Culture; 4) Pluralism Within the Camp. In part one, Dr. Carson talks about how the reason we have arrived at religious pluralism is through faulty hermeneutics, or as he calls it, the “new hermeneutic.” If you are unaware, hermeneutics is simply the process of interpretation. How can there be people today who believe that hell is not real, that salvation is not based on a subjective faith in Jesus Christ alone, amongst other things the Church has held to for thousands of years? With the rise of post-modernism and thought that was genuinely “radical” at the beginning of the 20th century (accelerating in the 1960’s), it’s not a surprise that this has spilled into the religious realm. The first attack on Christianity has always been the Bible because without its authority, you break up into the periphery or “spirituality” as it is called today.
Part two delves into religious pluralism. The most interesting chapter, I thought, was entitled “What God has Spoken: Opening Moves in the Bible’s Plot Line.” Dr. Carson’s defense of traditional Christianity from the perspective of the meta-narrative that occurs beneath the plot of the entire Bible. Often times pluralists will take sections of the Bible as proof for their point of view. These “proof texts” however, are easily dismantled when examining the Bible as a whole work, and not merely two or three sentences that agree with your position.
Part three was really interesting I thought. Dr. Carson moves from the theological realm to the intensely practical: how do you live out Christianity in an ever growing pluralistic culture? He looks at this through the lens of the government, the Church, the community, among others. Philosophical pluralism does not and has not just affected the Church: it is literally everywhere. We look at the condition of our political system and the vast sexual revolution that is taking place right in front of our eyes and we have to attribute somewhere along the line, something radical took place for such things to occur. Philosophical pluralism is sure a good place to start. But how do you combat that? Dr. Carson talks about this extensively in this section.
Part four looks at Pluralism within Evangelicalism. He looks at such issues as “Contextualization in Globalization” and the “Changing Face of Evangelicalism” (see my book review on 4 view of Evangelicalism to read more about the content of this chapter).
Overall, there is just too much going on in this book to discuss at any length here. This is a really good book, but a really difficult book. Like I said, I will have to read it again..
July 10, 2021
I picked up this book because I was curious to know what insights Carson had to offer on being a Christian in a pluralistic culture. Albeit written in an American context, I was hoping to find that perhaps some of what he says in this book might apply to our multi-religious, multi-racial Malaysia.
I was not disappointed.
Incredibly well-researched and thoughtfully written, Carson explores the kinds of pluralism (i.e. empirical, philosophical, religious) and its effects that are presently penetrating today's culture and the church. Carson is no fool: he recognises what happens outside church will influence what happens inside church, which is why this book also explores how pluralism has affected the way democracies today run, how education is being dispensed in schools, how the nature of psychology has changed, how individuals relate to society as a whole and, how dialogue runs among groups of differing opinions. In tracing how pluralism has affected our society whether good or bad, he also traces how this has affected the church and how it runs, whether in respect to how small group Bible studies are conducted, how sermons are preached at the pulpit and, how missionaries are trained.
Despite being written over 20 years ago in an American context, I found his analyses and insights still incredibly relevant to today's culture and the church today in Malaysia (this is probably due to the fact that like America, Malaysia is an incredibly pluralistic society at heart). Carson, of course, does not just leave it at mere analysis and insight: he thoughtfully engages readers on how we may evangelise in such a society and how we should present God to non-believing friends or family in a way that engages the surrounding culture yet, remains faithful to Biblical theology.
This was quite a difficult book to go through because Carson (as usual) writes like an academic. The sheer volume of content and number of pages may also be enough to put anybody off. But I am glad I plowed through this book notwithstanding that it took a couple of months. If you're interested in reading this, I would recommend going through some simpler books of Carson's first to accustom yourself to his writing style i.e. Praying with Paul (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
I was not disappointed.
Incredibly well-researched and thoughtfully written, Carson explores the kinds of pluralism (i.e. empirical, philosophical, religious) and its effects that are presently penetrating today's culture and the church. Carson is no fool: he recognises what happens outside church will influence what happens inside church, which is why this book also explores how pluralism has affected the way democracies today run, how education is being dispensed in schools, how the nature of psychology has changed, how individuals relate to society as a whole and, how dialogue runs among groups of differing opinions. In tracing how pluralism has affected our society whether good or bad, he also traces how this has affected the church and how it runs, whether in respect to how small group Bible studies are conducted, how sermons are preached at the pulpit and, how missionaries are trained.
Despite being written over 20 years ago in an American context, I found his analyses and insights still incredibly relevant to today's culture and the church today in Malaysia (this is probably due to the fact that like America, Malaysia is an incredibly pluralistic society at heart). Carson, of course, does not just leave it at mere analysis and insight: he thoughtfully engages readers on how we may evangelise in such a society and how we should present God to non-believing friends or family in a way that engages the surrounding culture yet, remains faithful to Biblical theology.
This was quite a difficult book to go through because Carson (as usual) writes like an academic. The sheer volume of content and number of pages may also be enough to put anybody off. But I am glad I plowed through this book notwithstanding that it took a couple of months. If you're interested in reading this, I would recommend going through some simpler books of Carson's first to accustom yourself to his writing style i.e. Praying with Paul (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
January 23, 2024
Incredible that he and Vanhoozer (Is There a Meaning In This Text?) published such similar works from the same seminary just a few years apart. Both are extremely well read and brilliant men.
Carson's work is much more expansive though, taking on deconstructive forms of pluralism in legal, education, and evangelical fields among others. While this has strengths in introducing people to valuable conversations, the material simultaneously can feel both dense and hurried.
One does appreciate the fact that Carson wants to "ungag" God and I think he is quite successful at many points while remaining largely charitable!
I will miss Carson when he passes away as I think we should all be very grateful for his work and ministry.
Carson's work is much more expansive though, taking on deconstructive forms of pluralism in legal, education, and evangelical fields among others. While this has strengths in introducing people to valuable conversations, the material simultaneously can feel both dense and hurried.
One does appreciate the fact that Carson wants to "ungag" God and I think he is quite successful at many points while remaining largely charitable!
I will miss Carson when he passes away as I think we should all be very grateful for his work and ministry.
December 22, 2020
This is a good book, provided you go in with the right expectations. It covers a broad range of material, so each topic is treated with relative brevity (Carson acknowledges this). This is unfortunate in many instances as Carson has excellent insight into evangelicalism. The book is at its best when Carson is writing within his specialty (the chapters on culture, hell, and evangelism were marvelous) and its worst when he is not (the book tends to drag in these areas). If you're interested in Carson's thoughts on these subjects, I'd recommend the book. If you're merely interested in the topics this book addresses, you'll likely find more detailed resources elsewhere.
February 24, 2025
A slow read but finally got there. Start date was just an approximation. I can’t say I understood or will retain all that Carson shared. It really was heavy going in places. Not for the faint hearted. Probably should have read it 25 years ago when it was speaking into the culture of the time but it’s such a Christian classic I felt I should finally read it. Thought provoking in places to consider the impact culture has had on Christianity and the challenges generated by it. An encouragement to keep reading and searching the Scriptures for a true knowledge of God. A short appendix on the topic of spirituality was a nice way to end the book.
April 6, 2018
The title interested me more than anything. Once I got into it, I realized this book was not going to be a quick read. I did not realize, however, that it would take up three months of my life. You have to read it every day to remind yourself of where his argument is going. Carson is careful to cite everything, which I appreciate. (The chapter on evangelicalism got a little slow for me, though others may find this intriguing.)
January 25, 2019
This book is designed for a thinker. For those new to the field, there may be slow patches. Carson makes the case that there has been an uneven treatment of God's nature and His character due to an inconsistent application of philosophical inquiry. Although it isn't so recent as other treatments, I feel it is even more relevant now to the political correctness divide than it was when published.
June 10, 2025
Este libro de apologética es bastante bueno, aunque su extensión y complejidad iniciales pueden ser un desafío. Requiere paciencia, pero las recompensas llegan al final. La profundidad de los argumentos y la claridad que alcanza en sus últimas secciones lo hacen muy valioso. ¡Definitivamente vale la pena el esfuerzo!
June 29, 2025
Amazing. Can definitely see why this is considered Carson’s magnum opus. It really covers the gamut and deals with a whole host of issues (while never veering away from its central concern, the problem of pluralism and the church’s response to it). Dog-eared several pages containing great quotes and helpful insights that I plan to return to. Cannot recommend highly enough!
October 27, 2017
For a book on current trends some 20 years ago, this is very up-to-date. You just have to change some of the examples (e.g., substitute "Joel Osteen" for "Robert Schuller"). Highly recommended.
Read
March 19, 2017A very weigthy work, if you're like me you'll need a dictionary close at hand while you read. A very solid work on the reality facing the believer today.
July 29, 2014
In this book, D. A. Carson presents a persuasive example for Christ as the only way to God in spite of all different philosophies and theologies in the world today. Carson asks an important question: "Is Jesus the only way to God?" Upon this question, Carson builds a strong assumption that the open, critically-acclaimed, scholarly response to that question affirms the deep need for the Gospel’s exclusive message in today’s increasingly pluralistic global community. The Gagging of God offers an in-depth look at the big picture, indicates how the various ramifications of pluralism are all parts of a whole, and then provides a systematic Christian response.
I believe that this book gets very strong statements against the new hermeneutics and philosophical pluralism. We are convinced that these are the theological, hermeneutics and philosophical challenges for the contemporary church. According to Carson philosophical pluralism is the most dangerous menace to the Gospel since the rise of the gnostic heresy in the second century. Consequently, I believe that this book is very needy and Carson responds with magnificently clarity to those challenges. As weakness I think that Carson could perhaps devout a part of the book on how we as a church could not just respond in defence of the Gospel but how we could find our way around it to share the Good News of Christ in the world today.
The book raises the question to me of how we are to not just respond to the heresies of our time but how we can show the relevance of the message of Christ in the world today. I am still not sure how to do that, but I think that the school, colleges and university might be a very efficient venue for the waves of missions, because there we have the people seated, listing, arguing and responding to what is exposed to them. We need teachers with strong biblical foundations in those areas.
I believe that this book gets very strong statements against the new hermeneutics and philosophical pluralism. We are convinced that these are the theological, hermeneutics and philosophical challenges for the contemporary church. According to Carson philosophical pluralism is the most dangerous menace to the Gospel since the rise of the gnostic heresy in the second century. Consequently, I believe that this book is very needy and Carson responds with magnificently clarity to those challenges. As weakness I think that Carson could perhaps devout a part of the book on how we as a church could not just respond in defence of the Gospel but how we could find our way around it to share the Good News of Christ in the world today.
The book raises the question to me of how we are to not just respond to the heresies of our time but how we can show the relevance of the message of Christ in the world today. I am still not sure how to do that, but I think that the school, colleges and university might be a very efficient venue for the waves of missions, because there we have the people seated, listing, arguing and responding to what is exposed to them. We need teachers with strong biblical foundations in those areas.
July 28, 2015
It's hard to classify this book. It's a bit of hermeneutics and a bit of theology--biblical and systematic. Carson's concerns were (in 1996, and they probably remain concerns today) that the voice of God was being gagged in various ways: religious pluralism, postmodern hermeneutics, and various incomplete Christian theologies. Regarding pluralism, he believes the problem is not what he calls empirical pluralism, the fact that there are so many different faiths that exist (we should expect as much). Rather, the problem is philosophical pluralism, the embracing of different faiths as legitimate. In other words, the belief that there is no one truth regarding God is problematic.
The greatest takeaway for me was Carson's emphasis on using the whole Bible, in its history of redemption context, to construct a theology. As he has said elsewhere, biblical theology must precede systematic theology.
The only problem with the book (well, other than one error, his claim that the Big Bang theory was being overturned ["the theory is coming apart at the seams" is wrong]) is that it's now 19 years old. I would like to see how he would address the current "gagging of God." I highly recommend two of his most recent books: Christianity and Culture Revisited and The Intolerance of Tolerance.
The greatest takeaway for me was Carson's emphasis on using the whole Bible, in its history of redemption context, to construct a theology. As he has said elsewhere, biblical theology must precede systematic theology.
The only problem with the book (well, other than one error, his claim that the Big Bang theory was being overturned ["the theory is coming apart at the seams" is wrong]) is that it's now 19 years old. I would like to see how he would address the current "gagging of God." I highly recommend two of his most recent books: Christianity and Culture Revisited and The Intolerance of Tolerance.
February 1, 2014
I read this entire book (wow) a few years ago. Happened to be revisiting it today, to see what he had said about pluralism in relation to Politics and the related quagmire. I think I will be re-reading that part because he seemed to summarize all the differing approaches to the problems in that regard.
As for the rest of the book, I do member it being a job to get through, and I think it is very good, but I suspect it's massiveness tends to diminish it's appeal. On the other hand, I am glad it was massive enough to not just be about salvific universalism, inclusivism and exclusivism, etc. but also about America's cultural and theoretical political pluralism that is being tested today.
As for the rest of the book, I do member it being a job to get through, and I think it is very good, but I suspect it's massiveness tends to diminish it's appeal. On the other hand, I am glad it was massive enough to not just be about salvific universalism, inclusivism and exclusivism, etc. but also about America's cultural and theoretical political pluralism that is being tested today.
December 3, 2011
This was a book I picked up from library because of many post-modern thought I was being confronted with in my Epistemology class. This book has a wealth of information on post-modernism and offers great arguments as to the problems of pluralism and post modernism without caricaturing their positions. This is a great book to read in understanding much of the prevalent thought in our current culture and how we are as Christians to interact and engage with it. I read select chapters but look forward to maybe finishing the book.
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