Rating: 
Summary: Negative Reviews As An Ego Defense
Review: Sire's "The Universe Next Door" is a great overview of the major worldviews prevalent today. No, it's not an exhaustive treatise...note the word "basic" in the subtitle. Yes, it is an apologetic (defense) of Christian theism, but an honest and fair one. Those railing about how their particular flavor of postmodernism, existentialism, etc., is left out or truncated are probably most bothered by Sire's ability to point out the inadequacies of those world views. Orthodox Christianity is the only worldview with adequate answers to the basic questions of ontology, epistemology,and ethics. Anything else is just an Indiana Jones approach to life - "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go!"Kudo's to Sire for such a thoughtful catalog. I am using it as a textbook for my Senior High Sunday School Class. I'm having to pick and choose a little as I go, but this book will be a wonderful resource to college bound kids who need to have had the arguments of the intelligensia dissected before they get to the ivory tower.
Rating:
Summary: Negative Reviews As An Ego Defense
Review: Sire's "The Universe Next Door" is a great overview of the major worldviews prevalent today. No, it's not an exhaustive treatise...note the word "basic" in the subtitle. Yes, it is an apologetic (defense) of Christian theism, but an honest and fair one. Those railing about how their particular flavor of postmodernism, existentialism, etc., is left out or truncated are probably most bothered by Sire's ability to point out the inadequacies of those world views. Orthodox Christianity is the only worldview with adequate answers to the basic questions of ontology, epistemology,and ethics. Anything else is just an Indiana Jones approach to life - "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go!" Kudo's to Sire for such a thoughtful catalog. I am using it as a textbook for my Senior High Sunday School Class. I'm having to pick and choose a little as I go, but this book will be a wonderful resource to college bound kids who need to have had the arguments of the intelligensia dissected before they get to the ivory tower.
Rating: 
Summary: Sire's High Horse
Review: Sire's latest edition of this book is still as lousy as the first. He sees reality in "Black and White" which is not in and of itself bad, but for some Christians he's got the two mixed up. He has done is readers a disservice by simplifying the issues to the point of satire in places. Many of his arguments are laughable at best. A well researched book from a Christian perspective about other worldviews is certainly needed and would fulfill a purpose but this is not that book!
Rating:
Summary: Steer Clear
Review: The Universe Next Door is a good example of the pseudo scholarship on which too many clergy, laypersons and college students are being nurtured these days, and on which they construct misinformed estimates of positions other than their own. If you want a clear example of what I am describing, examine Sire's discussion of Karl Barth in which he identifies him as an existentialist who began with man and not with God (p. 128). Obviously, Sire is either unfamilar with, or has read but does not understand, Barth's Church Dogmatics, I.1, chapter 1,4:3 ("The Word of God Revealed"). Nor has Sire read Barth's The Humanity of God. His discussion of postmodernity is also minimally informed. He doesn't really understand the subject. Sire is well enough informed to mislead. This book will mire the reader in error that masquerades as informed scholarship. Shame on IVP for publishing and recommending a book that was not first carefully critiqued by competent scholars.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing Intelligent.
Review: There is no compelling argument coming from this book
Rating:
Summary: Nonsense
Review: There is not a single piece of open-minded rational thought expressed in these pages.
Rating:
Summary: Biased claptrap
Review: This book is collection of essays with such utter bias towards American and Christian philosophical and political ideologies it's untrue. He rambles on in the typically narrow minded, portentous and preachy manner of a Priest in the American Deep South who has Klu-Klux clan involvement on the quiet, declaring Christian Theism to be 'a complete worldview' whilst approximating existentialism with Nazism. No wonder it's published by Inter-Varsoty 'Christian Fellowship of United States of America .'
Sire's contempt for anything contradictory to Christian theory is not veiled in the least - he's openly abhorrant about all he disagrees with. It reads like a recruitment book for the American church - this travesty should never have found a publisher.
Not once does he mention a single criticism of Christian Theism, yet the other six worldviews are slated from beginning to end. He even says that Nihilism shouldn't be counted as a worldview - why? Because HE disagrees with it. If you want a textbook in appalling rhetorical style and subjective rambling, buy this book. If you want a balanced, rational account of so-called 'worldviews' then don't even consider this book. It absolutely stinks.
Rating: 
Summary: Fumbles the ball on what could have been a touchdown!
Review: This book is written as an introductory text to worldviews and to show the strength of the Christian theistic worldview is comparison to others. The strengths of this book are also its weaknesses. The strength is that it is written in understandable language and covers the general characteristics of several basic worldviews. The weakness is that the author does not explore the diversity which resides in each. Furthermore, the author does not explore how each "non- Christian" worldview has positively influenced Christianity. This lack of exploration highlights the author's implication that there is something which is the Christian worldview instead of diversity of Christian worldviews. The Christian worldview expressed here is at least indirectly in conflict with the dominant Wesleyan/Holiness theologies. It is also disappointing to find that only one postmodern alternative is addressed in the recently added final chapter when there are a multiplicity of postmodernisms. Overall, the idea for the book is excellent but, in ignoring important details -- diversity within each worldview, and the overlapping between Christian theisms and other worldviews -- the author fumbles the ball on the way to what could have been a touchdown.
Rating:
Summary: A great introduction to a foundational topic
Review: This is another excellent book by Sire. ("Scripture Twisting" was a classic!) It begins with the premise that all people have a worldview, whether they've articulated it or not. He then proceeds to examine the major worldviews, and the implications of each. Sire is not ashamed of his own Christian Monotheism, but gives an accurate picture of the other views. Especially helpful is his coverage of how various views have affected art, culture, politics, and society in general. This book is relatively easy to read, but covers some heavy stuff. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: 1 star is too many
Review: This is biased, pathetic, ranting evangelist, yankee claptrap without one coherent argument. Should be burnt with great relish.
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