Jesus Among Secular Gods: The Countercultural Claims of Christ

by Ravi Zacharias, Vince Vitale

Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale defend the absolute claims of Christ against modern belief in the "secular gods" of atheism, scientism, relativism, and more.

The rise of these secular gods presents the most serious challenge to the absolute claims of Christ since the founding of Christianity itself. The Christian worldview has not only been devalued and dismissed by modern culture, but its believers are openly ridiculed as irrelevant. In Jesus Among Secular Gods , Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale challenge the popular "isms" of the day, skillfully pointing out the fallacies in their claims and presenting compelling evidence for revealed absolute truth as found in Jesus. This book is fresh, insightful, and important, and faces head on today's most urgent challenges to Christian faith. It will help seekers to explore the claims of Christ and will provide Christians with the knowledge to articulate why they believe that Jesus stands tall above all other gods.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction, Theology, Faith, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 2, 2018

About the author

Frederick Antony Ravi Kumar Zacharias was an Indian-born Canadian-American Christian evangelical minister and Christian apologist who founded Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). He was involved in Christian apologetics for a period spanning more than forty years, authoring more than thirty books. He also hosted the radio programs Let My People Think and Just Thinking. Zacharias belonged to the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), the Keswickian Christian denomination in which he was ordained as a minister. After his death, allegations of sexual harassment against him emerged, were investigated, and found to be true.

Reviews

[Mari Ovsepyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always thought that one of the biggest problems of our generation is that we seem to have lost the fine art of asking good questions. I remember when I first came to the US I was quite surprised to see the sentence “Jesus is the answer” on various bumper stickers, badges, etc. This is a powerful statement, but I think its power is real only if we know the questions to which Christ’s life and teaching can provide answers. I appreciate that Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale open the first chapter of their new book with articulating the questions behind each of the worldviews they explore in this book: at the heart, as always, is man’s search for meaning, purpose and truth. The latter was in every headline about a month ago when the Oxford Dictionary announced that ‘post-truth’ became the word of the year in 2016. ‘Jesus Among Secular Gods’ provides a powerful insight into why and how our culture got here and does it in such a winsome and respectful manner that this book will undoubtedly be a real treat to any lover of truth: both a believer and a skeptic.

[David Hazell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors use a mixture of personal stories and clearly explained philosophical argument, to provide an engaging and accessible look at why secular beliefs (such as Pluralism, Relativism, and Humanism) fail to give a good account of our lives and the world we live in. The chapter on Scientism, for example, challenges the oft repeated claim that “Science has disproved God”, and demonstrates that far from disproving God, science points to God’s existence. In and through this they build a case for why Jesus provides intellectually and personally satisfying answers to the questions raised by secular beliefs.

This book is an enjoyable and thought provoking read. Well worth a read!

[Jonas Bergtun Stava · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was thought provoking and well written. The authors did a great job comparing Christianity with other world views. This is a book that makes you think and it is an interesting read with good stories which are weaved into the arguments the authors are making. The authors did a great job showing the weakness of the secular worldview which is manifested in atheist, relativism, humanism, hedonism, scientism and others. This is being contrasted with Christianity in a way that makes one appreciate the coherence of the Christian worldview and how Jesus Christ fills the vacuum that secularism leaves.

The authors are not only great scholars with immense knowledge within philosophy, worldview's and other topics, but are also frequently meeting real people who hold different positions which the book describes. This makes this book personal, real, and scholarly. I enjoyed reading this book a lot and would recommend anyone to get it.

[Brandon E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging rhetoric, sharp logic, and gripping illustrations are wrapped up to tell the story of the early 21st century’s predominant ideologies. In Jesus Among Secular Gods, one will find unique insight into today’s modern/postmodern/post-truth worldview while it is contrasted with the only one that predates it: Christianity. Those familiar with Ravi’s typical style will be surprised by the strength of the language used, but ample argument is provided to defend the urgency.

I especially recommend this book to anyone who thinks a coherent distinction can be made between a “religious” and “non-religious” organization. Furthermore, the skeptic who wishes to deal with the best, as opposed to the popular, portrayals of Christianity will have to make an effort to find a better account.

It is difficult to find works that mix artful narrative and precise reasoning. I am thankful to Dr. Zacharias and Dr. Vitale for adding one more.

[Cecil Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that will be a great help to both the honest sceptic seeking answers to life’s “Big Questions”, and to Christians seeking to reach out to their secular friends.

“This is the Christian ethic at work. I am given the freedom to choose, and I am loved even when I make the wrong choices. But I am graphically reminded in the mission and work of Jesus Christ
that, though I can choose my behavior, I cannot transpose the consequences that are inextricably bound to a particular choice. The greatest reality is that even in my wrong choice, I am still loved by God who woos me back to Himself by making the most sacrificial
gift of all—a Savior for my rebellious heart.” - Jesus Among Secular Gods

[Andy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to pick up after listening to a documentary about the rise of “post-truth” in our culture – “post-truth” being the Oxford Dictionaries’ Word of the Year for 2016. Seems we’ve lost the ability to talk about differences without tending towards either one extreme of fighting or the other, of denying that any disagreement is desirable – or even justifiable, as in “post-truth”. So credit to Zacharias and Vitale for producing a really respectful, yet cogent and insightful analysis of how the Christian message compares and contrasts with the other “isms” presented as answers to the basic questions of life in the West. Apt timing for sure: after scrolling through my Facebook and Twitter feeds on New Year’s Day, I couldn’t fail to notice the vitriolic sentiment towards much of what 2016 served up – Brexit bemoaned by my British friends and how the Presidential Election transpired closer to home. Occurs to me though, that 2017 will only be different to the extent that truth – and not “post-truth” – is what we go after. Would commend this book to anyone who just wants to investigate, be informed and take truth seriously again. It’s a step in the right direction to regain the lost art of thinking clearly without alienating friends or colleagues if and when our views differ. Really enjoyed the last chapter’s insight about what it means to be a “lover of truth” – accessible too – powered through the whole book in a day.

[Brian Upsher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale's new book 'Jesus among secular gods,' is written with great thought and in such a way that it does not dismiss the objections raised from atheistic and pluralistic philosophies but instead highlights the differences between the Christian worldview in comparison to a few other religious beliefs and especially that of the secular worldviews. Each chapter looks at an area of secular philosophy and explains why this philosophy ultimately fails to be lived out if there is no God to give the basis for human worth and meaning. I found the reasoning and arguments well structured and even though the two authors have different writing styles the text still flowed easily from chapter to chapter. As mentioned, they don't only break down secular philosophies but also go through a rational thought process to reveal why not only belief in God but belief in the Christian God gives us the best explanations for understanding science, moral reasoning, meaning, and ultimately truth. This book is well worth a read for Christians who are maybe insecure about how to give answers for their faith especially when challenged by secular thinkers about their belief in God.  I would also highly recommend this book to atheists and agnostics who are honestly interested to know what answers the Christian message has in comparison to their own line of thinking. To sum up, this is an excellently written book by two thoughtful authors that gives an in-depth comparison between differing worldviews but ultimately shows the hope that the Christian message offers in the person of Jesus Christ.

[Andrew Samir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a very good book combining deep insights, real life stories and good arguments. It provides a chance for a truth seeker to compare between different ideologies and worldviews as contrast is the mother of clarity. It also gives a Christian a good tool to understand his faith more in the light of the other answers provided. Being written by two competent authors, it has the advantage of different voices and experiences. I found the chapter on Pluralism and Hedonism particularly helpful. I would highly recommend considering one's stance reagrding each idol in real life.

[Kosta Milkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a I loved the previous book by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale on the problem of suffering (Why Suffering?), I am delighted but not surprised that that they have produced a second coauthored work which addresses the subject matter in a transparent, clear, eloquent and persuasive manner. I found it especially helpful in its fair but robust debunking of atheists' claims to have given definitive answers for the big questions including the disproof of God's existence (especially if one is writing against the Christian God!). The same can be said for "scientism" in the chapter with the same name, where the ideology that science can explain everything is addressed. �It was exceptionally fun to read in that chapter about the multiverse theory (An example from the poker game is given, and not being familiar with it, I had to look and learned what a "royal flush" is; I hope I am not getting hooked!), and being masterfully led through the major issues with it.
A book well written and well worth reading!

[Micah Ruelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vince Vitale writes, “Perhaps the most common objection to this argument [of science and faith] is this: God is not a good explanation for the universe because we don’t have a good explanation for God.” Vitale, along with Ravi Zacharias, then delve into who they believe that God to be.

Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale have teamed up to revisit, refine, and modernize some of Zacharias’s decades-long inquiry into the dialogue between Christianity and other, secular faiths (mainly, atheism, scientism, humanism, etc.). While the book’s target audience is most likely geared towards Christians who wish to have a deeper understanding for the foundation of their faith, the book also provides many answers for atheists looking to engage with the Christian faith on an intellectual platform. At the heart of this book is premise that there are good, rational, and satisfying reasons to take Judeo-Christian God under serious consideration.

[David Cottrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ravi and Vince, once again, have showed their understanding of where the current winds of culture are blowing. With our Western Culture changing before our eyes, it is difficult to get a handle on the forces that are at work. I enjoyed their insights and analysis of these relevant issues and their candour in challenging our presuppositions on each. They are thoughtful and winsome in their arguments. They break down each issue so they are understandable and relevant. They leave the reader with a clear understanding how different worldviews answer each issue so they can make clear decisions regarding each view. Their answers are substantial, balanced and though provoking. I found their writing touched both my mind and my heart. A recommended read for those who are interested in the issues that shape and influence our culture.

[Noemi Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

With reason and heart driving the book, Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale lay out the major and influential "partial" truths our culture has been enculturated with, yet ultimately found lacking: Atheism, Scientism, Pluralism, Humanism, Relativism and Hedonism.

Clearly written and imbued with poignant illustrations, heartfelt stories and rational support from the world’s leading Christian (and non-Christian) thinkers, this is a much-needed anchor and stake in this post-truth, post-Christian era.

God’s truth stands: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). This is a beautiful, inspiring and thought-provoking book armed with truth and love— it seeks to show that ultimate meaning and purpose point to a God who loves us and seeks for us to know the Truth, which is God Himself.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus Among Secular Gods is timely, insightful, and accessible. Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale have proved yet again to be excellent communicators (and great story tellers!), articulate not only in their commendation of Christian faith but also in their reasoning; they "show their work" as it were- something which I personally appreciate as I try to weigh up ideas and arguments for myself. As Ravi notes in the first chapter, "Views and opinions are aplenty in our world of tweeting ...but civil discourse is rare." Happily, this volume aims at such discourse, resulting in respectful and honest engagement with the subject matter. Definitely a worthwhile read for the thoughtful soul seeking to press a finger to the pulse of trending '-isms' of our culture, and to understand why the figure of Jesus Christ stands unique among such 'gods'.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ravi and Vince have brought a timely clarity in contrasting Christianity and other world views. For the critical thinker looking for solutions to a world reeling in confusion about truth, a post truth culture essentially, this book will most certainly impact your life. It is a bold response to a secular culture, to aggressive atheism, with many facts and insights that should help anyone gain a grasp of truth versus just ideas. Their position that no scientific claims to date disclaim God is very well supported. Relativism, humanism, and emotions over truth are also all directly addressed with priceless wisdom and experience from their world travels. This book will open eyes and hearts to truth! Thanks so much for the hard work and honest love behind this future top seller!

[Bryan Rollins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up thinking it was Harry Potter fan fiction but was surprised to find it was a collection of essays on religious philosophy. Okay, that's not true.

I believe each of us needs to read something that challenges our perspective - something that is well written and poses the strongest possible argument against our current beliefs.

So after some research I chose this book, but was disappointed. While it does a reasonable job of questioning a few of the pillars of modern atheist philosophy, overall its main tools are storytelling, single data point extrapolation, and emotional argument.

An example (out of context, apologies):

I am sympathetic to this objection. Even if we cannot help making truth claims, maybe it is arrogant to be confident about our truth claims when we are so limited in our understanding. The implications of this thought are frightening. Take our ethical beliefs, for instance. If we cannot have any confidence in them, what practices that we now approve of and are complicit in will be considered horrendously evil several hundred years from now? And who will be right, us or them? That’s a scary thought.

The ending of the paragraph is typical of the book - they begin with a philosophical line of argument, and then end with an emotional statement, "That's a scary thought." Not is it correct, or is it illogical, but it is "frightening."

Overall, the authors so desperately want there to be a moral or ethical absolute and a god that created it all, that most of their argument is that they really really really don't want to live in a world where there is no god and no moral certainty, so shouldn't we all just believe so it feels like there is some purpose? And aren't the teachings of Jesus so much more comfortable to believe and desirable than the alternatives?

I spent a lot of time reading this book carefully but felt like in the end it was time wasted. I tried my best to be open minded (and I did walk away with a couple of interesting challenges to evolutionary theory that I am going to research), but in the end didn't feel like I found authors who were up to the task.

[Shanika Ranasinghe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging and moving read, in which Zacharias and Vitale grapple with various “secular gods” – atheism; scientism; pluralism; humanism; relativism; hedonism - that are often held up as alternatives to the major world religions, especially Christianity. Through pertinent anecdotes; analyses of quotes from eminent historians, philosophers, theologians, and scientists; striking analogies, and their own personal testimonies, the two authors move seamlessly from one secular god to another, skilfully laying out the counter-arguments against each one in a convincing manner. Though this is a book to challenge all those who read it, regardless of whether they have a faith or not (and challenge us all, it certainly does!): far from being heavy-handed or judgemental, Zacharias and Vitale’s book is well-balanced and sensitive.

Particularly poignant is Vitale’s chapter on ‘Pluralism’, which both systematically and sensitively goes through the seemingly logical steps of pluralism, showing how the answers and vision provided by this worldview are lacking and, ultimately, unsatisfactory. Vitale’s claim that the needs that pluralism seeks to serve can only truly be addressed and fulfilled via the Christian God, is compelling and gives much food for thought, both to the sceptic and the believer alike.

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking answers to life’s big questions, of any belief or none. Even if you do not come away professing love for and worship of the Christian God, you will have learnt a great deal about all the various arguments and counter-arguments, from these two very astute apologists. Their lines of thought on the issue of ‘agreements’ and ‘tolerance’, delivered in the last chapter of the book, are especially thought-provoking.

[Karamoja Bukenya · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Book! A must have and Read for all!
"JESUS AMONG SECULAR GODS" shows us that once again Vince and Ravi have read so widely and extensively, and thought deeply, in order to provide our generation with a masterpiece that will Impact Christian Apologetics for quite a long time. I'm grateful to know both of them personally, and it remains a privilege to read what they write always. Their duet on Suffering helped me navigate that particular Question as a young Apologist. This, I feel, is very timely for the next level of Christian Apologetics.

I feel greatly charged, launching into an exciting year 2017 with such a phenomenon resource. It's the best read I have had quite a while. All my journey from Entebbe to Cape Town, I was just enjoying their brilliance.

Individuals, Institutions - Churches, need this resource if they are going to make relevant attempts to respond to the questions raised by the 'ISMs'; Athe-ISM, Scient-ISM, Plural-ISM, Human-ISM, Relativ-ISM, Hedon-ISM, name it..... that dominate our times. It's the kind of tool that I've been longing and waiting for.

God Bless you two for deeming it necessary for you to give time and effort to deliver such a significant contribution to the Apologetics Conversation going on in our generation. I'm yet to find a better authority on RELATIVISM than Ravi! And Vince's piece on PLURALISM is a beautiful surprise! One thing remains clear that, though both are two of the most intelligent minds in this field, they write from their hearts, pointing to CHRIST, the Only Saviour of all mankind.

[Najib B · Rating 5 out of 5]

In our world being increasingly overwhelmed of attempts of a philosophical and scientific nature that seek to deal with our struggles and deep longings, this book come with a fascinating insight to reconcile both rationality and the most important existential questions of our life. Zacharias and Vitale have succeeded to make a tremendous case for the supremacy of the Christian faith among other worldviews. Not only in addressing the difficult scientific and philosophic questions we face nowadays but also, and more importantly, in highlighting how these answers are harmonically intertwined with our deepest desires for morality, justice, and love. A must-read for all those of different faiths and non, who are genuinely seeking the truth.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to start the new for anyone seeking to understand Western culture and why our societies seem to be in great turmoil. What does it mean to be human? How is value, truth, purpose, freedom, love, and responsibility to be understood coherently in a way that one can live by it? When so much of the news portrays factions in societies fighting each other in political, religious, and physical war zones, taking a serious look at these points and more offered with great accessibility by Zarcharias and Vitale may help us move forward out of our fears from those who disagree with and are different from "us" toward a more hospitable future.

[James (JD) Dittes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to emphasize what I liked about JASG: namely, the ways Zacharias and Vitale represent their own Christian faith with concrete examples and truly touching connections between scripture and modern life. I can write this because I am a Christian who, like Zacharias and Vitale, understands that I live and work among secular-minded people.

But I found it more challenging when the authors took on representatives of atheism, humanism, hedonism, and other schools of thought. To this degree, it didn't seem like an honest debate. The claims of people like Stephen Hawking or Richard Dawkins tended to be cherry picked. I didn't really find the counterclaims persuasive, such as when Zacharias used probability (of life appearing at random) to take on scientific claims about life's origins. I can write this because I grew up in a fundamentalist environment, and I have tried to maintain my faith while escaping the circular reasoning of my own past, radical "isms".

One quote really stood out to me in the conclusion of the book:

Each (of the anti-Christian 'isms') takes a partial explanation and claims for it explanatory omnipotence.

Isn't this what the Bible itself is? The author of Genesis had never seen a telescope, so he constructed an earth-centered Creation. He knew very little about photosynthesis, so he imagined a world where trees and plants existed for 24 hours or more without the sun, moon and stars. He provides a partial explanation that served readers for hundreds of years. It is only in the past 120 years that any readers--fundamentalist Christians--have tried to twist his words into "explanatory omnipotence."

Vitale and Zacharias refer a number of times to a "personal relationship" with the Christian God, which we all know is a concept that didn't widely exist in Christianity until after the 2nd World War.

Zacharias ends the book with an exhortation for Christians to live lives of love and open sacrifice. I can get behind that counter-cultural claim!

This is a work of Christian apologia that will inspire Christian readers, but I'm not sure if it works outside of a readership that isn't already devout. I just can't imagine skeptics taking these arguments seriously.

[Adam Romeiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous. This book is a joy to read. The two authors are splendid at weaving beautiful stories and analogies in and through their well-reasoned arguments, which both affirm the existence of a loving Creator God and point out that all claims to the contrary fall flat on their round faces. My favorite chapter was on scientism. Who knew it could be dismantled in so few words, and with such wit and vigor? Let me be clear: neither Mr. Zacharias nor Mr. Vitale wants to disprove a single scientific finding; what they set out to do is to put science and its discoveries, including evolution, in their proper places. The same goes for the others “isms,” all of which contain some truth but not the entirety of truth. It is worth noting the charity with which this book was written. These two authors aren’t trying to make anyone look stupid or crazy. On the contrary, I believe that they would bend over backwards to serve a meal or share a laugh or give a gift to their ideological opponents, and they might even prefer doing so than to write this book, but write they did, and thankful I am for having for having read it.

[Gerson Mercadal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Both the realities of pleasure and of pain demand answers and explanation, whether life has meaning and whether there is a solution to the problem of pain."

Nowadays people does not think so much about what is the ultimate origin of everything and on what is true, but rather many focus on what worldview of thinking system matches better my current desires. But ideas have consequences and Vince Vitale and Ravi Zacharias provide an excellent survey and exposition of the different worldviews that we regularly find in our secular culture, often trimmed and mixed, and how the person of Jesus and the worldview of christianity that follows provide answers that are, not only truthful, but they are truthful in a coherent manner and also in the most attractive one. I deeply recommend this book.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic read!! Ravi and Vince intricately disassemble secular objections to Jesus to reveal to us the real problem with skeptics, their own heart. There isn’t a better time to read this book then now, especially now, since secularism is on the rise. The writers lay out the obstacles that the secular world will use in order to shake the faith of Christians. Once examined though, the reader will realize just how minuscule those obstacles are next to the living God. This is the kind of book that will strengthen your faith while at the same time preparing you for what the world claims to offer. This is a book every Christian should own and every skeptic should read.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ravi and Vince have a winsome way of articulating why Jesus uniquely fulfills the deepest longings of the human heart. Chapter 7 on Hedonism alone is worth more than the purchase price. If you’ve ever been lured into the experience machine of money or sex, this book will show you how to have lasting pleasure and happiness.

[Mattie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ravi and Vince manage to efficiently inform the reader (aka dumbed it down for me) of deep philosophical and theological topics while always relating back to the Gospel of Christ at the root. Probably my favorite big brain read thus far!!

[B. R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book in both hard cover and audible format and I highly recommend both! The audible format is read by Peter Berkrot and I think it is high quality and very well done.

Whether the reader is a deep thinker or not, I believe this book will speak encouragement and hope to whoever picks it up regardless of the view and belief that one has. The authors have the boldness to address questions that are challenging and with honesty they give answers that are appealing to both the mind and the heart in a way anyone can understand. This book is for anyone who has honest questions about the meaning, reason, and purpose of life and/or does not think that there is enough evidence for belief in God. I also recommend it for people who struggle to understand the battle of opposing ideas in today's culture (tolerance, science gives all the answers, whatever makes you happy, truth is not relevant, etc) which causes confusion and division. I also recommend it to anyone who has a belief in God because it offers an encouraging outlook: true belief is built on true substance that can be carefully examined while corresponding to true reality.

The chapters in this book written by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale are brilliant. What I found really helpful in the book is that besides addressing the main currents of our time such as atheism, pluralism, and relativism, they do a fantastic job addressing Humanism and Hedonism which are not easy at all to address. I haven't read something so thorough and relevant to today's culture on these two "ism"s. Ravi Zacharias's chapter on Humanism puts it in a historical context and shows how the term evolved and the meaning of the term today is different than what it meant when it was introduced a few centuries ago. Vince Vitale's chapter on Hedonism brings relevance and insight to the way our culture distorts the truth by having it be overruled by "whatever makes you happy."

It is refreshing to see a young person like Vince Vitale co-authoring a book with a seasoned author like Ravi Zacharias while writing with such elegance and making difficult arguments become so simple under the eyes of my mind. Ravi starts with laying the foundation of the general "ism" that is underlying all other secular "isms" and Vince finishes strongly in his chapter "Love the Truth." Vince does a wonderful job in his Scientism chapter on explaining that the "how" question (which what science explains) does not answer the "who" question (referring to the mind behind it) or the "why" question (which implies purpose). The chapter on Pluralism addressed the question on so many different angles including "how we love" which is determined by who we listen or follow, and the example with Ariel (a terminally ill person) gave me goose bumps. Overall, both authors give so many helpful and thoughtful examples that it makes it a pleasure to read and understand the ideas presented. The partnership of Ravi and Vince co-authoring this book is a masterpiece and I am very grateful for having the opportunity to read it!

[Jeff Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who are inclined to dig around and inspect their own worldviews a little, I think they’ll find this an excellent and helpful read.

Ravi and Vince (who each authored 4 of the 8 chapters individually for the book) do a solid job of presenting and comparing many of the most prominent worldviews that compete with Christianity. While they are certainly advocating for the validity of Christianity over these other worldviews, they offer reasonably fair representation of each opposing argument.

My favorite aspect of the book is the way that Vitale and Zacharias manage to mix in easy-to-understand illustrations with equally accessible academic thought. It’s an art when dealing with such deep topics, but one they both manage well. In fact, given such heady conversation, I think the switching of voices every couple of chapters is a nice change of pace and keeps it fresh.

At the very least, I hope that people of all worldviews would use a book like this as a tool for more civil discourse when they have opposing viewpoints.

As Vitale mentions in the book (p 206):
“Partial truths can be as uninformative and misleading as lies, and because we like thinking we are in the know and we hate feeling ignorant, presenting partial truths as the whole truth is very much in our human nature.”

Coming out of an election cycle in the U.S. where partial truths seem to take over every news headline…I’m a big fan of a book like this which tries to fairly compare the claims and strengths of competing worldviews in a civil manner.


P.S. For what it’s worth…I also think this is one of those books you pop on your bookshelf as a resource for when someone brings up a worldview you want a quick refresher on. (That is…for those of us who don’t already have advanced degrees in all of this!).

[Ian Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In somewhat of a sequel to Ravi Zacharias' previous book "Jesus Among Other Gods", this new volume deals with belief systems that generally go unrecognised as such because they are based on the denial of the supernatural. Yet, as the authors show, this does not mean they are any less 'beliefs' than the religious traditions they reject, but in fact they make claims about ultimate reality and values that need an underpinning if they are to have any meaning. The book therefore compares these world views, their claims, coherence and supporting evidence against the Christian worldview. The authors' claim is simple: the Christian worldview offers the most intellectually coherent and existentially satisfying explanation of life available. Each chapter takes a particular current secular philosophy of life and compares its explanatory power, satisfaction of the observable evidence, and liveability against the claims of Biblical Christianity. The book is aimed both at skeptics wishing to see what intellectual credibility there is to faith in Christ and also to Christians seeking to deepen their understanding of how their beliefs relate to the currents of modern thinking. The authors, Dr. Zacharias being a world-renowned lecturer and writer and Dr. Vitale being a member of the Oxford University philosophy faculty, are experts in their field and manage to deal with heavy subject matter with clarity and readability. Having studied and read substantially in this area I am confident in recommending this to all those interested in gaining a better understanding of the answers to the most important questions of life

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful that Ravi and Vince have teamed up to write a book that is both easy to understand, and rich in wisdom. As Family Medicine Physicians, my husband and I are often faced with difficult questions regarding life's purpose and meaning. People ask us, "Why pursue anything more than pleasure and happiness? Doesn't science eliminate the need of God? How is the Christian heaven and Christian God different than any others? What is so golden about the golden years?" This book masterfully pairs complex philosophy with simple stories in order to concisely convey deep truths.
I completed the book today and already was able to share stories from it with three different patients. One story I shared with a patient is Vince’s analogy of participating in an athletic event without knowledge of the rules or how to win. When asked how to play, the players have different answers. The ref has been dismissed and the coach has nothing to add but vague statements of affirmation. Vince compares this to trying to live a meaningful life without knowing: "Where did I come from? Why am I here? How should I live? Where am I headed?" While this took only a couple minutes to articulate, the young man I was counseling left with a greater appreciation for who God created him to be. I felt better equipped to use my job as my calling.

[Michael Bouterse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exciting book to read. Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale have been outstanding voices at addressing the most current, trenchant, and relevant objections to Christianity, so to read their thoughtful responses to the prevailing "isms" of modern Western secularism packed a punch.

Vitale's chapters did an outstanding job carefully noting flaws in the ideologies he addressed: scientism, pluralism, and hedonism. Especially helpful was his subsequent concern to affirm—patiently and pastorally—the good goals that many of these ideologies aim at, all the while showing how these goals are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Zacharias writes with urgency and gravitas, though his unique style is sometimes a little too non-linear for my tastes. Even so, his chapters do a good job stitching together evidence, anecdotes, and arguments that show the incoherence of the ideologies he addresses: atheism, humanism, and relativism. The concluding chapter is an outstanding meditation on truth by Vitale. It's nigh worth the price of the book in my opinion and shows (beautifully, winsomely, and cogently) how in Jesus, truth is not an oppressive bludgeon but a life-giving, love-giving relationship.