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The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview #1
A Christian View of Philosophy and Culture
These books are an invaluable resource for students, ministers, and for those who have read some of Dr. Schaeffer's books and want to know more--more about the Christian faith, about the critical needs of the world today, about "the God who is there.
397 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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About the author
Francis A. Schaeffer
95 books803 followersFrancis August Schaeffer was an American Evangelical Christian theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He is most famous for his writings and his establishment of the L'Abri community in Switzerland. Opposed to theological modernism, Schaeffer promoted a more historic Protestant faith and a presuppositional approach to Christian apologetics which he believed would answer the questions of the age.
Wife: Edith Schaeffer
children: Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
Wife: Edith Schaeffer
children: Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 8, 2023
This is the first of five volumes of the complete works of Francis Schaeffer. In this volume are the four philosophical studies of Schaeffer.
Book one: The God who is there.
This is the foundational work of Schaeffer where he lays the ground work for christian philosophical thought as opposed to secular philosophy. He uses the house theme of an upper story and lower story for differentiating between cognitive and non-cognitive thought. For instance, in the lower story is where all the cognitive things like science, data, and rationality go. In the upper story is where all the non-cognitive things that give life meaning go, but these are things that are nonrational and personal. Modern people today (as well as in Schaeffers time) have placed morality, religion, and aesthetic judgements into the upper story and this has essentially collapsed the house.
Book two: Escape from Reason
This is in many ways a shorter summary of "The God who is there," or "The God who is there" is an expansion of "Escape from Reason" depending on how you approach them. Where "The God who is there" focused on tracing the philosophical thought that led to cultural issues we face today, "Escape from Reason" does this at a much faster pace, and places an emphasis on the types and kinds of rejections that modern man has given to Christian philosophical thought.
Book three: He is there and He is not silent
This is where Schaeffer puts on his apologetic boots and starts walking. Don't look for theistic proofs of God's existence or anything of that sort in this book. This is a Christian response to the secular advancement that were seen in the previous two works of Schaeffer. Where a secularist may have buffeted the idea of a God who is there, Schaeffer reminds us that he is not just there, out in the ether like a deist might say, but He is there and He isn't silent. He makes known to us who He is and what His desires are for us. This book falls right in line with "The God who is there" as well as "Escape from reason" because he continues this really philosophical approach to Christianity.
Book four: Back to Freedom and Dignity
This is the shortest work in the first volume and it deals with the behaviorist B.F. Skinner and his work "Beyond Freedom and Dignity. " This may seem like an odd place for a critical review of a book, but it is placed well here because it deals with some foundational issues brought up in "The God who is there" and "Escape from Reason." Namely, the idea of autonomous man is used extensively by both authors in their works and I'm sure during the time these works were published, some were wondering if they were referencing similar ideas. Schaeffer shows that they are talking about two different things, where Skinner is referring to man being unhitched from his humanity and Schaeffer referring to man being solely reliant on his humanity.
Book one: The God who is there.
This is the foundational work of Schaeffer where he lays the ground work for christian philosophical thought as opposed to secular philosophy. He uses the house theme of an upper story and lower story for differentiating between cognitive and non-cognitive thought. For instance, in the lower story is where all the cognitive things like science, data, and rationality go. In the upper story is where all the non-cognitive things that give life meaning go, but these are things that are nonrational and personal. Modern people today (as well as in Schaeffers time) have placed morality, religion, and aesthetic judgements into the upper story and this has essentially collapsed the house.
Book two: Escape from Reason
This is in many ways a shorter summary of "The God who is there," or "The God who is there" is an expansion of "Escape from Reason" depending on how you approach them. Where "The God who is there" focused on tracing the philosophical thought that led to cultural issues we face today, "Escape from Reason" does this at a much faster pace, and places an emphasis on the types and kinds of rejections that modern man has given to Christian philosophical thought.
Book three: He is there and He is not silent
This is where Schaeffer puts on his apologetic boots and starts walking. Don't look for theistic proofs of God's existence or anything of that sort in this book. This is a Christian response to the secular advancement that were seen in the previous two works of Schaeffer. Where a secularist may have buffeted the idea of a God who is there, Schaeffer reminds us that he is not just there, out in the ether like a deist might say, but He is there and He isn't silent. He makes known to us who He is and what His desires are for us. This book falls right in line with "The God who is there" as well as "Escape from reason" because he continues this really philosophical approach to Christianity.
Book four: Back to Freedom and Dignity
This is the shortest work in the first volume and it deals with the behaviorist B.F. Skinner and his work "Beyond Freedom and Dignity. " This may seem like an odd place for a critical review of a book, but it is placed well here because it deals with some foundational issues brought up in "The God who is there" and "Escape from Reason." Namely, the idea of autonomous man is used extensively by both authors in their works and I'm sure during the time these works were published, some were wondering if they were referencing similar ideas. Schaeffer shows that they are talking about two different things, where Skinner is referring to man being unhitched from his humanity and Schaeffer referring to man being solely reliant on his humanity.
September 9, 2025
Four of Schaffer's books compiled into one volume. An excellent read to understand how philosophy, science and theology has shaped modern thinking. I will for sure be back to read it again and ponder things more in depth.
I am also so impressed how relevant this book is today, it might as well have been written this year.
I am also so impressed how relevant this book is today, it might as well have been written this year.
July 23, 2014
Read The God Who is There in this volume. Schaeffer shows how the west divorced faith from reason and astutely calls the divide The Line of Despair since it puts all matters of absolutes, faith and hope in an unverifiable realm. He show how Christians aided by Kierkegaard have bought into a religious existentialism that accounts for so much cluelessness in the church today. After pummeling the inconsistency, impossibility and ugliness of life and thought without God, he calls for Christians to lovingly and thoughtfully engage with others who are despairing and deceived, making others' concerns their own. This was a surprising and much needed encouragement to the sorts of people who read books like this.
January 29, 2014
The best way to understand this book is to read it through once fairly quickly. Then, read it again slowly. Next,read it a third time.
It can be fairly complicated understanding everything...following all hit arguments, but it's well worth it in the end.
It can be fairly complicated understanding everything...following all hit arguments, but it's well worth it in the end.
February 17, 2016
Brilliant. However you may disagree, one must admit Schaeffer was brilliant and that he practiced what He preached. One may say his thinking wasn't consistent (true, but overstated in my opinion), but his life was consistent with his thinking.
April 16, 2007
get all five volumes, but the best are 1 and 5.
August 5, 2014
Possibly the perfect mix of religion & philosophy.
December 30, 2016
great book, I have now to keep on reading the following volums
May 18, 2018
lifechanger!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews