Rating: 
Summary: Poor little "scalawag"
Review: ...This collection of Schaeffer works is simply one of the best investments anybody could make. Throghout this monumental collection, you can see post-modern society and all its crisis perfectly pictured 50 years ago with surgical accuracy. This is a "must have" for anybody who tries to do an exegetical analysis of history as result of philosophy, science, art and theology not only from a western perspective, but from all of humanity.
Rating:
Summary: Christianity for the whole spectrum of life
Review: Francis Schaeffer stands out as one of the most influential evangelicals of the twentieth century. This collection of his writings is invaluable because it not only contains the philosophical writings that made him a hero to disillusioned youth looking for answers, but also contains the practical spiritual writings of Francis Schaeffer the Presbyterian pastor. Schaeffer's philosophy, well laid out in "The God Who Is There", focuses on the assumptions and presuppositions of various world views. With a sort of sanctified Socratic method, he argues that when one follows particular world views to their logical conclusions, all will ultimately fall apart, all except Christianity. His theological writings insist that the key to all truth is that God is not only there, but that He has communicated to mankind in human language, hence the Old and New Testaments are not only essential to theology and doctrine, but to all human understanding. His later writings follow his own presuppositions to their logical conclusions as he examines current culture, politics and in particular, the abortion/infanticide/euthanasia issues. This collection is organized by topics, including philosophy, spirituality, Western Culture, the church and his view of the Bible as the source of truth. Schaeffer is tough on modern culture at times, and often tough on the twentieth century church. But he is always reasonable and compassionate. Although at times criticised for generalizing and oversimplifying, he seemed to have a finger on the pulse of the times. Some of his statements from more than a decade ago appear prophetic in retrospect. His writings are still fresh, relevant and deserve a wider audience.
Rating:
Summary: Food for thought
Review: I had read Francis' books some years back and am going through "A Christian Manifesto" again. It is definitely food for thought. Even if you may not agree with all conclusions (as none of us have it ALL right), it should be considered among some of the most thoughtful literature of the 20th century. He writes deeply, but in easy english (try reading any of John Owens books!). I have to agree with the other reviewers about "California", I used to live out there for awhile, and it is the land of fruits and nuts, and now seemingly ignorant liberals (by the way, I am a LIBERTARIAN). To be open minded and loving is what Francis was about. Search for the truth, but do it in love, and defend the truth when you find it. Peace and love to you all, may your seach bring you home safely.
Rating:
Summary: A great mind of the Faith
Review: I have to laugh at the "reader from California" who babbles that Dr Schaeffers works contain "errors, mistakes and stupidities" and suggests that we Christians "worship" Dr Schaeffer and this shows our stupidity --.
No -- it only shows this guys own BIGOTRY and STUPIDITY.
Dr Schaeffers books continue to be a PROPHECY of a 20th century and what was wrought by the Left who worship, alas, only themselves.
A Brilliant work of FACT and THOUGHT... rare to say the least for any writer.
Rating:
Summary: A great mind of the Faith
Review: I have to laugh at the "reader from California" who babbles that Dr Schaeffers works contain "errors, mistakes and stupidities" and suggests that we Christians "worship" Dr Schaeffer and this shows our stupidity --.
No -- it only shows this guys own BIGOTRY and STUPIDITY.
Dr Schaeffers books continue to be a PROPHECY of a 20th century and what was wrought by the Left who worship, alas, only themselves.
A Brilliant work of FACT and THOUGHT... rare to say the least for any writer.
Rating:
Summary: Great for Laymen Christian Thinkers
Review: It has been over 10 years since I read many of the books contained in this set. Coming from a background of Catholocism first, and then Fundamentalism / Evangelicalism, I was blown away by the sound reasoning, grace, and clear Biblical precepts that permeate Scheaffer's work. Several key ideas I gleaned from these books served (and still serve) as strong idealogical foundations for my total life (notice, there is no separation between "Christian" and "Secular" areas of my life). In these texts, Scheaffer confronts the anti-intellectualism of the Church, claiming that Chrisitianity is cerebral and ought to be presented as such to the non-Christian. He encourages Christians to participate in, and understand the larger society, and to be "salt" and "light" within it. Scheaffer's criticism of the Church and of modern man is filled with compassion and humility. His love for felllow man -- both believer and non-believer -- is evident on every page. I believe these books have helped me to be a better Christian and to have a richer life. These texts are written in a conversational style which makes them a pleasure to read. I would especially recommend this Five volume set for Christian laymen thinkers who have no plans to pursue formal theological training.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Collection of Contemporary Apologetic Leader
Review: Schaeffer was respected throughout Christianity as one passionate and articulate apologetic spokesman. Not only through his L'Abri Fellowship, but his enduring publications as well, provide future generations with profound thoughts on the faith handed down. Their are some monumental books in this collection, e.g. The God Who Is There, Escape From Reason, Art and the Bible, The Great Evangelical Disaster, How Should We Then Live?, A Christian Manifesto. These all engage the second half of the 20th century with erudite analysis and prognosis if the church and culture do not disengage themselves from the perverse human philosophies which had overtaken the culture and threatening to do as well with the church. Although there are so many useful defenses provided in this magnificent set to be read and resorted to, my favorite is his contribution to the exposure of the bankrupt, inconsistent philosophy of our time in his second and third chapters of The God Who Is There. It is a true fine application of Law/Gospel, while doing it in a way that can only garner the attention of the unbeliever at the least. One will profit from the usefulness of this set which seeks and contributes to taking the Gospel to the world in which we live.
Rating: 
Summary: To the reader from california
Review: The late Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer certainly ranks with the great Christian writers of the last century (20th), like C. S. Lewis or T. S. Eliot. He is neither the demi-god that his disciples make him out to be - nor the prating fool that detracters berate. Dr. Schaeffer was simply a successful popularizer of the logical approach to Christianity of such scholars as Abraham Kuyper, Cornelius VanTil and such. The theologians are too deep for the mass of today's wishy-washy Evangelicals; the Theonomists are too logically consistent. Whether one agrees with Schaeffer's syntheses or not, he is to be commended for his thurough approach to a unified world view. Many of us, raised as irrational and pietistic mystics, got our first glimpse of a Christian philosophy from this prolific writer. He taught us to make Jesus the Lord of the sciences, fine arts and politics - as Dr. Schaeffer himself often put it, Lord of the Total Culture. It must be said that the 2oth century was a heyday of mystical subjectivism and revivalistic foolishness in the churches. Charismatic pretensions, the "church growth" movement, and many attempts to be culturally relevant only led to embarassing weakness as the Christians became lost in the pagan society. In such a sad era, Schaeffer did not have to do all that much to seem like an intellectual giant. Perhaps his interpretations of history or opinions on science are open to correction. He rarely - if ever - cited references for his sweeping generalizations, and certainly popularizer (sometimes corrupted) the insights of better men. But he is worth a hearing, and hopefully his readers will go on to deeper and purer authors, such as Greg Bahnsen, Dr. Gordon Clark, and the old Covenanter writers. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Those who call Schaeffer an illogical liar are merely jealous of his one good eye.
Rating:
Summary: Important Christian Popularizer
Review: The late Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer certainly ranks with the great Christian writers of the last century (20th), like C. S. Lewis or T. S. Eliot. He is neither the demi-god that his disciples make him out to be - nor the prating fool that detracters berate. Dr. Schaeffer was simply a successful popularizer of the logical approach to Christianity of such scholars as Abraham Kuyper, Cornelius VanTil and such. The theologians are too deep for the mass of today's wishy-washy Evangelicals; the Theonomists are too logically consistent. Whether one agrees with Schaeffer's syntheses or not, he is to be commended for his thurough approach to a unified world view. Many of us, raised as irrational and pietistic mystics, got our first glimpse of a Christian philosophy from this prolific writer. He taught us to make Jesus the Lord of the sciences, fine arts and politics - as Dr. Schaeffer himself often put it, Lord of the Total Culture. It must be said that the 2oth century was a heyday of mystical subjectivism and revivalistic foolishness in the churches. Charismatic pretensions, the "church growth" movement, and many attempts to be culturally relevant only led to embarassing weakness as the Christians became lost in the pagan society. In such a sad era, Schaeffer did not have to do all that much to seem like an intellectual giant. Perhaps his interpretations of history or opinions on science are open to correction. He rarely - if ever - cited references for his sweeping generalizations, and certainly popularizer (sometimes corrupted) the insights of better men. But he is worth a hearing, and hopefully his readers will go on to deeper and purer authors, such as Greg Bahnsen, Dr. Gordon Clark, and the old Covenanter writers. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Those who call Schaeffer an illogical liar are merely jealous of his one good eye.
Rating:
Summary: To the reader from california
Review: The only culture of ignorance and non-thinking that I see is the one pervasive in the above review. The purest definition of ignorance I can imagine is one that detracts from a body of thought by the illegitimate actions of the followers of that thought. To call Christianity a culture of nonthinking and ignorance is the most irrational and arrogant comment imaginable. To say that 2000 years have gone by and billions of people have been fools- "nonthinking and ignorant" fools- is the epitome of unwarranted ignorance. Dr. Schaeffer, while by no means a man to be worshipped, is a terrific writer with logical thoughts. He had his flaws in some of these expositions but he was definitely a thinker, and a very deep one with some very valid and logical arguments. This review is going nowhere fast, but anyone with a head on their shoulders shouldn't even think twice about ignoring that ridiculous review provided by the "reader form California."
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