Rating: 
Summary: Loved the argument, the Socratic method and the Humor
Review: Between Heaven & Hell has a subtitle which reads, "A Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death with John F. Kennedy, C.S. Lewis & Aldous Huxley". Yes, this is a fictional trialog in "limbo" of the most important question in human history - Who is Jesus Christ? Many people are unaware that JFK, Lewis and Huxley all died within hours of each other on November 22, 1963. It seems the assassination of President Kennedy from either the grassy knoll or from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository somehow managed to overshadow the deaths of the other two men. Go figure! Much of the fictional discussion between these three characters revolves around their own writings although Kreeft employs a bit of literary license for the sake of argument. The fact that Kreeft is a Catholic doesn't affect the content of this book since the argument is essentially Lewis' straight, or "mere" Christianity. The position of JFK is that of a humanistic Christian in the sense of emphasizing "horizontal" social activity rather than "vertical" religious experience...religion without revelation. Kennedy portrays his view of Christ as that of a man become god. Huxley doesn't get the air time that Lewis and JFK get, but his contribution is significant. He represents the eastern pantheist position and reinterprets Christianity as a form of the universal philosophy of pantheism. In this view, Jesus was one of the great sages of history along with Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, Mohammed and the rest. Employing the Socratic method of question and answer, Kreeft slowly but surely uses Lewis' arguments to refute the views of Jesus being a lunatic, liar or just a great moral teacher. Once this is done, He argues that Jesus was God in the flesh, just as He claimed to be. Approximately the last third of the book focuses on the reliability of the gospel accounts which record the claims of Christ. I found this book to be a very enjoyable read, especially the Socratic method that Kreeft employs. Although I don't criticize Kreeft for making the most out of the historical situation, I'll just say that the only theological disagreement I had with this book was the immediate destiny of the three men being "limbo" which I'm sure is only used by Kreeft as a setting for the discussion. The argument from Lewis was very thought-provoking and required honesty with the end result being much clearer thinking concerning the person of Christ, not to mention his inescapable conclusions which were drawn. I found it very interesting how he would ask of the opposition very pointed, yet fair questions. I was glad to find that the rabbit trails were quickly discounted so the reader can follow the arguments more easily. Throughout the discussion, Kreeft continually reminds the reader that as Christians, we don't try to win arguments for ourselves (I use "argument" in the technical sense of presenting evidence in favor of one's position). It doesn't matter who wins or loses. Truth is what we all must submit to, not someone's ability to debate.We present evidence in favor of the truth and truth must win the battle.
Rating:
Summary: Superb first apologetics reader . . .
Review: Between Heaven and Hell is the perfect book for a Christian to give to friends who are interested in the faith. In this afterlife dialogue between C.S. Lewis, Aldous Huxley, and John F. Kennedy we see how a Christian answers different worldviews. C.S. Lewis represents Christianity. Kennedy represents the common American view that Heaven (if it exists) is about one's personal good outweighing his bad. Huxley represents eastern religions and pantheism. I've bought this book several times and given it to co-workers and friends. You won't care if you get it back, because you know you've put a good book in someone's hands who may need it. The book is brief, packed with great arguments, and a very accessible read. If you enjoy sharing your faith with friends, you'll buy several.
Rating:
Summary: Fun and Helpful
Review: I have only recently been interested in Peter Kreeft's work. This book, was recommended to me by all people, my husband. And I'm glad I read it. It is easy to understand, while at the same time dealing with polemic issues that affect us all. The book opens with C.S Lewis, John F. Kennedy, and Aldous Huxley meeting in a "limbo" place before going to their finale destination. This allows the three to debate the most important issue of all: Who is Jesus Christ? The dialogue is witty and the book helps to point out how one can dialogue to our more secular friends. Further, the book is easy to read and can be read in one setting without much effort. This is the strength of this book is that Kreeft has not sacraficed teaching us for simplicity. The book works on both levels. Completely enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Fun and Helpful
Review: I have only recently been interested in Peter Kreeft's work. This book, was recommended to me by all people, my husband. And I'm glad I read it. It is easy to understand, while at the same time dealing with polemic issues that affect us all. The book opens with C.S Lewis, John F. Kennedy, and Aldous Huxley meeting in a "limbo" place before going to their finale destination. This allows the three to debate the most important issue of all: Who is Jesus Christ? The dialogue is witty and the book helps to point out how one can dialogue to our more secular friends. Further, the book is easy to read and can be read in one setting without much effort. This is the strength of this book is that Kreeft has not sacraficed teaching us for simplicity. The book works on both levels. Completely enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: Good introduction to an important debate.
Review: In "Between Heaven and Hell," Peter Kreeft sets up a fictional debate between C.S. Lewis, Aldous Huxley, and John F. Kennedy, shortly after their deaths which, amazingly, all came on November 22nd, 1963. Kreeft uses Lewis, Kennedy, and Huxley as representatives of 3 common worldviews and their interpretation on Christianity: orthodox Christianity, modernist Christianity, and "Orientalist" Christianity, respectively.
Kreeft, an orthodox Catholic, naturally sides with the general worldview of the Anglican Lewis over the modernist Catholic Kennedy and the Buddhist Huxley, but Kreeft is fair and respectful towards Kennedy and Huxley. While the book is very short at only a little over 100 pages, in informal, conversational format, it provides a good synopsis of how the three men interpreted the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, as told in the New Testament.
The first half of the book is Lewis debating Kennedy on the subject of Christianity. (Huxley agrees to listen and argue his philosophy later on, mainly against Lewis of course, which he does in the 2nd half of the book.) Kennedy's worldview is definitely the most prevalent in the present-day, Western world, and therefore, the debate between Lewis and Kennedy will be the more interesting of the two for most readers raised in a Western culture. The Lewis-Kennedy debate is basically a summation of several Lewis books, most of which were themselves an argument for orthodox Christianity versus the modernist Christian and post-Christian worldview. Lewis handles Kennedy fairly easily, and Kennedy fans or readers sharing Kennedy's worldview will probably find themselves wanting to propose several objections to Kreeft in support of their side of the debate. But this is a quick summary after all, and Kreeft is obviously aware of that.
Moving on to the pantheist Huxley, the debate becomes slightly more foreign and rare to the average Westerner used to debates between monotheists and atheists. Huxley was a brilliant man (as all three were, of course), and his philosophy was deep, well-argued, and at times, abstruse. Kreeft uses this debate to answer the question often put to Christians, phrased in one form or another, "How is Jesus different than other major religious gurus?" This debate, again being a quick summary, leaves a few pantheist arguments on the table and isn't ended as easily as the Lewis dispatching of Kennedy's case is, but it suffices.
I recommend this book as a good introduction to the believing Christian's argument against modernist Christianity and Eastern philosophy. The book is entertaining and can be read in a couple hours, if not less.
Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointing for serious students of Lewis and Huxley
Review: In this work, Peter Kreeft portrays a meeting of C.S. Lewis, John F. Kennedy and Aldous Huxley in the afterlife (all three died on November 22, l963). C.S. Lewis engages first Kennedy and then Huxley in a debate on the divinity of Christ. The conversation goes on for 114 pages with C.S. Lewis clearly making his points -- that Christ was either divine or a charlatan or insane. Lewis goes on to debunk any possibility of Christ being a charlatan or insane, ergo Christ is God. Kreeft has wonderful ideas and constructs nice logical proofs. However, I was expecting something deeper than an argument that could be summarized in two sentences. My strongest criticism of this book is that it completely misses the point where the real-life Lewis's teachings overlap with those of the real-life Huxley: that the one true God is no respecter of persons and that God is equally accessible to all, regardless of culture, upbringing or background. Both men taught that all of mankind comes to God on equal footing; that no religion, culture or class of men has an advantage over the others. At one point in BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL, Kreeft's Lewis actually shoots down arguments that the real-life Lewis propounded. I felt that Kreeft glossed over some of the greatest religious controversies faced by modern man. In doing so, Kreeft unwittingly undercut the points he was trying to make. I'm turning back to my studies of C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley. I strongly recommend Lewis's MERE CHRISTIANITY (upon which Kreeft based his Lewis arguments) and a collection of 28 essays by Huxley called HUXLEY AND GOD. By the way, Kreeft's Kennedy has very little to offer either intellectually or where matters of faith are concerned in this book. One final note: the last page and a half of this book is stunning in its beauty and truth. Kreeft's epilogue is also worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A bit disappointing for serious students of Lewis and Huxley
Review: In this work, Peter Kreeft portrays a meeting of C.S. Lewis, John F. Kennedy and Aldous Huxley in the afterlife (all three died on November 22, l963). C.S. Lewis engages first Kennedy and then Huxley in a debate on the divinity of Christ. The conversation goes on for 114 pages with C.S. Lewis clearly making his points -- that Christ was either divine or a charlatan or insane. Lewis goes on to debunk any possibility of Christ being a charlatan or insane, ergo Christ is God. Kreeft has wonderful ideas and constructs nice logical proofs. However, I was expecting something deeper than an argument that could be summarized in two sentences. My strongest criticism of this book is that it completely misses the point where the real-life Lewis's teachings overlap with those of the real-life Huxley: that the one true God is no respecter of persons and that God is equally accessible to all, regardless of culture, upbringing or background. Both men taught that all of mankind comes to God on equal footing; that no religion, culture or class of men has an advantage over the others. At one point in BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL, Kreeft's Lewis actually shoots down arguments that the real-life Lewis propounded. I felt that Kreeft glossed over some of the greatest religious controversies faced by modern man. In doing so, Kreeft unwittingly undercut the points he was trying to make. I'm turning back to my studies of C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley. I strongly recommend Lewis's MERE CHRISTIANITY (upon which Kreeft based his Lewis arguments) and a collection of 28 essays by Huxley called HUXLEY AND GOD. By the way, Kreeft's Kennedy has very little to offer either intellectually or where matters of faith are concerned in this book. One final note: the last page and a half of this book is stunning in its beauty and truth. Kreeft's epilogue is also worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: A fascinating "what if?" debate about life and beyond.
Review: John F. Kennedy, C. S. Lewis, and Aldous Huxley all died on November 22, 1963. What if they all met after death, somewhere between heaven and hell? That's the premise of this engaging and intriguing book by philosophy professor Peter Kreeft. Written in the form of a Socratic dialogue, Kreeft's book casts Lewis as a Christian theist, Kennedy as a modern humanist and Huxley as an Eastern pantheist. The three interact and challenge one another's worldviews, examining and testing each other's beliefs to see what is true about life after death and the meaning of life. This book is ideal to read with a few other friends, be they believers, skeptics or seekers. It will provide lively discussion and ample food for thought.
Rating:
Summary: Makes you stop and think...
Review: Preliminary literary comments first. Kreeft's dialogue-based books are simply great reading. Very engaging, thought-provoking, and sometimes humorous (usually because they expose the nonsense we so often think/speak). This book discusses the unavoidable "nub" of Christianity - Jesus. Since Jesus is such a popular flavor of play-doh in our ridiculous "make-your-own-religion" society, this book, and the discussion it houses, MUST be read. Unfortunately, we don't discuss Jesus publicly, b/c that wouldn't be "courteous". Instead we talk about sports, food, fashion, and pop culture. Funny how we'll discuss irrelevancies all day long, but avoid conversations about ultimate life issues like the plague. While Huxley does not appear as frequently in the discussion as Kennedy, his contribution is significant, in light of the current Eastern/New Age fad. It is serendipitous that these 3 men died on the same day, since Kreeft is able to employ them as representatives of such influential and disparate concepts of religion in general and Christianity in particular. The book must be read honestly, and near the middle of the book, this necessity is profoundly driven home. Is Jesus who he says he is? That's a serious question and one that must be faced squarely. Set aside the irrelevant and begin to consider the ultimate...
Rating:
Summary: Makes you stop and think...
Review: Preliminary literary comments first. Kreeft's dialogue-based books are simply great reading. Very engaging, thought-provoking, and sometimes humorous (usually because they expose the nonsense we so often think/speak). This book discusses the unavoidable "nub" of Christianity - Jesus. Since Jesus is such a popular flavor of play-doh in our ridiculous "make-your-own-religion" society, this book, and the discussion it houses, MUST be read. Unfortunately, we don't discuss Jesus publicly, b/c that wouldn't be "courteous". Instead we talk about sports, food, fashion, and pop culture. Funny how we'll discuss irrelevancies all day long, but avoid conversations about ultimate life issues like the plague. While Huxley does not appear as frequently in the discussion as Kennedy, his contribution is significant, in light of the current Eastern/New Age fad. It is serendipitous that these 3 men died on the same day, since Kreeft is able to employ them as representatives of such influential and disparate concepts of religion in general and Christianity in particular. The book must be read honestly, and near the middle of the book, this necessity is profoundly driven home. Is Jesus who he says he is? That's a serious question and one that must be faced squarely. Set aside the irrelevant and begin to consider the ultimate...
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