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Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humanity in a Dehumanized World
We live in an era of polarizing political and religious disagreement. Despite the lip service our society pays to tolerance, it's becoming more and more difficult to look past our differences and to recognize our common humanity. The way that we treat each other is a direct result of how we see one another, and our culture is full of warning signs that we aren't seeing each other correctly. In Reclaimed , author and cultural critic Andy Steiger explores the trend toward dehumanization that underlies our fraught times. People on both sides of the political aisle and from all walks of life share a deep desire for better understanding, justice, and human dignity. Yet we're uncertain how to achieve these aims. Steiger points to Jesus as the basis for rediscovering our common ground and our shared humanity. In Jesus we find not only that humans are unique, valuable, and bearers of rights and responsibilities, but also that our dehumanizing tendencies--our worst inclinations toward inhumanity--can be redeemed and restored. Jesus enables us to be fully human, and it's in him that we rediscover the kind of relationships and society for which so many people today are longing.
- GenresChristian
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2020
19 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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August 21, 2020
We live in a state of crisis. A time where we can no longer accurately account for the value of a human life, or even what it means to be human. In this book, not only does Andy Steiger guide us through these issues, but also demonstrates a way forward in regards to another question. How we should live once we understand what it is to be human and the innate value therein?
This book is not a dry case study of various theories and viewpoints. Instead, the pages are filled with stories that drive the points of each chapter home. This makes the book incredibly relevant and facilitates real world application. Below I’ve provided a very brief outline of some of the books key points.
Part 1 What is Human?
This first chapter explores some of the key aspects of dehumanization and how it is nearly always present when people commit vicious acts against each other. Steiger explains that people need to see the people they victimize as less than human. This is true not only on a macro scale as in Nazi Germany where Jews were portrayed as rats or in Rwanda where Tutsi’s were labeled as cockroaches, but also on the micro scale of individual murder or character assassination.
Pg 11 “Dehumanization is not an optional step on the path to harming each other; it is a necessary step. The truth is that people rarely murder people”.
He also describes how the internet and social media make this process of dehumanizing individuals or entire groups far easier and more efficient. One of the more alarming takeaways from this chapter is that each one of us is fully equipped to be an active participant in the next genocide or other atrocity. We have a tendency to view past events and those things going on around us with a level of detachment, but Steiger rightly points out that each one of us has the potential to be weaponized in the next massacre.
Pg 20 “The brokenness of humanity is much deeper than we would like to think. The potential for truly monstrous deeds is in us all.”
In this next chapter Steiger begins to pick apart the physicalist worldview. For him, we as people are far more than what we are made from. If there is more out there than just our physical bodies and world, then objective purpose and meaning really do exist. To discover this we must look to the creator who designed us with a distinct aim, thereby imbuing us with both purpose and meaning.
Pg 36 “If we want to know what a human is, we need to know not only what we are made of but also the purpose we were created for. Because people did not bring themselves into existence, this is not a question we can answer by ourselves. This is a theological question, a question for the architect, the engineer, the creator of the universe”
Part 2 What is The Value of Human Life?
In the second part of the book Steiger begins to look at the value of human life and how we can come to know its worth objectively. He makes the argument that in a world divorced from God we can’t ground human value. We can’t even decide who or what has such value.
Pg 42 “God made all creatures, but he created humans uniquely in his image and bestowed value on them. But in a world without God, where does human value come from and who does it apply to?”
As he examines this issue he discusses the value of humans and animals and whether or not worth should be based on the level of self-awareness, emotional, or intellectual ability. He rightly points out that when we equate animals with humans it always ends up minimizing human value.
Pg 45 “Consider that when human value is opened up to other things, it is no longer inherent but is now something that we decide on. Herein lies the problem. Who gets to decide what qualifies for human value? As soon as value can be earned, it can also be taken away. This is the challenge with granting humanity based on ability: who gets to decide what qualifies?”
In this section Steiger also spends time examining the humanistic worldview and how it has led to dehumanization in the past whether in slavery, Nazi Germany, or other world atrocities.
Pg 54 “Yet however you define it, the common thread is that, without God, it is a choice—equality and value depend on human decisions. And if it’s a choice, then it’s changeable. Our culture might decide to agree on universal human value today, but what about tomorrow? The result is that our society embraces a worldview based on naturalism while also denying the logical results of that worldview.”
In final part of this section the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is front and center. While this is a wonderful document, the author holds that it has no firm grounding. Once again, if we happen to decide that changes should be made to the UDHR in the future, there is really nothing concrete on which this document was based that would disallow this.
Pg 60 “This Christian explanation of the world takes the beauty of the UDHR and gives it a backbone, explaining why humanity has inherent dignity. We are all born with value because we were made by God and bear his image.”
Part 3 What Leads To Human Flourishing?
To begin this section of the book, the author discusses the increasing lack of human flavor in the world and in this particular case South Korea. He describes human flavor as having “to do with certain positive qualities that make us more than animals, such as compassion, neighborly love, and selflessness.”
Here we are faced with the dangers inherent in a world where we see each other as competitors or simply see human relationships as too messy. We instead turn screens and machines for safe, non-judgmental interactions that are completely in our control. We however are made for relationship and as we try to separate ourselves from real human interaction, we dehumanize ourselves.
Pg 84 “As we create machines that are more and more human-like, it’s easy to forget that it also works the other way, making us more and more machine-like. By removing ourselves from relationships with other people, we are dehumanizing ourselves.”
The author contends that we were made for relationship both with God and with others. Therefore, to live a truly fulfilled human life, we will seek to live in community and this will affect how we spend of time, money, and other resources.
Pg 95 “What would our lives look like if, instead of following culture’s lead, we followed Jesus’ and believed what he said about what leads to human flourishing? It’s interesting how much attention people will pay to how best to invest their money, but how little attention to how best to invest their lives.”
While living this sort of communal, sacrificial life will at times be messy and painful, Steiger makes the point that joy can only be found in living as we were design by God. As we live with eternity in mind, we will be able to better handle life as it currently is in this broken world.
Pg 98 “Without eternity, a life of flourishing can’t possibly include suffering, because without eternity, suffering is meaningless…God hasn’t forgotten us in our suffering. He hasn’t promised a life of flourishing and then reneged on us. Rather, he is using our sufferings for our present good and our eternal joy.”
Part 4 How Should Humans Live?
In this final section of the book, Steiger begins by looking at morality and why it needs to be grounded in God himself. He points out how society as a whole has pushed God to the margins and in so doing they have made morality malleable.
Pg 105 “In the absence of divine authority, morality can only be culturally constructed, which means that it can’t possibly be for all people for all time. Yet what’s ironic is that this same culture that denies objective moral values, that rejects real truth, also has a very strong idea of what is right and what is not.”
He also attacks the view that many atheists hold, namely that free will doesn’t exist and we are ruled by determinism. This view holds that everything in our universe was going to take place in a certain way and there is nothing we can do about it. The logical conclusion to this type of thinking is that when people commit horrific acts we can’t really blame them. They were simply dancing to the drumbeat of their predetermined DNA. We are left with the recourse of separating them from society, but we certainly can’t blame them for their actions. He also exposes a major flaw in the attempts to prove determinism.
Pg 107 “Yet the real irony of using science to prove determinism is that science requires freedom in the first place. Science is an act of curiosity, learning, and discovery that fundamentally requires that we have the ability to search for truth and find it. After all, science is possible only if I can trust that my five senses give me an accurate representation of the world and if my mind has the freedom to draw correct conclusions from this information.”
The book concludes with a final appeal to the fact that we were ultimately created for relationship. While the world tries to reconstruct the Garden of Eden in various ways, we were created to live in relationship with our God and each other.
Pg 123 “When we read the story of Genesis carefully, we find that human flourishing is found not in the garden itself but rather in who was in the garden. In the garden, there was God and there was us. Relationship. Humanity lived in right relationship with God and each other—that’s what made it paradise.”
This book is not a dry case study of various theories and viewpoints. Instead, the pages are filled with stories that drive the points of each chapter home. This makes the book incredibly relevant and facilitates real world application. Below I’ve provided a very brief outline of some of the books key points.
Part 1 What is Human?
This first chapter explores some of the key aspects of dehumanization and how it is nearly always present when people commit vicious acts against each other. Steiger explains that people need to see the people they victimize as less than human. This is true not only on a macro scale as in Nazi Germany where Jews were portrayed as rats or in Rwanda where Tutsi’s were labeled as cockroaches, but also on the micro scale of individual murder or character assassination.
Pg 11 “Dehumanization is not an optional step on the path to harming each other; it is a necessary step. The truth is that people rarely murder people”.
He also describes how the internet and social media make this process of dehumanizing individuals or entire groups far easier and more efficient. One of the more alarming takeaways from this chapter is that each one of us is fully equipped to be an active participant in the next genocide or other atrocity. We have a tendency to view past events and those things going on around us with a level of detachment, but Steiger rightly points out that each one of us has the potential to be weaponized in the next massacre.
Pg 20 “The brokenness of humanity is much deeper than we would like to think. The potential for truly monstrous deeds is in us all.”
In this next chapter Steiger begins to pick apart the physicalist worldview. For him, we as people are far more than what we are made from. If there is more out there than just our physical bodies and world, then objective purpose and meaning really do exist. To discover this we must look to the creator who designed us with a distinct aim, thereby imbuing us with both purpose and meaning.
Pg 36 “If we want to know what a human is, we need to know not only what we are made of but also the purpose we were created for. Because people did not bring themselves into existence, this is not a question we can answer by ourselves. This is a theological question, a question for the architect, the engineer, the creator of the universe”
Part 2 What is The Value of Human Life?
In the second part of the book Steiger begins to look at the value of human life and how we can come to know its worth objectively. He makes the argument that in a world divorced from God we can’t ground human value. We can’t even decide who or what has such value.
Pg 42 “God made all creatures, but he created humans uniquely in his image and bestowed value on them. But in a world without God, where does human value come from and who does it apply to?”
As he examines this issue he discusses the value of humans and animals and whether or not worth should be based on the level of self-awareness, emotional, or intellectual ability. He rightly points out that when we equate animals with humans it always ends up minimizing human value.
Pg 45 “Consider that when human value is opened up to other things, it is no longer inherent but is now something that we decide on. Herein lies the problem. Who gets to decide what qualifies for human value? As soon as value can be earned, it can also be taken away. This is the challenge with granting humanity based on ability: who gets to decide what qualifies?”
In this section Steiger also spends time examining the humanistic worldview and how it has led to dehumanization in the past whether in slavery, Nazi Germany, or other world atrocities.
Pg 54 “Yet however you define it, the common thread is that, without God, it is a choice—equality and value depend on human decisions. And if it’s a choice, then it’s changeable. Our culture might decide to agree on universal human value today, but what about tomorrow? The result is that our society embraces a worldview based on naturalism while also denying the logical results of that worldview.”
In final part of this section the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is front and center. While this is a wonderful document, the author holds that it has no firm grounding. Once again, if we happen to decide that changes should be made to the UDHR in the future, there is really nothing concrete on which this document was based that would disallow this.
Pg 60 “This Christian explanation of the world takes the beauty of the UDHR and gives it a backbone, explaining why humanity has inherent dignity. We are all born with value because we were made by God and bear his image.”
Part 3 What Leads To Human Flourishing?
To begin this section of the book, the author discusses the increasing lack of human flavor in the world and in this particular case South Korea. He describes human flavor as having “to do with certain positive qualities that make us more than animals, such as compassion, neighborly love, and selflessness.”
Here we are faced with the dangers inherent in a world where we see each other as competitors or simply see human relationships as too messy. We instead turn screens and machines for safe, non-judgmental interactions that are completely in our control. We however are made for relationship and as we try to separate ourselves from real human interaction, we dehumanize ourselves.
Pg 84 “As we create machines that are more and more human-like, it’s easy to forget that it also works the other way, making us more and more machine-like. By removing ourselves from relationships with other people, we are dehumanizing ourselves.”
The author contends that we were made for relationship both with God and with others. Therefore, to live a truly fulfilled human life, we will seek to live in community and this will affect how we spend of time, money, and other resources.
Pg 95 “What would our lives look like if, instead of following culture’s lead, we followed Jesus’ and believed what he said about what leads to human flourishing? It’s interesting how much attention people will pay to how best to invest their money, but how little attention to how best to invest their lives.”
While living this sort of communal, sacrificial life will at times be messy and painful, Steiger makes the point that joy can only be found in living as we were design by God. As we live with eternity in mind, we will be able to better handle life as it currently is in this broken world.
Pg 98 “Without eternity, a life of flourishing can’t possibly include suffering, because without eternity, suffering is meaningless…God hasn’t forgotten us in our suffering. He hasn’t promised a life of flourishing and then reneged on us. Rather, he is using our sufferings for our present good and our eternal joy.”
Part 4 How Should Humans Live?
In this final section of the book, Steiger begins by looking at morality and why it needs to be grounded in God himself. He points out how society as a whole has pushed God to the margins and in so doing they have made morality malleable.
Pg 105 “In the absence of divine authority, morality can only be culturally constructed, which means that it can’t possibly be for all people for all time. Yet what’s ironic is that this same culture that denies objective moral values, that rejects real truth, also has a very strong idea of what is right and what is not.”
He also attacks the view that many atheists hold, namely that free will doesn’t exist and we are ruled by determinism. This view holds that everything in our universe was going to take place in a certain way and there is nothing we can do about it. The logical conclusion to this type of thinking is that when people commit horrific acts we can’t really blame them. They were simply dancing to the drumbeat of their predetermined DNA. We are left with the recourse of separating them from society, but we certainly can’t blame them for their actions. He also exposes a major flaw in the attempts to prove determinism.
Pg 107 “Yet the real irony of using science to prove determinism is that science requires freedom in the first place. Science is an act of curiosity, learning, and discovery that fundamentally requires that we have the ability to search for truth and find it. After all, science is possible only if I can trust that my five senses give me an accurate representation of the world and if my mind has the freedom to draw correct conclusions from this information.”
The book concludes with a final appeal to the fact that we were ultimately created for relationship. While the world tries to reconstruct the Garden of Eden in various ways, we were created to live in relationship with our God and each other.
Pg 123 “When we read the story of Genesis carefully, we find that human flourishing is found not in the garden itself but rather in who was in the garden. In the garden, there was God and there was us. Relationship. Humanity lived in right relationship with God and each other—that’s what made it paradise.”
March 9, 2021
Realistically I'd probably give this a 3.5. There's a lot of great content in here and lots to think about and discuss. However, there were many times when Steiger spent 3-4 pages talking about a topic or stressing a point and it really could have been condensed into about 2-3 paragraphs. There were some chapters that I had to really force myself to power though.
September 8, 2020
What is human and how can we find true meaning in our lives? In Andy Steiger's latest book *Reclaimed*, these fundamental questions are answered. Filled with personal anecdotes, quotes from scholars, and incisive reasoning, Steiger boils these questions down to two fundamental options: humankind is just a random make up of particles and life is ultimately meaningless or humankind has been created by God and ultimate fulfillment comes from living life in accordance with God's purposes: loving God and loving people.
Colloquial, personal, and engaging, Steiger has written another book which will encourage those who believe to live accordingly and challenge those who do not to push their ideas to their conclusions. Those who do will be brought to the realization that only God can give meaning to live, and only once one is in right relationship with God can true fulfillment come.
Colloquial, personal, and engaging, Steiger has written another book which will encourage those who believe to live accordingly and challenge those who do not to push their ideas to their conclusions. Those who do will be brought to the realization that only God can give meaning to live, and only once one is in right relationship with God can true fulfillment come.
March 16, 2022
was forced to read for religion class. maybe the millions of in depth questions i had to answer made me develop a biased opinion.
author tries to be quirky in the writing and is over enthusiastic — its not the vibes
author tries to be quirky in the writing and is over enthusiastic — its not the vibes
March 17, 2022
Boring. Could’ve been a lot shorter if he didn’t try to use 4 pages to stress 1 point.
February 18, 2024
Amazing!
This book is a great blend of apologetics and theology. Not only does this book dive deep into what it means to be human and how our humanity is rooted in the fact that we are made in the image of a God who desires relationship with us, it takes the time to answer questions that skeptics may have about why the Christian worldview elevates humanity rather than dehumanizes. It’s an awesome book, thanks Andy!
This book is a great blend of apologetics and theology. Not only does this book dive deep into what it means to be human and how our humanity is rooted in the fact that we are made in the image of a God who desires relationship with us, it takes the time to answer questions that skeptics may have about why the Christian worldview elevates humanity rather than dehumanizes. It’s an awesome book, thanks Andy!
April 26, 2022
it was not very slay, had to read it for school and each chapter took a bit of my soul with it
October 4, 2020
There is a thread that runs through every good thing and every atrocity in our world today. It is responsible for how we love one another and how we brutalize and kill one another. It decides who is equal and who is left out. What touches and determines all these things is how we view humanity. Do we all have worth inherent in ourselves that no one can take from us or is our worth dependent on something we are, can do, or some other outside criteria? What you believe about abortion, racism, euthanasia, war, immigration, medicine, or disability depends on how you define: what is human?
In his excellent new book, Reclaimed, Andy Steiger uses his expertise gained from years of PhD research on dehumanization, to answer the questions: What is human?, What is the value of human life?, What leads to human flourishing?, and How should humans live? Whether you are a christian, a theist, an atheist, or undecided, I would recommend this book to you. In contrast to most texts about dehumanization, Andy not only shows how dehumanization works but he also points to what we can do about it. Yes, he shows how Jesus can fix the problem, but even if you would reject this, Reclaimed will help you to think deeply about what you believe about what a human is and how that affects the real world we all live in. As I said before, this topic touches just about everything in our world, including cancel culture, pornography, and how we respond to a pandemic. We would all be better off if people would take a few hours to ponder how we view others and look for how we dehumanize others who are different from ourselves. I hope many would consider giving this book a chance to put a stone in your shoe, to make you think more deeply about the human race.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book.
"If we don't see people correctly, or even want to see people correctly, we will not treat people correctly. The jump from a cruel tweet to genocide is a lot smaller than we would like to think, and maintaining a correct view of ourselves and others is a lot more difficult than we are willing to admit. We naturally feed our biases, and we live in a world where it is increasingly easy to do just that" (p. 23).
"Dehumanization leads to suffering... Humanization leads to compassion" (p. 28).
"We always define a created thing according to its purpose and not its parts" (p. 36).
"Consider that when human value is opened up to other things, it is no longer inherent but is now something that we decide on. Herein lies the problem. Who gets to decide what qualifies for human value? As soon as value can be earned, it can also be taken away. This is the challenge with granting humanity based on ability: who gets to decide what qualifies? ... Historically, we have drawn the boundaries in different places. The results have been horrifying" (p. 49).
I received an advanced copy of the book to review, but I also purchased a copy for myself. The review above represent my actual thoughts on the book and I was happy to provide a review so others might give this book a read.
In his excellent new book, Reclaimed, Andy Steiger uses his expertise gained from years of PhD research on dehumanization, to answer the questions: What is human?, What is the value of human life?, What leads to human flourishing?, and How should humans live? Whether you are a christian, a theist, an atheist, or undecided, I would recommend this book to you. In contrast to most texts about dehumanization, Andy not only shows how dehumanization works but he also points to what we can do about it. Yes, he shows how Jesus can fix the problem, but even if you would reject this, Reclaimed will help you to think deeply about what you believe about what a human is and how that affects the real world we all live in. As I said before, this topic touches just about everything in our world, including cancel culture, pornography, and how we respond to a pandemic. We would all be better off if people would take a few hours to ponder how we view others and look for how we dehumanize others who are different from ourselves. I hope many would consider giving this book a chance to put a stone in your shoe, to make you think more deeply about the human race.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book.
"If we don't see people correctly, or even want to see people correctly, we will not treat people correctly. The jump from a cruel tweet to genocide is a lot smaller than we would like to think, and maintaining a correct view of ourselves and others is a lot more difficult than we are willing to admit. We naturally feed our biases, and we live in a world where it is increasingly easy to do just that" (p. 23).
"Dehumanization leads to suffering... Humanization leads to compassion" (p. 28).
"We always define a created thing according to its purpose and not its parts" (p. 36).
"Consider that when human value is opened up to other things, it is no longer inherent but is now something that we decide on. Herein lies the problem. Who gets to decide what qualifies for human value? As soon as value can be earned, it can also be taken away. This is the challenge with granting humanity based on ability: who gets to decide what qualifies? ... Historically, we have drawn the boundaries in different places. The results have been horrifying" (p. 49).
I received an advanced copy of the book to review, but I also purchased a copy for myself. The review above represent my actual thoughts on the book and I was happy to provide a review so others might give this book a read.
September 6, 2020
Within the pages of the book titled, "Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humanity in a Dehumanized World" by Andy Steiger, we have a treasure trove of wisdom for our mind. It reads like a Bible study for the parched soul! In my mind’s eye, he extols the reader to take the family Bible from the Antique collectable trunk, dust it off, and open it up for the journey ahead. As we go, we will cross cultures, as well as a state of mind; while accompanying this well travelled Academic Theologian on his quest to delve deeper into the question of Dehumanization; to ask, what we think of ourselves? And in so doing, how we treat one another? As we do so, we will look into the light of Biblical truth, God’s Word, opened before us and with it, he challenges the prevailing view in Academic circles that suggests that there are no answers to correct abusive states of mind and behaviour. Contrary to this popular view, looking back in history to Rwanda, Hiroshima, and Nazi Germany, Steiger posits that ordinary people participated in genocide. Herein, he has given us a thought provoking, and contemporary look at the inequities inherent in our post truth world, in order to help end all forms of genocide.
As we journey along with the author, it’s his faith in Jesus that levels the playing field, as it were, of Dehumanization. Andy makes it pliable to discuss Schools of thought that compete for first place in our mind. Topics such as the following: Technology, Racism, Eugenics, and Philosophy. In essence, all those World views, those ever present, nation building stratagems, if you will, of our mind. Ideologies we believe that effect our decision making process, and once believed we engage in daily. For example who we choose to write or phone. His timely reminder to watch our words; how we speak to ourselves: i.e. our self-talk, and also, how we speak to and about, people, was so apropos.
The most impressive take away from Andy’s book, is his empathy. It’s his way of offering reassurance, reminding us that we were created in the image of God: to live, commune, and fellowship with Him. Thus, he ever so gently turns our sights back to the cross, helping us to take our eyes off of ourselves and set them on Jesus. This is most helpful, in allowing us to question and to stop lying to ourselves about the social constructs that we design for ourselves. In the final analysis, this book was a touching love story to all, and with the help of God, through Jesus love for us, we can move on, peacefully.
John3:16
Well done, Andy!
As we journey along with the author, it’s his faith in Jesus that levels the playing field, as it were, of Dehumanization. Andy makes it pliable to discuss Schools of thought that compete for first place in our mind. Topics such as the following: Technology, Racism, Eugenics, and Philosophy. In essence, all those World views, those ever present, nation building stratagems, if you will, of our mind. Ideologies we believe that effect our decision making process, and once believed we engage in daily. For example who we choose to write or phone. His timely reminder to watch our words; how we speak to ourselves: i.e. our self-talk, and also, how we speak to and about, people, was so apropos.
The most impressive take away from Andy’s book, is his empathy. It’s his way of offering reassurance, reminding us that we were created in the image of God: to live, commune, and fellowship with Him. Thus, he ever so gently turns our sights back to the cross, helping us to take our eyes off of ourselves and set them on Jesus. This is most helpful, in allowing us to question and to stop lying to ourselves about the social constructs that we design for ourselves. In the final analysis, this book was a touching love story to all, and with the help of God, through Jesus love for us, we can move on, peacefully.
John3:16
Well done, Andy!
September 10, 2020
Have you ever questioned what you see going on in the world? On the one hand, incredible good; on the other hand, incredible evil. Or, what is evil? Is there really such a thing, or does it really just depend on your own perspective? Does human life have value? How are we supposed to live and flourish?
Andy Steiger’s new book, Reclaimed, not only asks these questions but also provides a cohesive answer. He begins by taking us to a Zombie parade in downtown Vancouver where on talking with Zombies, he quickly realized they could easily define a Zombie - they understood what it meant to be “dehumanized” - but they couldn’t define what makes a person human. The first part of the book discusses this question.
Aristotle wrote about valuing people based on their characteristics alone. History is filled with examples of how this plays out in real life when groups of people are devalued and dehumanized. Drawing conclusions based on the evidence, the author thoughtfully exposes fallacies in reasoning. He demonstrates how well-meaning people can become trapped by the inconsistencies in their own thinking.
This book was both easy to read - and hard to read. Easy because it’s very readable and engaging and filled with stories of real people. But it was also hard because some of these stories include immense suffering - the results of dehumanization.
Thankfully, the author does not leave us disheartened. The book is subtitled, “How Jesus Restores our Humanity in a Dehumanized World.” As a Christian, he explains how the Christian worldview explains not only the “why” of dehumanization but also offers the solution. He shows how a belief in the true God and His character means believing we get our value by being created in God’s image (contra Aristotle). And flourishing occurs when we take the focus off of ourselves and are willing and prepared to make sacrifices for others.Andy Steiger
Andy Steiger’s new book, Reclaimed, not only asks these questions but also provides a cohesive answer. He begins by taking us to a Zombie parade in downtown Vancouver where on talking with Zombies, he quickly realized they could easily define a Zombie - they understood what it meant to be “dehumanized” - but they couldn’t define what makes a person human. The first part of the book discusses this question.
Aristotle wrote about valuing people based on their characteristics alone. History is filled with examples of how this plays out in real life when groups of people are devalued and dehumanized. Drawing conclusions based on the evidence, the author thoughtfully exposes fallacies in reasoning. He demonstrates how well-meaning people can become trapped by the inconsistencies in their own thinking.
This book was both easy to read - and hard to read. Easy because it’s very readable and engaging and filled with stories of real people. But it was also hard because some of these stories include immense suffering - the results of dehumanization.
Thankfully, the author does not leave us disheartened. The book is subtitled, “How Jesus Restores our Humanity in a Dehumanized World.” As a Christian, he explains how the Christian worldview explains not only the “why” of dehumanization but also offers the solution. He shows how a belief in the true God and His character means believing we get our value by being created in God’s image (contra Aristotle). And flourishing occurs when we take the focus off of ourselves and are willing and prepared to make sacrifices for others.Andy Steiger
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December 18, 2020When humanity is defined from the standpoint of man, the definition can change and this brings all kind of trouble. The unavoidable result is that man loses his inalienable rights, as these are only sourced from God.
There is a desperateness in the evolutionist argument when they purport that man has evolved and yet remains equal. That is not possible as evolution itself maintains that there is a selection of the fittest...that this is random and that different races by this definition would not be equal. Since they equate equality with value, this creates a very big problem for them in that it supports racist theory. Only the Word of God provides equality of worth. The Word of God is not confused in that it does not equate value with equality of intelligence or ability. All humanity has equal worth as it has a God stamped image.
Truth has lost its teeth where God has been dismissed as without a divine standard there is “your truth and my truth” which is really saying there is no absolute truth. And so humanity swims in an ever changing moral law where everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Moral justice warriors complain about evil where the concept of evil changes from person to person and even in their own heads.
God created man for relationship as it’s clear he first of all told Adam it was not good for man to be alone. Also by placing His image on us we need relationship as He himself has relationship ie triune God. He would have made Eve with the understanding that just as He related to God and the Holy Spirit so Eve would have related to her mate in much the same way.
If God has made us for relationship and I believe He did, then anything discouraging relationship should be controlled or deleted. What are those things in my life? Technology, hobbies, or something else? Do I choose wisely what I read or see or whom I am with so that all these things enhance relationship?
There is a desperateness in the evolutionist argument when they purport that man has evolved and yet remains equal. That is not possible as evolution itself maintains that there is a selection of the fittest...that this is random and that different races by this definition would not be equal. Since they equate equality with value, this creates a very big problem for them in that it supports racist theory. Only the Word of God provides equality of worth. The Word of God is not confused in that it does not equate value with equality of intelligence or ability. All humanity has equal worth as it has a God stamped image.
Truth has lost its teeth where God has been dismissed as without a divine standard there is “your truth and my truth” which is really saying there is no absolute truth. And so humanity swims in an ever changing moral law where everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Moral justice warriors complain about evil where the concept of evil changes from person to person and even in their own heads.
God created man for relationship as it’s clear he first of all told Adam it was not good for man to be alone. Also by placing His image on us we need relationship as He himself has relationship ie triune God. He would have made Eve with the understanding that just as He related to God and the Holy Spirit so Eve would have related to her mate in much the same way.
If God has made us for relationship and I believe He did, then anything discouraging relationship should be controlled or deleted. What are those things in my life? Technology, hobbies, or something else? Do I choose wisely what I read or see or whom I am with so that all these things enhance relationship?
October 18, 2020
If you would prefer to REMAIN BLIND to the DESPERATE STATE THAT BEING “HUMAN” in today’s culture is in then don’t read Reclaimed by Andy Steiger. Reading this book will OPEN YOUR EYES to how devalued being “human” has become and NOT ONLY IN ALL THOSE “OTHER” PLACES, BUT RIGHT HERE WHERE WE LIVE - in our cities and towns, in our neighborhoods and schools and in our very homes. THANKFULLY, Andy also points us to how humanity can RECLAIM what it means to be truly human. This book points us to that which will truly make us stand out as “humans” – IT IS A BOOK FOR OUR WORLD TODAY.
From opening our eyes to ATROCITIES committed against people who are JUST LIKE ME AND YOU in foreign countries; to taking a focused look at OUR OWN APPALLING TREATMENT of the young, the old, the poor, the rich, those of different ethnicity or skin color in North America, THIS BOOK WILL DO MORE THAN MAKE YOU THINK – it will change how you view the world around you. It will make you watch movies, listen to music, scroll through social media, and interact with “real” people with eyes open and a heart tuned in to how we all chip away at the “human” part of humanity.
But ANDY DOES NOT STOP AT POINTING OUT THAT WHICH IS MALIGNANT and destroying our humanity, he balances it with insightful stories of hope -- of actual people who restore, in fact RECLAIM, that which it means to be HUMAN. We are pointed to examples of hope, of LOVE and lives where the restoration of what it means to be human has made ALL the difference.
READING THIS BOOK HAS STIRRED IN ME the desire to RECLAIM as much humanity in my day to day life as possible; to see where I fall short and to celebrate those times when I chose to make a difference in another person’s life. RECLAIMED is truly a book that is NEEDED today.
From opening our eyes to ATROCITIES committed against people who are JUST LIKE ME AND YOU in foreign countries; to taking a focused look at OUR OWN APPALLING TREATMENT of the young, the old, the poor, the rich, those of different ethnicity or skin color in North America, THIS BOOK WILL DO MORE THAN MAKE YOU THINK – it will change how you view the world around you. It will make you watch movies, listen to music, scroll through social media, and interact with “real” people with eyes open and a heart tuned in to how we all chip away at the “human” part of humanity.
But ANDY DOES NOT STOP AT POINTING OUT THAT WHICH IS MALIGNANT and destroying our humanity, he balances it with insightful stories of hope -- of actual people who restore, in fact RECLAIM, that which it means to be HUMAN. We are pointed to examples of hope, of LOVE and lives where the restoration of what it means to be human has made ALL the difference.
READING THIS BOOK HAS STIRRED IN ME the desire to RECLAIM as much humanity in my day to day life as possible; to see where I fall short and to celebrate those times when I chose to make a difference in another person’s life. RECLAIMED is truly a book that is NEEDED today.
October 5, 2020
Reclaimed, Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humanity in a Dehumanized World, by Andy Steiger is definitely worth reading. In times of COVID, as well as before this pandemic, we wonder if online communication is simply neutral. We may even celebrate how connected we seem to be with people around the globe; however, is that connection helping us flourish as humans? Andy tackles 4 key questions: 1. What does it mean to be human? 2. What is the value of human life? 3. What leads to human flourishing? 4. How should humans live?
The first chapter shares some stories, and statistics of how easy it is attack people online without actually knowing the person. How often have we been drawn into a debate with someone on Facebook and later regret that comment to a complete stranger. These comments posted on social media can quickly and without thought dehumanize people, separating them from who they actually are.
Throughout the book Andy raises some fantastic questions about where morals come from? Especially in the day of trying to care for social justice, we must wrestle with the question of where these thoughts of "justice" come from? Andy gently presents the vision for human flourishing based in a relationship with God, through Jesus. This book unravels and strips down how culture defines humanity, and then presents the better alternative of how God designed and intended humanity to live.
This book is thought provoking, and will challenge your view of humanity, regardless of your faith or religious background.
The first chapter shares some stories, and statistics of how easy it is attack people online without actually knowing the person. How often have we been drawn into a debate with someone on Facebook and later regret that comment to a complete stranger. These comments posted on social media can quickly and without thought dehumanize people, separating them from who they actually are.
Throughout the book Andy raises some fantastic questions about where morals come from? Especially in the day of trying to care for social justice, we must wrestle with the question of where these thoughts of "justice" come from? Andy gently presents the vision for human flourishing based in a relationship with God, through Jesus. This book unravels and strips down how culture defines humanity, and then presents the better alternative of how God designed and intended humanity to live.
This book is thought provoking, and will challenge your view of humanity, regardless of your faith or religious background.
September 16, 2020
In Reclaimed, Andy Steiger captures the essence of what we are here for in a fallen and broken world and what provides our only hope. We will only see ourselves and others in a proper light be being in right relationship with God who helps restore our relationship with ourselves and with our fellow human beings.
By using captivating descriptions of real life and often personal experiences Andy draws us into exploring what it is to be human, where we derive our value and what leads to human flourishing and how we can get there. He takes complex concepts and themes and breaks them down into bite sized pieces that one can chew on and ponder.
We all recognize that genocide begins with dehumanization but do we realize the seemingly tiny ways in which we dehumanize others and ourselves every day? We try to reduce human beings to the material stuff we are made of, but do we understand what we were made for? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that humans have inherent dignity, equality, and inalienable rights but have you ever wondered why? We are all reaching for a flourishing life but why is it that when we get what we think will accomplish it we realize we are not satisfied?
By joining Andy in his exploration of what it means to be human you will uncover a new appreciation for your own humanity and your relationship with those around you and with the God who made you.
By using captivating descriptions of real life and often personal experiences Andy draws us into exploring what it is to be human, where we derive our value and what leads to human flourishing and how we can get there. He takes complex concepts and themes and breaks them down into bite sized pieces that one can chew on and ponder.
We all recognize that genocide begins with dehumanization but do we realize the seemingly tiny ways in which we dehumanize others and ourselves every day? We try to reduce human beings to the material stuff we are made of, but do we understand what we were made for? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that humans have inherent dignity, equality, and inalienable rights but have you ever wondered why? We are all reaching for a flourishing life but why is it that when we get what we think will accomplish it we realize we are not satisfied?
By joining Andy in his exploration of what it means to be human you will uncover a new appreciation for your own humanity and your relationship with those around you and with the God who made you.
October 8, 2020
Andy Steiger's book "Reclaimed" is well-written, carefully researched and touches on many aspects of dehumanization both historically and in contemporary society. His solution for this widespread dehumanization is Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him. I was gripped by this statement of Francis Schaeffer's over 50 years ago. He said, "When you lose God, you lose man." Andy's book is an excellent commentary on Francis Schaeffer's prophetic word. It is about the value and importance of human relationships and that devaluing them has devastating societal and personal consequences.
Two main ways we dehumanize people is to perceive them as less than human and to believe they are the end result of a naturalistic purposeless product of evolution. The Hutus in Rwanda repeatedly called the the Tutsis, 'cockroaches'--the result, the Rwandan genocide. Naturalism tends to lead to determinism where free choices are an illusion. According to a Theistic world view humans are made in the image of God, which means satisfying relationships are vital to human flourishing and every person is inherently valuable and needs to be treated with dignity and respect. Ultimately it is through Jesus Christ that our true humanity is restored and we are able to live as we were created by God to live.
Two main ways we dehumanize people is to perceive them as less than human and to believe they are the end result of a naturalistic purposeless product of evolution. The Hutus in Rwanda repeatedly called the the Tutsis, 'cockroaches'--the result, the Rwandan genocide. Naturalism tends to lead to determinism where free choices are an illusion. According to a Theistic world view humans are made in the image of God, which means satisfying relationships are vital to human flourishing and every person is inherently valuable and needs to be treated with dignity and respect. Ultimately it is through Jesus Christ that our true humanity is restored and we are able to live as we were created by God to live.
September 20, 2020
From the perspective of a mother and teacher: our children live in a very confusing time. The social atmosphere in which they are growing and learning is vastly different from what it was even 20 years ago. Cultural context and social norms are changing at an accelerated pace, and kids are confronted with hard questions at younger and younger ages. Our definition of what it means to be human, and our valuation of human life is diluted in the soup of popular opinion. Where then, do we find our identity, our worth? How do we as parents and educators help kids define their own value? What narrative do we offer them?
Reclaimed explores some of the most significant social issues of today which contribute to our dehumanizing culture. It offers a biblical perspective on human value and demonstrates that only when we view ourselves and others as our Creator does, can we flourish.
Andy’s storytelling throughout the book makes it a very entertaining read. In simple, unpretentious language, Andy explores some difficult concepts which makes the book accessible to all readers of high school age or older.
Reading this book has help me put into words a narrative that I can share with my children to help them navigate some of the more difficult questions they are faced with.
Reclaimed explores some of the most significant social issues of today which contribute to our dehumanizing culture. It offers a biblical perspective on human value and demonstrates that only when we view ourselves and others as our Creator does, can we flourish.
Andy’s storytelling throughout the book makes it a very entertaining read. In simple, unpretentious language, Andy explores some difficult concepts which makes the book accessible to all readers of high school age or older.
Reading this book has help me put into words a narrative that I can share with my children to help them navigate some of the more difficult questions they are faced with.
September 10, 2020
Andy Steiger rightly states that, "Our culture is deeply confused about what it means to be human". In response to this cultural confusion, Steiger utilizes an interdisciplinary approach including: philosophy, science, history, theology and sociology to answer four fundamental questions regarding our shared humanity. These four questions are: What is Human? What is the value of human life? What leads to human flourishing? and, How should humans live? As Andy engages and answers these four questions he also discusses important topics such as, genocide, dehumanization, human rights, free will, morality etc. Andy simplifies these complex subjects by weaving in storytelling and metaphor. What for many could be difficult to grasp concepts and inaccessible material, Andy makes sure is not only accessible, but also engaging. This book is a great resource for everyone, regardless of you faith or worldview. Add this book to your bookshelf, you won't be disappointed!
September 10, 2020
The book “Reclaimed” by Dr. Andy Steiger is a deep dive into the confusion and wonderment of what makes us human. By describing the problem of dehumanization and focusing on it’s root cause, Andy is able to clarify and direct his readers to the truth about what gives us inherent human value and why without God that is impossible. This books not only reveals the truths about humanity, it allows one to be able to have deeper conversations about secondary issues that surround us in this somewhat “crazy” world we live in. What I loved about this book was the focus on the foundational problems of dehumanization which naturally points us back to God and being made in His Image. Even though the topic would appear to be complicated and philosophical, Dr. Andy Steiger has managed to write a book that is not only understandable, but difficult to put down once started.
October 10, 2020
This very readable book is embedded with compelling stories that introduce and illustrate the author’s key points about what it means to be human. Andy Steiger clearly shows the ways in which cultures, both historical and within our world today, dehumanize people groups and individuals, and the serious consequences that flow from this thinking. Steiger argues for the value of humanity as it is described through Christian scripture and how this elevated perspective leads to human flourishing - calling us to see ourselves and others through the lenses of love and compassion.
Andy succeeds in covering some fairly heavy philosophical territory, through accessible explanations interwoven with anecdotes from lived experience. A short, and well organized book that will leave you seeing yourself and others with fresh eyes.
Andy succeeds in covering some fairly heavy philosophical territory, through accessible explanations interwoven with anecdotes from lived experience. A short, and well organized book that will leave you seeing yourself and others with fresh eyes.
October 9, 2020
What do zombies, genocide, slavery, eugenics, transhumanism, residential schools, determinism, naturalism, nihilism, weaponized words have in common? They all relate to ways people have suffered dehumanization. What leads to humanization or human flourishing? Compassion, love, justice, purpose, equality, sanctity of life, inalienable rights, sacrificial selflessness, trust, a sense of eternity, a true knowledge of God, Jesus, His image in the other and the self. Andy Steiger explores all of this and more in his new book, Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores our Humanity in a Dehumanized World. He draws from personal experience and the writings of a great range of experts from many fields of life. What does it mean to be human? Explore it with him. It is worth it.
September 13, 2020
I found this book disturbing and encouraging. The author, Andy, adds stories and examples that are interesting and so very relevant to today’s culture. To see where the world’s culture is heading is alarming and Andy relates how easy it is to be drawn in.
What I loved about the book is that it explained why different philosophies are flawed and will eventually not work.
Why are we here? What is our purpose? Andy explains that God made us for relationships. This made me think about my own life and what is important. My life is not about rules and duties but about relationship (with God and others). What an encouragement!
What I loved about the book is that it explained why different philosophies are flawed and will eventually not work.
Why are we here? What is our purpose? Andy explains that God made us for relationships. This made me think about my own life and what is important. My life is not about rules and duties but about relationship (with God and others). What an encouragement!
October 8, 2020
Reading this book challenged my understanding of dehumanization, and the capacity of each one of us to be agents of dehumanization. The book weaves poignant stories and examples together to create a bleak and vivid picture of what society, our world, looks like when we eradicate God's truth from every sphere of life. There were moments in the book, especially the chapter entitled Furbabies and Lonely Planet, that disheartened and shocked me; to think of man's capacity for evil is truly terrifying. Ultimately, the book circles back to hope, but only if we find our identity in Jesus Christ; being fully human is only accomplished through Jesus.
August 11, 2020
So what is it to be human? The question seems simple enough, but the answers you will get will be as varied as the individuals you ask. Dr. Steiger's book helps us to understand who are we - really!
Andy explains in simple terms and concepts why a society screaming for tolerance - there is actually very little. And how identity politics and cancel culture have eroded our humanity.
Even more importantly He explains how lost our world has become - without the spiritual anchors we had leading and guiding us in the past - which honored our Humanity. A must read for all.
Andy explains in simple terms and concepts why a society screaming for tolerance - there is actually very little. And how identity politics and cancel culture have eroded our humanity.
Even more importantly He explains how lost our world has become - without the spiritual anchors we had leading and guiding us in the past - which honored our Humanity. A must read for all.
September 29, 2020
Perhaps you’ve wondered what it is to be a human, what it is to be successful or what it is to flourish. Andy lays out in detail, in a very readable way, the answers to these questions and maybe more importantly why it is that we don’t flourish or behave inhumanity.
It’s one thing to look back in history and condemn the Nazis, communists or extreme regimes but Andy points out how it’s not just possible for it to happen today but that it can be ourselves that are the perpetrators.
This is a good, and challenging, read.
It’s one thing to look back in history and condemn the Nazis, communists or extreme regimes but Andy points out how it’s not just possible for it to happen today but that it can be ourselves that are the perpetrators.
This is a good, and challenging, read.
October 28, 2020
Reclaimed should change the way people see people, and in turn, change the way people treat people. This book is a timely reminder that each person on this planet was crated by God in His own image. To devalue a person is to devalue God. We need to see each other the way God sees us: valuable, unique, important and precious to Him. While mixing engaging stories and compelling research, Andy takes us down a path that seems extremely bleak, but he ultimately leads to an encouraging answer. That answer is hope… that hope is Jesus.
December 31, 2020
Fantastic Book. This book is a real eye opener and explains so much as to what we see happening to humanity around the world today. Andy Steiger’s book reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humanity in a Dehumanized World is well written and thought provoking. It explores dehumanizing behaviour throughout history such as slavery and genocides that have taken place all over the world. And now “the digital era presents a unique challenge because never has it been so easy to delete another’s humanity.” A book everyone should read.
July 10, 2021
The man as machine worldview is exhausting and leads down a trail of hopelessness. This book gives hope to an alternative, reasons to find our purpose in our identity as humans created by a God that loves us. A God that created us to love and be loved. It gives context to the struggles we feel in the western world of a culture that wants to reject God but keep the goodness of His kingdom without the relationship. I was very encouraged by this book and the stories that give examples of the church being the Church.
July 29, 2022
This book is a hidden gem...
I think ill be going back to it still for a while.
If this book was discussed in my worlds religion class in high school, or in philosophy classes, it would make such interesting new conversation.
I didn't think it was over explained at all really, i read in a review that it was, but the examples were relevant, educated, and the authors perspective was so eye opening and fascinating. It was like scratching an itch. I would really recommend this book
The work God has done through this author is really worthy of His praise.
I think ill be going back to it still for a while.
If this book was discussed in my worlds religion class in high school, or in philosophy classes, it would make such interesting new conversation.
I didn't think it was over explained at all really, i read in a review that it was, but the examples were relevant, educated, and the authors perspective was so eye opening and fascinating. It was like scratching an itch. I would really recommend this book
The work God has done through this author is really worthy of His praise.
September 7, 2020
I read this book mainly because I know the authors, it's an interesting topic, and I appreciate the work of Apologetics Canada. I don't quite know why but I also thought I'd be completely in agreement, and it would be a nice, relaxing long weekend reading experience. Well... I absolutely enjoyed it, and certainly agreed with most of the material, but it has also been challenging, convicting and confronting at points. Great mental exercise!
September 9, 2020
The release of this book in our current cultural moment couldn’t be better timed. Everyone needs to read this. Andy Steiger makes foundational philosophical and ethical issues accessible to every reader. He’s also not a bad storyteller! Not only does he address the topic of dehumanization from different angles and with many stories, he also offers hope in the form of True Humanity. I can’t wait to dig into this with my Young Adults group as a book study.
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