The Secret Battle of Ideas About God: Answers to Life’s Biggest Questions

by Jeff Myers

A virus has been spreading across America, but many are unaware of its existence and of the potential fallout. Chances are you’ve already been infected without even realizing it. The virus contains dangerous ideas—worldviews that seek to destroy Jesus and biblical living.
                                      
According to a recent Barna study, only 3 percent of American evangelicals have an authentic biblical worldview. Dr. Jeff Myers shines a light on the bad ideas infecting Christians. Tackling some of the largest questions that trouble humanity, Dr. Myers explains how secularism, Marxism, Islam, new spirituality, and postmodernism, attempt to answer them; and he strengthens Christians how to understand what they believe, why they believe it, and how to defend against the idea viruses of today.
 

Genres: Christian, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology, Philosophy, Cultural

240 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2018

About the author

Over the last 20 years Dr. Jeff Myers has become one of America’s most respected authorities on youth leadership development and has equipped thousands of people to champion the Christian worldview.

Reviews

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is super interesting because it talks about how different worldviews/religions see different issues.

[Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is aimed at young adults. The content, layout, and pacing of the book hit that target very well. Clear concise chapters explore how a variety of worldviews address important aspects of our daily lives.

The book attempts to show how the Christian worldview is superior in its explanation of why the world is the way it is. I believe it succeeds in this endeavor. It tracks nicely with what C.S. Lewis said. “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Highly recommended for young adults beginning to ask the “big questions” about life.

[Russell Corona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every follower of Jesus should read and re-read this book to help in the battle of ideas/worldviews in the world today.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those nice fellows over at Summit Ministries actually emailed me with an offer to give me this book for free (with a small shipping charge), so I thought, "Why not?" It seemed interesting as I have a little more than a passing interest in different worldviews and philosophies. Some of them are actually interesting with legitimately thoughtful or compelling arguments, while others are profoundly stupid and inspire me to consider moving to another planet. But as a Christian myself, I thought it would be interesting to see an interpretation of these five major worldviews--secularism, Marxism, postmodernism, new spirituality, and Islam--from a Christian point-of-view. Jeff Myers did not disappoint.

The Secret Battle of Ideas about God is well structured, posing several different existential questions that I'm sure everyone has asked themselves at some point in their lives, such as "Is there hope for us?", "Do I even matter?", and "Why is there evil in the world?" Then, it analyzes and answers each question according to the five worldviews, showing how each one can produce very different (yet equally insufficient) answers to the same question and, furthermore, demonstrating how the answers to these questions can affect the way people behave in their everyday lives. Lastly and usually in a separate chapter, Myers answers the same question according to a biblical worldview and explains how it's both more satisfying and productive for people than its competitors. He then repeats the process with a different question in each other chapter until the end, where he concludes that the questions about God and our lives is indeed relevant both inside and outside the church.

This may sound rather repetitive to read, but it wasn't. The author wrote in a well-balanced, relatable voice and told a fair share of anecdotes that were not only entertaining to think about but also effectively got his point across to the reader. This wasn't like drudging through the nonsensical ramblings of a philosopher that take deep thought and analysis to comprehend either. It's straightforward and approachable without coming across as overly preachy or condescending. I never felt like I was being lectured to when reading this book; it read like an honest argument for a biblical worldview based on the author's own knowledge and personal experience, and I can respect that. My only gripe about it was that it was not more in-depth. Longer, more complicated analyses of the worldviews presented in the book may defeat my earlier point about it being approachable, but I still would have liked to see the overall implications of each worldview's answer and the short- and long-term effects it would have had on society at large.

As is, however, I think The Secret Battle of Ideas about God does what it was trying to do just fine. I'm not sure if this book will provoke any conversions from non-believers, but it provides a well-written point-of-view that is worth considering. For Christian audiences, this is definitely worth a read, especially in this time, when so many different and flawed ideas can challenge and even destroy one's faith in God. Ideas are more complicated to confront than most issues; after all, they are bullet-proof.

(Excuse my V for Vendetta reference, but I couldn't help it.)

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the most helpful books on worldviews that I have read. There are several good books on the nature of worldviews in broad terms. However this is the first one that I've come across that really illustrates the practical difference of living out these worldviews. And in doing this it also makes a strong pragmatic case for Christianity. Additionally, it is very well written.

(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})

[Marcas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good introductory 'big-picture book', which looks at worldviews such as Marxism, Islam, Secularism, Postmodernism and New Age Spirituality in light of The Gospel.
Myers points out how each of the others tries, and fails, to answer life's deep perpetual questions and where each goes wrong. For example, seeing God as a 'force' rather than a person in much 'new age' thinking leads to people using God for their own selfish reasons. Understanding God as a person opens us up to an abiding relationship with Jesus. The author helps his central insights stick in our minds by effective use of metaphor and analogy. Bearing the marks of a good teacher.

Dr Myers calls each of these worldviews 'idea viruses', which is doubly helpful. It helps us to stop treating the people as 'viruses' (which Dr Richard Beck has shown can be dangerous) but still recognise and combat the fatal threat these ideas have for them and us in our physical, mental and spiritual health. In line with loving the sinner and hating the sin.
We are concerned with bodily health- individual and communal, so this is not just about ideas or about demonising people but about treating persons who reflect God's image and His creation, with the one who the old African-American spirituals call 'Dr Jesus'.
Jeff also offers the comprehensive and active virtues of the Christian way instead. For example, he commends chaste behaviour as it grounds our relationships in committed personal value and frees us from anxiety. Drs Jordan Peterson and Scott Yenor have both spoken about the same issue vis a vis marriage.
Myers reminds us that the dominant secularism doesn't just disorient us but provides us with no destination. Christ offers us a home which values the things of this world-family, friendships and so on, fulfilling them all in the Kingdom.

[Ming Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to it via Libby.

A useful survey of five main topics - love, suffering, calling, community, and hope - and the answer of six worldviews - Christianity, secularism, Marxism, New Spirituality, Islam, and postmodernism - to each of these questions. Myers seeks to show that Christianity provides the only answer for each of these topics, as opposed to the other worldviews, which he calls "idea viruses", ideologies that infect our minds and damage our lives. The solution presented to these "idea viruses" is analogous to the response undertaken against real viruses: identify, isolate (pointing out the ramifications that certain ideologies have on our lives), inform, and invest (genuinely connecting with someone to help them). Though I found the book somewhat disjointed and even simplistic (helping someone who is struggling with different ideas may not be as easy as dealing with some viruses, and contains an added dimension of spiritual reality), it nonetheless was a good primer (suitable for probably high school level and possibly beyond), and a refresher on some fundamental ideas.

Informative.

[Rosie Gearhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good introductory/overview book if you haven’t read much philosophy or worldview stuff before. I appreciated the organization around five key questions (all of which I am on a personal quest to answer satisfactorily), but I found the book to be extremely simplistic, even as an introduction. I feel like the various worldviews could have been explained or expounded on more. Instead most chapters felt like a repeat of the same information (New Spirituality says the answer is to be one with the universe. Marxism says the rich are the problem and revolution is the solution. Etc.) Maybe because of its simplicity and repetition, though, I have found myself easily and somewhat frequently thinking about the various views given here. It’s a good place to start, but be aware that there is much more nuance and depth in these belief systems than is revealed here. (I highly recommend Postmodern Times by Veith for a more in-depth analysis of these ideas.)

[Katherine Harms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent presentation of worldviews

Jeff Meyers has written a book every Christian should read. I have been studying worldviews for several years, after I understood that a person's worldview is what Christians mean when they say that our testimony must be demonstrated in our lives. Many, many Christians have absorbed many mental constructs from contemporary culture that they do not realize are at best distractions from faith in Christ and at worst actively separating people from Christ. This author presents the worldviews that compete for our attention and dissects them with the Sword of the Spirit, biblical teaching. I recommend this book to every Christian. Read it with your Bible open. This is not an opinion statement. It is a Bible study.

[Ryan Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the concept and message of this book are good and it is well-sourced, the editing and pace of the book is difficult to overcome in places. Cohesion is a problem with the layout - and thus, it only receives 3 stars. However, the content is on point (generally) and the truth it shows and uncovers is important. We need idea viruses to be exposed and Christians especially need to think through what is influencing them - deeply. Again, well-sourced, solid content, and some nice word-picture illustrations for presenting ideas - it just needed more polish and editorial cohesion. Regardless, still a fan of Myers and what he is doing through Summit!

[Camille Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview

It’s a good book. I can tell he did research and wanted to stay credible. It’s a great articulation and comparison of ideas. I was hoping it would be more of a handbook on how to talk to people about the differences in beliefs, but I really did like the 2nd to last chapter on hope and the great outlook on scripture and the positives of what God offers. I felt like some of the quotations got tiresome in points but I understand the purpose—to clearly express the viewpoints from the viewers’ perspectives.

[Seth Woodley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret Battle of Ideas about God offers some helpful insight as to how Christians ought to think about various important questions. I enjoyed the approach of each chapter to examine how different worldviews answer very real questions. However, there is little depth given to each of the five worldviews. The exploration of these questions from the Christian worldview was much stronger. This is a helpful book for Christians to read and to think through so that they can think more thoroughly as Christians and live more deeply as Christians.

[Jackson Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I think that this is something that Christians don't understand and need to be educated on. All the beliefs that people have ultimately go back to their worldview which forms the way they think. While we tend to argue with people about ideas and issues such as abortion or homosexuality or socialism, that won't often get anywhere because people don't think idea by idea, they form opinions based on their worldview.

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

A common criticism of the use "worldviews" as a teaching framework to help Christians in "making sense of their world" is that treating religious and intellectual traditions such as Islam, Marxism, and postmodernism as discrete, monolithic "worldviews" is so reductive it does more harm than good. The framework serves, as Alissa Wilkinson described in a review of Nancy Pearcey's Saving Leonardo in Comment, as a "categorize-and-dismiss system – an easy way for us to put our 'opponent' in a box and ignore what they have to say..."

Regrettably, Jeff Myers' The Secret Battle of Ideas about God leans entirely and unsalvagably into that "categorize-and-dismiss" system.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author uses real-life stories and facts to explain the different worldviews and their answers to life's basic questions. This book made me think and helped me see more clearly through the false answers that surround me. Lots of footnotes in the back with extensive additional reading. I'm sure I will read this one again!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. Each chapter is a very well written and easy to understand discussion of five fatal worldviews and what we can do to overcome them. I spent awhile reading this book in an effort to really retain what Jeff is saying and how I can apply it to my world. Excellent!!!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very relevant and helpful read
This book caught my eye in our church library and I'm glad I picked it up. The author really helps you look at how world view ideas affect your thinking and pull you away from your faith.
Highly recommend.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explains a lot about what is going on in our culture and why. Idea viruses are running rampant. I was shocked and saddened to learn that only 17% of professing Christians have a true biblical world view.

[Gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff spoke at Wilberforce weekend 2018. President of Summit ministries. Good overview of world views. Sparked interest in his trilogy “Understanding the Times,...Faith,...Culture”.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, good material. Seemed a little repetitive.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Perhaps a fallen and redeemed Peter was better than an upright and self righteous Peter."
"Jesus didn't medicate suffering, He overcame it."

[Michael Arnold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with all of the ideas in the book. I think it could have been half the length.

[Sara Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of Worldview and the 5 pervasive ones. A bit scattered at times and slightly shallow in its treatment of them.

[Fit For Faith 〣 Your Christian Ministry. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good apologetics, but with a serious lack of discernment, rarely seen of such a dimension in a Christian book.

PROS

+ Some good discernment on problematic -isms, movements and religions. But very shallow. He speaks e.g. a lot about Islam, but does not even give some key facts specifying the problems in comparison with Christianity. When did it start, what writings do they base their belief on, why is there a moon in their flags, how to deal with a Muslim ...?

+ Good defense of Christianity.

+ Great choice to read his book.

CONS

- He speaks at least 3 times of his membership in an undefined fraternity, without warning the reader in any way about the enormous danger and evil of Freemasonry. This is unacceptable in an apologetic book, and especially problematic seeing later in the book his specific endorsement of the freemason Ronald Reagan.

- He speaks of Paul through the term 'Saint Paul', of people like 'Father Smith', highly endorses the Catholic church (the hospitals they built et al.) and specific Catholics such as Bruce D. Marshall, G.K Chesterton and J.R.R. Tolkien in this book.

- He furthermore endorses Anglicans such as the highly problematic teacher John Stott and multiple times C.S. Lewis (believed in purgatory; Tao is the highest morality; rejected biblical inerrancy; theistic evolutionist; considered Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims as brothers in CHRISTOS).

- He endorses William Lane Craig (Proponent of Theistic Evolution Adam & Eve = Homo heidelbergensis; one million years ago ... contradicting the 77 generations in Luke 3:23-28; he claims that the genre of Genesis 1-11 is pure myth; rejects the Flood and the Tower of Babel; serious errors related to the Trinity and Incarnation; he does not believe in the inerrancy of Scripture).

- He twice recommends a book from J.R.R. Tolkien (One of The Jerusalem Bible translators, a Catholic Bible with 73 books, with the translators claiming that Moses did not write the Pentateuch; Tolkien resisted the liturgical changes implemented after the Second Vatican Council, especially the use of English for the liturgy, he continued to make the responses in Latin, loudly, ignoring the rest of the congregation; he invented new languages, clearly showing his unbiblical intentions by propelling the consequences of the Tower of Babel even further; his books are consistent with Roman doctrine and ideology, and none of the characters are redeemed or changed - NONE - good characters remain good; evil characters remain evil).

- Endorsement of Timothy Keller in a book opposing Marxism ... (Ecumenism and explicit promotion of the Catholic Church, G‑spel Coalition, Theistic evolutionist, Contemplative Prayer / Catholic Mysticism, Lectio Divina, Emerging Church, Calvinist, Marxism ...).

- Endorsement of the problematic teacher A.W. Tozer.

- While the reader can usually discern if he refers to a certain person in a positive or negative way, we do not always find this to be the case. In the case of Eckhart Tolle, we see on the one hand his discernment, but also clearly sense a certain admiration of the author towards him.

-He quotes several times from the myth of pandora from the ze** god, without discerning the writing. He definitely generates a sublime motivation to read that writing, which is to eventually mislead people.

Sadly not a recommendation. We do not need more books on the -isms he and dozens of other authors have discerned before him - all concepts easy to grasp. We need discernment in the areas he (and many other authors and teachers out there) are struggling with.

[Jack Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, guide, program about the differences between five popular worldviews, what makes each different from the other, and, unlike many of the apologetic literature, intentionally directs the participant in this body of work toward Christianity. In fact, Jeff Myers calls all other worldviews toxic, as a virulent disease.

Christianity teaches that there is only one way to Heaven and that is through faith in Jesus Christ, who states, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 (NIV) A Christlike walk in life is a righteous one, one that demands obedience to God's will. This worldview also teaches that God can be wrathful, when necessary, but wants to shower mankind with His benevolence, "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 2:7 (KJV) All other worldviews either deny God's existence or deny His loving interventions with mankind.

The author describes misleading worldviews as an Idea Virus, each idea full of despair because they separate mankind from the One, true God, Creator of Heaven and Earth. Secularism teaches that there is only the material world and no life after death. Marxism (Atheists) believe that the wealthy need to be overthrown and their wealth redistributed. Post-Modernism thinks that humans are devoid of meaning and hope because only the material exists. New Spirituality believes that mankind's problems are all spiritual and all else is an illusion. Finally, Islam preaches submission to Allah with rebellion against those who are not Muslim. Islam is a Totalitarian worldview. Muslims must follow Muhammad, its prophet, and Allah as slaves. The history of Islam and Western Civilization is rich with jihad, blood, and atrocities of war.

As participants, the author wants Christians to have true hope. Their faith and trust in Jesus Christ blesses them with joy, a gracious gift from the Holy Spirit. Their hope is joyous, awaiting eternity with Jesus, one day, in Heaven. This lesson informs Christians not to hope in themselves but to involve themselves in God's work, spreading His Good News, the gospel, restoring hope in others. People become agents of life, that precious gift of God that other worldviews regard differently.

Myers knows that the way of the Christian is fraught with persecution and resistance. He brings out the resiliency of Christians because they are, once more, blessed by the Holy Spirit's fruit of longsuffering, restraint in the face of turmoil, also known as patience. Christians bring stability in volatility. Genuine faith saves Christians who receive the Holy Spirit as a great companion, counselor, and comforter.

Human beings are full of faults. Christians are, too, since they are not different from anyone else, in this regard. Other worldviews can lead followers to a life of fear and regret. These bind them to toxic ideas that enslave them. Christians must face their mistakes, overcome obstacles, and remain loyal to God, through it all, with fearlessness. They are confident in their hope and faith. If not, they are prey to counterfeit worldviews, no hope, and a contagion of despair, the Idea Virus.

[Clay Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was largely unimpressed with this book. But it has been too long to remember exactly why.

[Beth McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really only read this book because it was given to us at school and it was a discussion point. I actually enjoyed his style of writing. I like that he begins each chapter with an applicable story that is interesting. Wading through the philosophy and different schools of thought can be a bit tedious especially if you are not struggling with what you believe, but overall a good book to serve as reminder and encouragement.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a good "surface level" book that provides a short overview on specific questions from the perspective of Secularism, Marxism, Postmodernism, New Sprituality, and Islamic worldviews and compares them to the Christian worldview.

Good lightweight book.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking. It made me really listen to what others were saying and helped me recognise idea virus'. We did the study and video along with the book. Great set but the book can stand alone.

[Tim Peterson]

This book is a good overview of Jeff Myers ministries and explains what he does at Summit ministries.