How Should We Then Live? (text only) 50th(fiftieth) edition by F. A. Schaeffer,L. T. Dennis

by L. T. Dennis F. A. Schaeffer

How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture [Paperback]Francis A. Schaeffer (Author) , Lane T. Dennis (Foreword)

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, School, Christian Living, History

Paperback

Published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Adam Bloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great analysis and overview of the rise and fall of Western Culture. For a book that was written so long ago, the trajectories predicted were spot on.
There’s not much application here but it’s a great overview of the history.

[Paul Brunning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schaeffer was a smart guy! This is a very thought provoking survey of the way the Christian worldview - and rejection of it - has played out in history, art and culture, philosophy, sociology, politics and economics (up to the late 20th century). Reading in 2024, it helped me see the how many of today's social trends (ills) originated, and why the Christian worldview offers much better answers than secular humanism, Marxist-Leninism and its relative, big-state socialism.
Reading this also set me off on Huxley's Brave New World - review to come when I've finished. Suffice to say that so far it's frighteningly prophetic 😬

[Jonathan Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many books in the category of the parenthetical question; “how did we get here?”
Schaeffer offers possibly the best book in this category by providing both valuably versatile historical context, and shockingly prescient predictions for the future age.

[Carol Ghattas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Francis Schaeffer's well-known work and seeing how insightful he was to the changes in society over the centuries and the effects of society on the Church. Christianity has always existed within a context of opposition, whether direct or indirect, beginning with the Roman Empire of the first century.

Once easily distinguished from pagan society, the infiltration of secular and humanistic thought into the Church has brought devastating effects. With the Renaissance, as Schaeffer says, "we must not think that all which it produced was good for man." Man became the center of all things during this period and never left his central role in later philosophies of thought. I enjoyed seeing once again how philosophies influenced art and vice versa. It's a good reminder that we cannot take what our eyes see and ears hear at face value--there are always underlying assumptions about the world behind every kind of art, even that found on our current social media platforms and televisions.

As he moves to discuss later ideologies and philosophies like communism, existentialism, and personalities like Nietzsche, he writes: "if God is dead, then everything for which God gives an answer and meaning is dead."

I think we see this statement lived out in our world today: "Countries that have never had a Christian Reformation base will be the first to bow to authoritarianism." An important truth is one which was made a reality in the time of the early church: "Christians do not need to be in the majority in order to influence society." We need to remember that today.

This final statement by Schaeffer is a reminder for why we need to continue to read such works: "This book is written in the hope that this generation may turn from that greatest of wickednesses, the placing of any created thing in the place of the Creator, and that this generation may get its feet out of the paths of death and may live."

A recommended read.

[Elisha Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time that I read Schaeffer his ideas become clearer to me and more prophetic. He takes in culture, politics, philosophy, and science through a Christian worldview. His synthesis of ideas and evaluation is quite accurate. He warns against elevating the values of personal peace and affluence while losing a foundation for morality by rejecting a Christian basis for norms. He shows the positive aspects of popular ideas and where they fail. We need his voice right now.

[Ronb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis Schaeffer was one of those rare individuals who seems completely sold out to Christ and yet understood the history, present circumstances and future opportunities of man. This book is gold for those wanting to understand how our culture got to where it got off track and how we Christians can help guide it back to the tracks. I watched the video version of this in VHS back when I knew very little of his writings. He was definitely a brilliant man who sought to serve God.

[Jordan Shirkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping overview from Greek philosophy through the Middle Ages, Reformation and Enlightenment to trace how we got to where we are today. Great insight on the modern ethical challenges that Schaeffer had the foresight to call out 50+ years ago.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the book itself had some parts that were more interesting than others, I think it set the tone for a lot of books on Worldview and Apologetics that came later.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all time. This is a must read for everyone, especially if you find yourself wondering how did we get here as a society and what can be done about it.