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October 12, 2005
Total Truth
 Total Truth – Nancy Pearcey
Over the past few centuries Christianity has systematically and methodically been relegated to a corner of society that prohibits it from having any real force on that society. That corner is the private realm of faith and feelings. In essence, it has been captured by the culture. With all of the various worldviews to choose from, unfortunately Christianity has become just another one on a palette of many. Is this legitimate? Is Christianity just a division of our culture separated from the public sector? Or, is a comprehensive worldview that affects every area of life?
Obviously, Pearcey believes it is the latter. In Total Truth, she traces the history of the process of the captivity of Christianity and offers a plan for liberating it. She identifies several areas where evangelicalism took a wrong turn and succumbed to the ideas of the day. Such thinking as during the Enlightenment, the events that lead up to and followed the Great Awakenings, the introduction of Darwinism and other philosophies have all lead to the current anti-intellectualism of Christianity.
Pearcey has an extraordinary grasp of the culture and the philosophies which influence it. She is also exemplary is demonstrating how those philosophies are fleshed out. The strength of this tome (500+ pages including appendices, notes and study guide) is the historical account of how those various philosophical ideas affected the evangelical movement. She casts light on aspects of the Great Awakenings that we protestants would like to overlook as well as Baconian methods of induction melded with Common Sense realism that still have a tremendous influence today. Plus, her treatment of the effects of Darwinsim on society and the inevitable conclusions of such a worldview is unsurpassed as far as I’ve read.
The final section of the book is an effort to explain how to live out the Christian worldview. She particularly highlights the workplace, marketing and business. There perhaps is no more relevant issue than this today. In a Christian based worldview, God’s Word should dictate the methods rather than marketing and business dictating the methods. Specifically, the Lord is just as concerned about the method as He is the result – something that many churches, parachurch organizations, businesses and individuals have apparently forgotten.
Although this was a long, tedious read, it is highly recommended. As Al Mohler said in his endorsement, this book "may well be one of the most important Christian books of our times." Read ‘em & Reap!
This review is part of The Discerning Reader book review program.
Buy Total Truth here.
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