Customer Reviews: Read 124 more reviews...
 Nice try August 27, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
As a clever argument and a compelling agreeable read for Christians, this book is great. As an argument that completely disproves atheist belief(or lack thereof), this book fails. D'Souza constantly contradicts himself and his analysis of atheist arguments is shallow.
I had to read this book for a college theology course and frankly, I found it offensive and frustrating. D'Souza wrongly uses witty prose and assumptions about atheist beliefs to bolster his argument that atheists are responsible for corrupting young believers, causing mass murders, and are generally the scum and bane of society.
If you are a Christian wanting to reaffirm your belief that yours is the best religion in the world, then this book of lies and misleading arguments is the one for you. If you believe any differently then chances are you will at the least be frustrated with D'Souza and his close-minded take on his religion and the beliefs of others.
I plan on burning my copy.
 D'Souza misses, and hits the mark August 23, 2008
Dinesh D'Souza is a compelling apologist for Christianity in many ways. Much of what is contained in this work is valuable information for the Christian, and a powerful rebuttal to much of what modern atheists are saying. He defends the actions and motivations of the Christian church over recorded history, correcting quite a number of revisionist ideas perpetrated by critics.
Ultimately though, Mr. D'Souza wants it both ways. My impression was that he is deeply interested in being in the majority on both sides of the issue. He wants Christians to accept him for his defense of the faith, while courting majority opinion on natural science. He is a theistic evolutionist (or one of its derivatives) who believes that a four-and-a-half billion year old earth and Darwinian evolution can be married with the tenets of Christianity. He repeats the common arguments often found among those of this inclination, most of which have been either effectively refuted or shown to be weak. In a few cases, he weakens his whole dissertation by stating opinions about natural history as if they were actually facts. His research on natural history and the recent discoveries of creation science is weak, or perhaps he is fully aware of it but ignores it because it doesn't fit with his world view.
Sadly, being seen as a bright intellectual by both camps is more important to Mr. D'Souza than accepting and believing, with good reason, what God has said.
Ignoring D'Souza's compromise with popular secular opinion, I enjoyed the book quite a bit. I recommend it for Christians who are strong enough in their faith to ignore the evolution nonsense. It's actually not a main theme nor a large portion of the book.
 Argument not required August 13, 2008
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
Things that exist do not require an argument. An argument is required for things that do not exist. In fact a verbal edifice is required which must be constantly expanded and maintained. In this respect D'Souza is a competent workman.
Foundations of Modern Society August 12, 2008
D'Souza's book has been called inconsistent and poorly researched, but in no specific terms. It is actually none of these. Granted, it is written (and researched) on a popular--not scholarly--level, but it is entirely consistent within its own parameters of exposing Christianity as the foundation of Western civilization, and clarifying the modern distortions of claims of religion poisoning everything. Even when Dinesh extols Kant's limits of reason he supports theistic faith (in that because all we have are our experiences of reality, we must have faith that reality itself is accurately reflected through these experiences).
At first I was questioning his grasp of Christian theology, but later attributed seeming inaccuracies as over-simplifications. This is such as a statement that Christianity "borrowed from Judaism." This implies a separation between Christianity and Judaism. Such a separation is completely fallacious. Christ is the completion of God's revelation in the Hebrew scriptures. There is no Christianity without Judaism, and likewise there is no Judaism without Christ. D'Souza later shows he is quite versed in Christian doctrine and history, though he shouldn't have stooped to these levels to prove his point.
But it is most important to note that this book is categorized as "Current Events" not "Religion." This means that is great for all thoughtful people, Christians and non, living anywhere in the West. It does a nice job to expose the Christian roots of our Government, morality and scientific thought (and misconceptions thereof) that are important in today's society.
Face it, folks, America is dying because it is forgetting it's Christian roots. And remember in your reactions to this statement that the very freedoms of speech and religion you take for granted are only the result of the Christian based values of essential human value.
Despite minor foibles, I urge you to read this book and more like it.
Lennox "God's Undertaker"
Craig "Reasonable Faith"
Geisler/Turek "I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist"
Bawer "While Europe Slept"
Cogent Assessment of Christianity August 9, 2008
This is unquestionably one of the most intellectually apologetic books ever written in defense of Christianity and its influence on western culture ever written. What is so amazing is that the author is not a theologian nor is he particularly well-versed on Scriptures; however, he is very convincing in his logic and keen insight on how Christianity has impacted the thoughts and actions of both individuals and countries around the world.
His responses to the atheistic rantings of the likes of Sagan, Hitchens, Dawkins, Dennett, Wilson and others is so plausible and rational that one is left with the impression that these men speak only for themselves in their hardened unbelief. Their arguments and positions are wholly untenable when placed up against historical facts that support Christainity as the only religion that is founded by God himself in human form, namely Jesus Christ. D'Souza successfully dispels all myths and misunderstandings about what Christianity is with regards to its origin,its transcendant leader, its life-changing repercussions on its followers, and its significance in arousing widespread derision and divisiveness from doubters and scoffers with the passage of time.
Secular humanism, scientific naturalism, reformation, rehabilitation, theraputics, good deeds and good works will not assure one of avoiding the judgment of God or gaining entrance into heaven. Only acceptance of the finished work of the Savior and Lord of mankind on the cross of Calvary will give that assurance. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" ( Acts 16:31 ). That, my friend, is what's so great about Christianity.
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