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Game of Gods: The Temple of Man in the Age of Re-Enchantment
“Humanity has three Great Desires: To be as God; to be Masters of Meaning and Destiny; to build Heaven on Earth – this is that story.” Game of Gods is a comprehensive investigation into the changing nature of Western civilization, the revolutionary replacement of the Judeo-Christian framework with a new, yet ancient paradigm. It is a journey into the cracks and crevices of big history; an expedition into the expanding realm of transformational movements and ideas – forces of change that are shifting how we think, behave, and relate. A sense of uncertainty and foreboding anticipation is palpable, and it’s more than just a feeling in the air. We are witnessing a titanic impact at the crossroads of religion, politics, technology, and culture. Fundamentally, it is a collision of worldviews – and we are all experiencing the shockwaves. Game of Gods allows you to step back and see the unfolding drama, to understand its points of contact, and to consider challenges and opportunities. In doing so, you will be traveling through the history of ideas, while probing dreams of tomorrow: Step into closed-door meetings at the United Nations, rub shoulders with faith leaders playing politics, scrutinize the religious impulse of technology, and watch how culture becomes a platform for spiritual engineering. A new and dominant mythos emerges, the vision of Oneness. But is this the only claim? Considered is a different and contrasting paradigm, a reality claim that emanates from beyond time, space, and matter. This, too, has a bearing on ethics, liberty, and freedom. It makes a case for human dignity, hope, and salvation.
570 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 27, 2020
What would help this review on a very complicated book? How about an analogy. I'll keep it simple.
This world is the Titanic. Yes, the ship that purportedly not even God himself could sink.
1. Most passengers are busy in their own lives, enjoying the ride happily trusting crews behind the scenes to run the ship, steering it away from icebergs.
2. Some passengers who see the iceberg, wonder if the ship is getting too close. When they warn others, they are labeled "conspiracy theorists." These passengers are such crazy buzzkills.
3. Carl Teichrib is also on the ship. Twenty-five years earlier, he started exploring this exact iceberg. He made many trips out to the iceberg exploring its depth, breadth, and reach. He traversed up the side of the iceberg, then onto the top of the iceberg so he could get very, very familiar with it. He went deep-sea diving, so he could discover below the surface. He even took his trusty ice pick to see what was inside.
In between his many expeditions, he attended conferences, seminars, and planning & development stratagems on this same iceberg. His sole aim the past 25 years was to understand the target and impact of the iceberg.
4. After all his research on the actual iceberg that's going to irreversibly alter the Titanic forever, Carl Teichrib wrote a book and titled it Game of Icebergs.
5. Passengers on the ship who read Game of Icebergs are acutely aware of the lifeboat situation.
For what reason would you not read this book?
This world is the Titanic. Yes, the ship that purportedly not even God himself could sink.
1. Most passengers are busy in their own lives, enjoying the ride happily trusting crews behind the scenes to run the ship, steering it away from icebergs.
2. Some passengers who see the iceberg, wonder if the ship is getting too close. When they warn others, they are labeled "conspiracy theorists." These passengers are such crazy buzzkills.
3. Carl Teichrib is also on the ship. Twenty-five years earlier, he started exploring this exact iceberg. He made many trips out to the iceberg exploring its depth, breadth, and reach. He traversed up the side of the iceberg, then onto the top of the iceberg so he could get very, very familiar with it. He went deep-sea diving, so he could discover below the surface. He even took his trusty ice pick to see what was inside.
In between his many expeditions, he attended conferences, seminars, and planning & development stratagems on this same iceberg. His sole aim the past 25 years was to understand the target and impact of the iceberg.
4. After all his research on the actual iceberg that's going to irreversibly alter the Titanic forever, Carl Teichrib wrote a book and titled it Game of Icebergs.
5. Passengers on the ship who read Game of Icebergs are acutely aware of the lifeboat situation.
For what reason would you not read this book?
Want to Read
February 14, 2023Honestly, I'm not sure this would be a book I'd look into, if it wasn't for the fact that Melissa Dougherty recommended it. She's a very solid Bible-thinking Christian, and she thought it was good, so now I'm interested lol.
April 18, 2020
I liked the book. I thought Carl did a great job outlining pantheism and our spiritual western culture. Further the detail on the influence in every aspect of our culture was incredible. I had no idea that from the Nazis to Earth Day, the impact that the “all is one” culture shift has had. I gave this book a 3 instead of a five because I was hoping Carl would provide more in depth perspective on how to actively influence the changing culture. Also, while I appreciated the depth of the book, it often went too deep. Some of the different world views were very similar and it caused sections of the book to seem repetitive. Lastly, I was hoping the book would spend more time specifically on Hinduism and Buddhism, but it didn’t really touch in those subjects as much as I’d hoped. That said, I would suggest Christians who want to know more about the spiritualization of western society/the world to check it out.
August 9, 2026
This author has spent years researching American culture and where it is going. He goes to UN conferences, united religions conferences, burning man and other popular festivals to understand.
His conclusion is we in a post postmodernism culture. People realized atheism is a dead end and are seeking meaning in spirituality, mysticism, paganism, worshiping mother Earth and "oneness". This shows up in everything from the desire for world peace, worries on climate change, transhumanism, and socialism as well as the religious shift. Progressive Christianity and Christian mysticism also is connected.
This book goes into great detail on what he saw and how we got here and where we could go next and what we should do as Christians.
I feel like he could have edited it down about 10%. There were maybe too many examples. It felt like the was trying to thoroughly document his work and I can appreciate that.
His conclusion is we in a post postmodernism culture. People realized atheism is a dead end and are seeking meaning in spirituality, mysticism, paganism, worshiping mother Earth and "oneness". This shows up in everything from the desire for world peace, worries on climate change, transhumanism, and socialism as well as the religious shift. Progressive Christianity and Christian mysticism also is connected.
This book goes into great detail on what he saw and how we got here and where we could go next and what we should do as Christians.
I feel like he could have edited it down about 10%. There were maybe too many examples. It felt like the was trying to thoroughly document his work and I can appreciate that.
July 28, 2019
A necessary read to Christians who care
So you care what your, friends, and neighbors believe or even hear? Then please read this for a reasonable and understandable shift of changing worldviews. The author includes a large number of footnotes. They are not required reading. The writing flows well and the footnotes are simply additional information or credit as would be included by any reputable author.
Please, get and share this book. Tune in, wake up, and respond. Thank you Carl!!!! For a preview of the book view the author's interviews at the fringepop321 channel on youtube!
So you care what your, friends, and neighbors believe or even hear? Then please read this for a reasonable and understandable shift of changing worldviews. The author includes a large number of footnotes. They are not required reading. The writing flows well and the footnotes are simply additional information or credit as would be included by any reputable author.
Please, get and share this book. Tune in, wake up, and respond. Thank you Carl!!!! For a preview of the book view the author's interviews at the fringepop321 channel on youtube!
July 29, 2025
I read this book after listening to the author on podcasts. I was intrigued by a Christian going to Burning Man year after year to talk with participants and engage in conversation. He learned a lot and made a commitment of decades to following the scene; transformational festivals. At first, I thought his comments on "oneism" to be a bit trite and made up but after reading this book, I really understand where he's coming from.
As a young person, I wasted far too much time on New Though [A Course (aka Curse) in Miracles] and, I'm embarrassed to admit, on occulture at large (astrology, wicca & tarot). And, an ethos of "oneism" pervades the whole scene. New Thought is really not too different from the Old Thought as expressed in Paganism and Gnosticism.
The author also brings in transhumanism, much of it animated by Man's desire to make an immortal god of himself. He also documents how the UN has been using "interfaith" work to undermine Christianity's essential "twoism" of a Creator who is other and eternally above man and to replace it with a One World Religion where Man is worshiped as a god. And this is a guy who made the sometimes long treck to these UN interfaith meetings happening all over the world to hear from the organizers, to see first hand their agenda and to talk with them about their beliefs and objectives. He put in decades of commitment to this work and it really shows. I learned about the Esalen Institute promoting and sanctifying this "oneist" worldview and how "transformational festivals" like the Burning Man attempt to transform man via transgression of society norms and morality, bad electronic music and drugs. And many big players in tech scene go to Burning Man and believe we can use tech to consciously evolve and even to live forever. They would answer the question of whether God exists with the response: not yet; we're building Him.
It took me a good month to get through this weighty book. To its credit, the author cites a lot of "oneist" thinkers, influencers and critics. There's a lot going on in this book and even more cud to chew. I'm glad I spent time with it.
As a young person, I wasted far too much time on New Though [A Course (aka Curse) in Miracles] and, I'm embarrassed to admit, on occulture at large (astrology, wicca & tarot). And, an ethos of "oneism" pervades the whole scene. New Thought is really not too different from the Old Thought as expressed in Paganism and Gnosticism.
The author also brings in transhumanism, much of it animated by Man's desire to make an immortal god of himself. He also documents how the UN has been using "interfaith" work to undermine Christianity's essential "twoism" of a Creator who is other and eternally above man and to replace it with a One World Religion where Man is worshiped as a god. And this is a guy who made the sometimes long treck to these UN interfaith meetings happening all over the world to hear from the organizers, to see first hand their agenda and to talk with them about their beliefs and objectives. He put in decades of commitment to this work and it really shows. I learned about the Esalen Institute promoting and sanctifying this "oneist" worldview and how "transformational festivals" like the Burning Man attempt to transform man via transgression of society norms and morality, bad electronic music and drugs. And many big players in tech scene go to Burning Man and believe we can use tech to consciously evolve and even to live forever. They would answer the question of whether God exists with the response: not yet; we're building Him.
It took me a good month to get through this weighty book. To its credit, the author cites a lot of "oneist" thinkers, influencers and critics. There's a lot going on in this book and even more cud to chew. I'm glad I spent time with it.
July 18, 2026
I try to be very selective with my "books everyone should read" recommendations. But this really is a book everyone should read.
I have been following Teichrib and his work at Burning Man for a couple of years now, and finally pulled the trigger on getting his book. I expected some kind of mash-up of conspiracy theories and spiritual warfare. But really it's an examination of the major cultural movements of our time - such as environmentalism, transhumanism/AI development, Masonic and other secret societies, spiritual syncretism, social justice, and many others - the history behind how they developed, how they present in our everyday lives, and the biblical response to each of them.
The first great strength of GoG is the tone. Teichrib has spent years researching these topics, the main driver being to get to know and spend time with people in the middle of each of these worldviews. As a result, while he is very direct in addressing the ideas he discusses, he is also very generous and respectful toward the individuals who hold those ideas. This was a refreshing shift from some other "culture war" books I've tried to read, that are mostly about stoking the fanaticism of the echo chamber. Teichrib clearly writes as though he hopes the people he interviewed will read this book. I really appreciated that.
The other strength is the research itself. There are copious footnotes that typically take 1/3-1/2 of each page. Literally hundreds of books and articles are cited. This is on top of his personal experience at major events (like Burning Man) and conferences where he is able to provide first-hand reports of these worldviews in action.
I don't think it's on audio, but TBH I think that would be a waste. It's part memoir, part reference guide, part history lesson, part instructional material. Buy it, sit down with a pen, underline and make notes. Go slow. You won't be sorry.
I have been following Teichrib and his work at Burning Man for a couple of years now, and finally pulled the trigger on getting his book. I expected some kind of mash-up of conspiracy theories and spiritual warfare. But really it's an examination of the major cultural movements of our time - such as environmentalism, transhumanism/AI development, Masonic and other secret societies, spiritual syncretism, social justice, and many others - the history behind how they developed, how they present in our everyday lives, and the biblical response to each of them.
The first great strength of GoG is the tone. Teichrib has spent years researching these topics, the main driver being to get to know and spend time with people in the middle of each of these worldviews. As a result, while he is very direct in addressing the ideas he discusses, he is also very generous and respectful toward the individuals who hold those ideas. This was a refreshing shift from some other "culture war" books I've tried to read, that are mostly about stoking the fanaticism of the echo chamber. Teichrib clearly writes as though he hopes the people he interviewed will read this book. I really appreciated that.
The other strength is the research itself. There are copious footnotes that typically take 1/3-1/2 of each page. Literally hundreds of books and articles are cited. This is on top of his personal experience at major events (like Burning Man) and conferences where he is able to provide first-hand reports of these worldviews in action.
I don't think it's on audio, but TBH I think that would be a waste. It's part memoir, part reference guide, part history lesson, part instructional material. Buy it, sit down with a pen, underline and make notes. Go slow. You won't be sorry.
July 20, 2026
The most thorough history and explanation of the inner workings of the One-World Movement. Reading Carl Teichrib's deep dive into the One-World Movement is like taking a college seminar in "Why the world is the way it is today." All the historical, philosophical, and cultural threads that explain our modern world are carefully teased apart and then rewoven into the movements, trends, societies, organizations, and government departments of today that are engaged in the insistence on the supremacy of Oneness in all things as the price for the continuance of the existence of humanity. Frightening? You betcha!! The slow roll of these influences, which began in earnest with the Enlightenment, has picked up enormous speed during the last hundred and especially the last sixty years. Reading Game of Gods was akin to revisiting my own life and finally understanding what was happening and why we live in the insane confusion of our times.
My only criticism is that a glossary would be highly beneficial.
My only criticism is that a glossary would be highly beneficial.
December 28, 2023
“The Game of Gods” is essentially about the fact that humanity, since the Garden of Eden, has always desired to be our own gods. The author focuses primarily on this happening with government (there is a long history of the government wanting full control, far beyond what I was aware of), but he has also attended events like Burning Man to understand what is going on in current culture as well (and how we as Christian’s should respond and push back). I cannot do this book justice with my explanation. It’s long, but worth the time to read.
November 15, 2023
Well researched
77% of the book is the actual book and the rest are reference. The book is well researched though heavy to read and it took a few days to get through the book though I usually will go through similar length at a seating
The book is an eye opener to Christians and a call to wake up and look around and take a stand for Jesus Christ and the exclusivity of the gospel. It was recommended though one of the testimonies of Nathan Reynolds
77% of the book is the actual book and the rest are reference. The book is well researched though heavy to read and it took a few days to get through the book though I usually will go through similar length at a seating
The book is an eye opener to Christians and a call to wake up and look around and take a stand for Jesus Christ and the exclusivity of the gospel. It was recommended though one of the testimonies of Nathan Reynolds
March 6, 2024
I must give Carl 5 stars for this well-written thoroughly-researched testament to cultural and governmental shifts. The author brings it down to one-ism vs two-ism (all is god or God is separate). This book contains a lot of documentation on groups and organizations whose goal is to unite the world under one ruling power. Another volumn could be written to cover what has been observed and experienced since the release of "Game of Gods", substantiating this premise.
August 25, 2026
A well-researched book on the current spiritual Re-Enchantment of cultures worldwide. In-depth and cited well, it is an essential book to help one understand the spiritual, political, and globalist movements currently taking place.
At times, the book is sermonizing, and 100 pages could have been cut out if it weren’t for this; however, I still highly recommend the book.
At times, the book is sermonizing, and 100 pages could have been cut out if it weren’t for this; however, I still highly recommend the book.
February 1, 2025
Must Read
To gain insight, perspective and concise account of what you’ve been molded and shaped by if born in this century or the last
To gain insight, perspective and concise account of what you’ve been molded and shaped by if born in this century or the last
February 9, 2025
Did not finish . Interesting but very detailed
May 27, 2026
This book is amazing. It opened my eyes to things I have not bothered to consider. It is contentious and illuminating. A must read for any thinking person.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews