The God Who Is There

An excellent, if dated, analysis of the challenge of modern thinking to historic Christianity and the best way forward.

The author perceives in the Hegelian rejection of thesis/antithesis for thesis/antithesis/synthesis to be the big moment of change leading to entirely different worldviews between modernism and historic Christian thought. The author then traces how this has impacted modern society in its writing, art, music, and theology. He proceeds to show how the viewpoint is ultimately philosophically bankrupt and can never be internally consistent. He maps a way forward for historic Christianity to speak to modern society and restore people to God from their fallen state.

The book was written in the explosive year of 1968 but its show more message remains relevant. The author is Evangelical and those perspectives come out often but do not detract from his main thesis. For those who struggle to understand the challenges of communicating a Christian-based perspective in the modern world, this is a great resource to consider. show less

Like a splash of cold water on the face, challenging and so refreshing. Links the lived world with the Bible so that one can be pietist no more. Art, pop culture, philosophy, history -- Schaeffer was a bridge man to show how theology has an alternative and full account of the world. --Found in a small Christian bookshop in Nuku'alofa Tonga Jan 1984, enriched a vacation fabulously.

Schaeffer teaches the theology of a Reasonable God and believes that Christianity is reasonable. Most of us in the throes of youthful idealism can hold onto that idea that a True Religion would also be "reasonable". Schaeffer develops the law of non-contradiction ("A statement cannot be both true and false in the same way at the same time.")

As an apex historian, Schaeffer discusses the gradual decline of belief in Reason in the areas of philosophy, art and music, as well as in the general culture and in theology. By the 2d half of the 19th century, we began to lose a belief in "mutually exclusive truths"; we now live with contradictions.

With Index. But...there is no god...there.

I first read this as a Christian at Truman. By the second time I read it I was having some serious doubts and I wanted to see if this book would help. It didn't.

Highly influenced by Schaeffer's exploration of truth at the intersection of culture, philosophy, and theology. I expect most intellectual christians who came of age in the 1970s, 80s or 90s who say this book shaped their thinking. Originally read this in paperback, but now own the Kindle version.

Great book. He paints a panorama of how ideas come into a culture.

better than i thought it was going to be. i understand why it is required reading for incoming freshmen at the the University. Shaeffer is totally new to me, i have one more on my list.

i found this book very broad. historically and biblically.