Rating: 
Summary: A true philosopher--one who can actually think!
Review: I majored in Philosophy, and can honestly say that none of the big names holds a stick to the clarity of thought and pure logic evidenced in these books. The most distinctive feature of the ideas put forth in Schaeffer's writings are their coherence with reason and experience. This is one philosopher who thought with his eyes open, and actually had something useful to say. Ideas you can sink your teeth into and live by.
Rating:
Summary: Great apologetic reading
Review: Ideas have consequences. Today's society predicament is the result of our preeminent worldview. In this century, Orthodox Christianity thinking has been taken out of balance by anti-theistic views. Schaeffer search the how, when, where of this shift of thinking and explains the slow reaction of orthodox Christian thinkers. Finally he offers a sincere advice to Christians to change their thinking and their life. Great reading, great writer, I miss him.
Rating:
Summary: Great apologetic reading
Review: Ideas have consequences. Today's society predicament is the result of our preeminent worldview. In this century, Orthodox Christianity thinking has been taken out of balance by anti-theistic views. Schaeffer search the how, when, where of this shift of thinking and explains the slow reaction of orthodox Christian thinkers. Finally he offers a sincere advice to Christians to change their thinking and their life. Great reading, great writer, I miss him.
Rating:
Summary: Shaeffer hits the mark
Review: If you read Shaeffer in an effort to study philosophy or intellectualism, then you most likely will be somewhat disappointed. Shaeffer whould dare call you naive if you took him for a mere philosopher! His intent has been mistakely interpreted by some.Shaeffer understood the Truth that is in Jesus Christ, purely and simply. His expertese of philosophy was only to unveil it's error. And in that sense one could call him an antiphilosophist - i.e. In the sense where philosophy leads a man into inner turmoil, unresolved contradictions, and ultimately into utter dispair. I think Shaeffer does a magnificent job in pointing us to the one true God, and His son Jesus Christ. After all, that was his only real intention. He doesn't aim to "wow" us with complex and unimaginalble schemes. Find fault if you will, but may you one day find fulfillment in learning what is the true wisdom.
Rating: 
Summary: read the prior review for context...
Review: Now, reviews like that are really disturbing. It's obvious this fellow won't even make the effort to examine worldviews different than his own. That is just as weak as the sort of unthinking Chrsitianity they portray. Mr. Schaeffer's writings, to the contrary, are generally well thought out, and give consideration to other viewpoints. Furthermore, the reader rated it low based on worldview, which is an awfully bigoted practice that I am afraid we never will be rid of. I don't rate books dismally if I disagree with them - I do so if the arguments are so poorly stated that they don't even help me think about my own position. Schaeffer's writings are always a good thinking machine. If you aren't a believing [whatever], it doesn't mean you shouldn't read books about anything different than what you think. That is the road to parochialism and a transformation from human to xerox machine for the atheist faith, or the Protestant faith, or [whatever]. Which is something Mr. Schaeffer, on my reading (especially of something like "Art and the Bible"), would be quite against. Schaeffer's writing is lucid and interesting to any sensetive being with a concern for big issues. I don't agreee with everything he says, either, but it was still worth every minute of my time to read.
Rating: 
Summary: An apology for apologetics.
Review: Schaeffer brings the mind of a scholar and the priorities of a Christian together in each of these three books. While certain portions, especially in The God Who Is There, may seem obtuse to those unfamiliar with classical philosophy, his analysis from a decidedly Christian perspective is much appreciated. In the first book within this trilogy, Schaeffer spends a good bit of time discussing what he calls the "Line of Despair" between Christian and modern, non-Christian thinking, art and music. I found this a bit arbitrary and inaccurate. Christians of today are very guilty of sweeping generalizations about what is Christian and what is not - often times doing so on the basis of a very poor and very ambiguous understanding of the reality of the supposedly Christian past we should go back to. That having been said, I also found much to resonate with in Schaeffer's writing - in particular his discussion on the role and technique behind apologetics. He makes a powerful point about Christian apologetics that needs to be reinforced in the mind of many - mine included: that ultimately it is not our ability to rationalize or argue our faith but our ability to exhibit our own changed life, changed spirit and changed perspective. That is the point of apologetics, not winning an argument.
Rating:
Summary: Perceptive analysis of modern thought
Review: Schaeffer deserves to be widely heard. These three books generally focus on the necessary conclusions that must be reached based on much of modern thought. Coining the word 'anti-philosophies', Schaeffer contends that it is impossible to sustain philosophical coherence when a transcendent basis is lost. The effect of modern philosophical trends are traced through music, art, philosophy, and theology, providing a much more well rounded perspective than books of this sort usually do. I read the series twice, taking notes the second time through, as it was the only way I could really absorb the material
Rating:
Summary: Facts are FACTS
Review: The FACT is that Dr Francis A. Schaeffer continues to be one of the GREATEST MINDS of the 20th century. Period.
Those who admit this and then try to pretend to disagree with some of his works "I found faults" or "it wasn't quite writen well enough" win only hoots of laughter.
They haven't got the intellectual capacity to tie his shoes and their attempts to play Judge on Schaeffer is as funny as the "Judges" of Jesus or Socrates!! BUY the books and learn from them.
You'll NEVER get a better work outside of the Holy Bible.
Rating:
Summary: good enuff
Review: these books are decent to good. they tend to oversimplify, but, in my opinion, that doesn't make the arguments automatically invalid. and now, to that fellow from california: i agree that these arguments are not completely valid. unless you have some sympathy for christianity, no argument for it could persuade you to it. is it not true, however, that there is no such thing as a completely valid argument? I've never heard one in my life. if you think that you have, you're mistaken. i would recommend you read the chapter called "the maniac" in gk chesterton's "orthodoxy". the bottom line is this: these books show (though not exhaustively, of course) the tendencies and conclusions of much of the thought which opposes christianity, and then how christianity, in those areas, has solutions to those problems. and i insist that the solutions, even if not presented in a perfect form, are better than anything else. dear california, do you not feel that your own philosophical position has at least a few questions that cannot be answered? i insist (comically enough) that you do. these books aren't logically exhaustive for a very good reason, the people who read them have (i assume) already seen how far logic can take them. these books are a breath of fresh air to those who can't breathe. once you have your breath back, the general conclusions of this book can be held with intellectual integrity as well as any philosophy out there, in fact, better. the proof of the pudding is in the eating. the life these books will lead you to live, if you give mr. schaeffer the benefit of the doubt, will put away any doubts you previously had. if anyone, including the fellow from california, would like to continue the debate of mr. schaeffer's conclusion about the validity of christianity, you will find a person only too eager to argue in mr. schaeffer's behalf at mattpaulson88@hotmail.com.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: This is a great set of books. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand 20th century people living in the desperation that our society leaves them in. Schaeffer has a tremendous grasp of the historical context of our century, but he doesn't beat you over the head with it or use it to show how smart he is. He constantly shows how this information should be used to show LOVE to others and show them the light of Christianity in truth! He is a very tender writer.
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