Rating: 
Summary: Francis Schaefer lite
Review: Readers of Francis Schaefer will enjoy this book. As will fans of Phillip Johnson. While there is not a lot of original analysis in this book, it does an excellent job of preesenting true deep intellectual Christian thought to the layman. Colson has a very homey and clear writing style that makes what could be a very dry read for the average person, very enjoyable instead.
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Summary: Gives outstanding perspective on worldview vs. God's truth
Review: I was very impressed and enjoyed Colson & Pearcey's analysis of the present worldview of humanity vs. God's. By showing the differences of fact in creation, sin, and redemption the authors have clearly made the case for the ultimate creator, our God. They use many facts and instances over the last 2000 years. They trace our present muddled situation clearly from the Age of Enlightenment (500 yrs). This is a very objective, eye opening book that will demand your time once you get started.
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Summary: Pertinent, provocative, necessary¿and true.
Review: The trap for every Christian is that once he (or she) cedes the intellectual high ground to rabid secularists ours becomes just another cotton candy faith, the self-serving opiate visualized by Marx and the deep thinking Jesse Ventura. It's made even tougher given that Scripture demands honesty, this in a world inundated with secular dogma. Even churches have acquiesced, defensively insisting that Darwinian orthodoxy and Genesis can somehow coexist.They can't, of course, and therein lies both the brilliance and manifest importance of How Now Shall We Live. Charles Colson and Nancy Pearson - carefully, reasonably and readably - define the diametrically opposed worldviews represented by Darwin and the Bible, then walk each to its logical consequence. That we're living the former should come as a surprise to no one; what might is that it would all be moot if not for the fact that the Biblical worldview is solidly anchored in - prepare yourself - truth. Colson doesn't prove the secular world wrong by citing Scripture; he uses secular prescription to prove Scripture right, apologetics perfectly tuned to the twenty-first century. No Christian can come away with anything but robust confidence in his faith and the motivation to act on and within it; those steeped in the secular should be prepared to question theirs.
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Summary: A BOOK FOR CHRISTIANS HEADED INTO THE NEXT MILLENNIUM
Review: This truly remarkable and insightful book, written by one of today's bulwarks of faith, should be mandatory reading for every Christian, especially those of us raising God's children in today's post -Judeo-Christian society.
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BOOKS OF THE DECADE
Review: Understanding American culture in the 21st Century is difficult for those from other cultures. Even for many "older generation" Americans, finding oneself outside the "mainstream" of contempory culture can be distrubing at best and frightening for many. Chuch Colson has written a landmark work on where our culture has come from, why it is as it is, and the logical results of current ethic and philosophy. This work is distrubing to both the Christian and non-Christian alike. It does, however, bring understanding and to the Christian ethicist a resolve to become "salt and light". It seems as the church has not heard the warning of Jesus to not allow "the world to squeeze you into its mold". Colson masterfully deals with why and how this has happened and gives sound advice for the future. A must read for the serious Christian. Essential for the Christian pastor or priest.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Outline of Conservative Christianity
Review: Chuck Colson has written a masterful text on one Biblical worldview. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the worldview from which he writes is one of dogmatic judgmentalism and not the worldview that I believe Jesus lived out. Colson states clearly that the Christian religion is one that is "devoted to an all-powerful, sovereign, omniscient God who demands righteousness and obedience... who dispenses severe judgment." Colson's world is one which is black and white with few shades of gray. God has laid down the law (as revealed in Scripture) and everyone should be fully obedient to it, and if not should be prepared to suffer the consequential punishment. This is similar to the worldview of fundamentalist Islam in the sense that the God that is revealed through the Sacred Scripture of tradition must be obeyed at all costs. The God revealed in the Sacred Scripture is the only real God, all others are false and harmful and will be eliminated in the end. I believe Chuck Colson to be a very sincere and devout Christian who wants, with everything in him, to do the right thing. It seems that he believes that his version of Christianity is absolutely the only correct version of any faith, and therefore he is willing to die to defend it. But it may be interesting to note that other fundamentalist leaders of different faiths have the same level of conviction, believing with equal intensity that their understanding of God is the only correct view. I have no doubt that if Mr. Colson was born to devout Buddhist parents that he would more than likely now be a Buddhist. He is a Christian only because of his life context and circumstances. There are many Biblical texts that seem to contradict Colson's worldview. Such as Mt. 5.44-47: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? This text, a statement of Jesus about God, seems to indicate that God does not meet out judgmental punishment to the evil and unrighteous. This statement appears to be saying that God showers his unconditional love and blessings on all people, regardless of perceived rightness or wrongness. My recommendation is for everyone to read this excellent book by Colson with the understanding that it is one man's and one group's interpretation of Scripture and of life and that there are many other ways to understand and interpret Scripture and life. It is my opinion that Mr. Colson has not yet come to the spiritual awareness and worldview contained in the statement by Paul that "Christ is the end of the law," and from Jesus that the "Kingdom of God is within." It is my prayer that one day he will. I believe that the greatest revelations for Mr. Colson, the tangible awareness that the abundant life is here now, may come soon.
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Summary: Excellence in Christian thinking
Review: Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey put together a very enjoyable, easy-reading book that the average Christian lay-person should latch onto. I am a full supporter of the authors' "Commitment to Christian Excellence," which is something I continually preach to my students. Just because we are Christian doesn't mean we have to be dull, mindless, and just plain ol' lousy. This book explains truth using contemporary language and not-too-difficult concepts. In fact, I recommend that pastors refer this book to their congregations. The chapters are written so that, if a person desired, he or she could read one each night in about 15 minutes. At this rate, a person would finish the book within two months and be truly blessed. (I found this method to be effective in my reading, as it allowed me to think through each of the points on a nightly basis.) Among some of the highlights for me: * Ch. 4 on Christian truth in an age of unbelief dealt with Christian apologetics. I especially appreciated the authors' attitude that we will change the world through the laity, not just by the scholars or the pastorate. There is a strong case to Christianity, but each Christian needs to "own" the truth for him or herself to be effective in spreading the gospel. * In part two of the book, the authors deal with creation. While they never claim to be scientists, they present some very strong information while suggesting other places to find additional (deeper) facts. Highly recommended. * Ch. 21 on suffering was one of the easiest chapters I have ever read on such a difficult issue. While there are certainly no easy answers, they do give basic thoughts to theodicy. * Ch. 34 was excellent. I especially appreciate the following quote on page 339: "...local churches need to encourage youth group leaders to go beyond volleyball and pizza parties and begin to teach apologetics and worldview issues." Amen, Chuck and Nancy. I've been saying this for years. * A number of chapters in Part 5 dealt with excellence in the arts, music, and literature. We as Christians cannot be the ostrichs of the world because God certainly demands more. The authors point out that, again, if we are going to do something, let's do it well. And let's quit calling subpar performances excellent when they are obviously not. Certainly we all have our own tastes, but it gets dreary to see some of the modern art, music, and literature touted as top-notch when anyone with a tad of taste can sinmply tell that a bridge in Brooklyn is up for sale. As Paul says in Philippians 4:8, let's consider excellence as the only attitude Christians should have. As you can see, I'm up on this book and highly recommend it. Perhaps some of these chapters will stimulate our laity to want to discover truth.
Rating: 
Summary: Alarmist and Fear inciting
Review: In my humble opinion. I read this book twice. The first time I read it I had left a convserative Bible College. I really liked it. Then I went to a Liberal Arts college, which was also Christian and starting to re-read it critiquing this thinking the whole way. My problem with this method of thinking goes like this: He assumes that everything not somehow related to Christianity is BAD, almost inherantly evil. He assumes that if you believe in evolution as a possibility, then you aren't Christian. Frankly, it makes no difference to my Christianity whether or not the earth is REALLY old. I think that, regardless of the literacy of the Genesis story, here we are, alive and breathing because God put us here. My other annoyance is with EXPECTING THE WORLD to think the way that we do. Well they don't. Jesus never promised us good times while on this earth. Yes, the USA is a nice place to live with problems. A very far cry from a totaltarian regime that is for sure. If the USA was to come to an end, the globe would keep on spinning. Yes we are called to be salt and light, but quite frankly, when we set "the others" up as the enemy and do not engage them in discussion, we run behind our little kingdom, ever shrinking and freak out about how the nation is being ruined. Sure, read this book with a grain of salt. It gives a very good picture of what VERY conservative Christianity is thinking.
Rating: 
Summary: Modern Worldview at its best
Review: Colson does a good job in this work of breaking down complex worldview and theological issues to the common man. While many texts on these subjects leave readers scratching their heads, this book breaks it down for the average reader. While one could maybe do without the long winded stories in the beginning of each chapter and skip to the meat, this is still none the less a good book. Nancy Pearcy adds her expertise and that helps shore up some of the more complex issues. One caveat to this book, it is done from the perspective of a very modern thinker who can put just about anything into a formula. If that is your style, you will love this book. B Joseph Dworak
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Books Ever!!
Review: If you have any questions about various worldviews, this is the book for you. Don't be intimidated by its length--it is so full of interesting anecdotes that you won't be able to put it down.
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