December 13, 2008

Book Review: How Should We Then Live?

Based on a documentary film series by the same name, Francis Schaeffer’s How Should We Then Live purports to trace the history of the shifts in the worldview of Western Civilization from the days of the Roman Empire until modern times. In this it is successful, perhaps even beyond the expectations of the author.

I have never seen the film series, but as of today it is on my "must-see" list. The book should be on every believer’s "must-read" list.

What amazed me about the book went beyond the thoroughness and exactness with which Schaeffer describes the various philosophies and world-views which have pervaded western culture. Rather, it was how he used these trends to project what was to come for our civilization.

And his projections are frighteningly accurate.

Allow me to quote a rather large portion from the penultimate chapter, entitled Alternatives. I think my reasons for citing it will become painfully obvious.

Modern society’s inability to find a solution to the problem of inflation without causing economic recession opens the door wide for economic breakdown. Each cycle of inflation, attempted control, the threat of economic recession, and finally, released control, has increased inflation, yet politically, with most people dominated by the concept of an ever-expanding affluence, it is difficult or impossible to face the danger of economic recession. Thus, each threat of economic recession opens the door for the next higher state of inflation. At a certain point economic breakdown seems all too possible

Sound familiar? Keep in mind that this was published in 1976. The next paragraph should strike a holy terror into our collective hearts:

I cannot get out of my mind the uncomfortable parallel to the Germans’ loss of confidence in the Weimar Republic just before Hitler, which was caused by unacceptable inflation. History indicates that at a certain point of economic breakdown people cease being concerned with individual liberties and are ready to accept regimentation. The danger is obviously even greater when the two main values so many people have are personal peace and affluence.

In case someone should think “this could never happen in America”, I would suggest a close look at Roosevelt and the New Deal. It has happened once before!

But the value of this book is not just in the historical and cultural information. As someone involved in spreading the message of the Gospel, I found How Should We Then Live to be full of insights into the mentality and world-vision of the secular man of today—even here in Latin America.

In case you hadn’t already guessed, this book comes highly recommended by me. Don’t deprive yourself of the wisdom to be gained by reading it.

Posted by Andrew on December 13, 2008 7:48 PM.