| What's So Great About Christianity | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 136 reviews)
Sales Rank: 13948
Category: Book
Author: Dinesh D'souza
Publisher: Regnery Publishing
Studio: Regnery Publishing
Manufacturer: Regnery Publishing
Label: Regnery Publishing
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 348
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 1596985178
Dewey Decimal Number: 230
EAN: 9781596985179
ASIN: 1596985178
Publication Date: October 16, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Today, more than ever, Christianity is under attack. In his new book, bestselling author Dinesh D'Souza takes on the leading critics of Christianity, from E. O. Wilson to Richard Dawkins. D'Souza shows that, against all expectations, Christianity is the fastest-growing religion in the world and that secularism and atheism are on the decline. This, D'Souza contends, explains the panicky efforts by atheists to discredit Christianity, exclude it from the public sphere, and indoctrinate schoolchildren in atheist doctrine masquerading as science.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 131 more reviews...
 Good Argument for the Greatness of Christianity! January 6, 2009
In the confusing society in which we live, where academic and intellectual circles are predominately committed to materialism at the same time that a majority of the citizenry of the United States apparently believe in God, how should Christianity be presented apologetically? Where the press, TV media, movies, public schools and universities, simply assume Darwinian evolution and materialistic origins for the universe, what arguments can be made? Where Darwinism, even after 150 years of looking for objective evidence to support it and seemingly very little found so far is nonetheless tenaciously held, what can one say? Where absurd theories of multiple universes are seriously put forward by cosmologists as though it was science, where does one begin? Yet, on the other hand, in a society where Christianity is so experientially based that serious intellectual arguments can be thought suspicious by Christians themselves, what approach should be taken by serious thinkers who wish to challenge society with Christianity? Nevertheless, there are those who make the attempt. One such person is Dinesh D'Souza. Note that the title of this book does not end with a question mark. It is a declaration. This book is D'Souza's attempt to intellectually present Christianity as great and provide arguments as to why it should be embraced. It is a perfect example of where someone who has made his mark as a thinker and author in secular society has decided to use his God-given talents in the cause of Christianity. The result is a book that is a main selection of the Conservative Book Club and is also a New York Times bestseller. D'Souza is a former White House domestic policy analyst, and is currently the Rishwain Research Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
The book is somewhat encyclopedic and covers a lot of ground. However, details may be followed up by using his end-notes, which are, for the most part, nothing more than references. The book has eight parts and twenty-six chapters.
In Part I, D'Souza presents his arguments that Christianity is growing and expanding rapidly worldwide while atheism is declining. While atheists, thinking they have science on their side, assumed and predicted that "science" would soon spell the demise of religion, were wrong on both counts: science is not on their side and religion, especially Christianity, is rapidly expanding.
In Part II, D'Souza argues that Christianity is what has made the West free and prosperous. D'Souza writes that "Christianity is the very root and foundation of Western civilization. . . . Christianity is responsible for many of the values and institutions secular people cherish most." He also writes that "Nowhere has human aspiration reached so high or more deeply touched the heart and spirit than in the works of Christian art, architecture, literature, and music."
In Part III, D'Souza writes that Christianity is largely to be credited for the rise of science. He writes that "science as an organized, sustained enterprise arose only once in human history. And where did it arise? In Europe, in the civilization then called Christendom." "So where did Western man get this faith in a unified, ordered, and accessible universe? How did we go from chaos to cosmos? My answer, in a word, is Christianity."
In Part IV, D'Souza argues that design is apparent in nature, and that that conviction holds up to very thorough, detailed scientific enquiry. While it does not prove the existence of God or the truth of Christianity, it is certainly consistent with it whereas atheism is not. D'Souza writes that "Naturalism and materialism are not scientific conclusions; rather, they are scientific premises. They are not discovered in nature but imposed upon nature. In short, they are articles of faith."
In Part V the argument is made that sense perception and even the powers of reason have limitations. At least some philosophies and religions, and specifically Christianity, is open to things beyond the physical. Those who are not open to anything beyond the empirical get caught by their own principles. For example, Hume's principle of empirical verifiability is not, itself, empirically verifiable.
In Part VI, D'Souza argues that while it is true that great wrongs have been done in the name of Christianity, this has been the exception rather than the rule and it is always inconsistent with Christian teachings. He also points out that by far and away much greater wrongs have been done in the name of atheism.
In Part VII it is argued that man is inherently moral and those who think otherwise are frequently referred to as psychopaths. The philosophical study of the details of this phenomenon is frequently referred to as natural law. D'Souza suggests that "people's objections to Christianity seem to derive mainly from their resistance to Christian morality." He also suggests that "the existence of a universal, absolute morality is also a powerful argument for the existence of God." Nevertheless, our acquired concepts of morality can be very wrong, especially if guided by wrong philosophy or wrong religious beliefs. Often, a significant philosophical difficulty that Christians address is the problem of evil: reconciling an all-powerful, loving God with evil in the world. However, D'Souza puts an interesting twist on it by writing that it is at least equally a difficulty for atheists: if there is no God how can anything be evil? "Here we see the underlying horror of materialism: everything becomes dark and meaningless."
In Part VIII, D'Souza makes it personal and evangelical. He makes a direct appeal to the reader to believe in Jesus Christ.
While D'Souza does not cover certain topics that could also be used as an apologetic for the Christian faith, such as the historical accuracy of the Bible, the historicity of the resurrection, etc., what he does cover is quite broad, and in my opinion is well presented.
Very Good January 4, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller is a great book. I liked how Keller presented his evidence on the existence of a God. This book along with the Bible would be a good start for non-believers.
There is a beautiful new book about God and faith entitled "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message for Everyone," by John H. Eagan. I just finished it. It's really great and deals with God, the creator, Jesus' teachings, and His Passion. It brought me to tears. I think the readers of Keller's book will really enjoy The Enlightenment.
Proving Once and for All that Christianity is Intellectually Viable December 23, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
For over a century, Christians have been depicted as brainless, hate-filled peddlers of fairy tales. In this book, D'Souza destroys this archetype with authoritative force. There are several scholars out there who give Christianity the intellectual treatment, but many come off sounding pompous and arrogant. D'Souza is what I consider the perfect blend of intellectual and profound believer and this book was a tremendous resource for several episodes of my podcast, Christian With a Brain.
In one of their debates (I believe it is available to watch for free on Dinesh's site) D'Souza and Christopher Hitchens square off. At the beginning of the debate, Hitchens says something to the effect of: "I respect Dinesh because unlike many of the others I debate, he thoroughly believes what he is debating." At first I thought this was a snide remark. But after reading "What's So Great..." I actually understand Hitchens (I know, that's scary). But D'Souza's genuine faith seeps through every page of this book. You realize quickly that he is living what he is sharing.
The arguments in the book are clear and powerful. He takes some of the most difficult ideas in the God debate and communicates them effectively. If you are new to Christian apologetics, this is the book to buy first. Partly because it is so approachable, but also because he covers every major skirmish on the apolgetics battlefield. Clear, powerful arguments abound.
Finally, the most powerful aspect of this book is that it quotes secular and even atheistic sources far more than the Bible or any Christian sources. In other words, D'Souza makes his arguments work without the help of "in-house" experts. He uses the words of Dawkins, Dennett, Provine, Ruse, Hitchens, Harris and others against them. The awesome part is that he doesn't take them out of context. He simply pulls out their arguments and exposes them to the same level of skepticism they use to blind others. The results are impossible to dismiss.
Since the conversion of Paul, Christianity has withstood the intellectual, cultural, scientific and political onslaught. New Atheism has attempted to rehash old arguments and sell them as new. But authors like D'Souza are exposing the truth by not only reminding us of the powerful beauty of the Christian faith, but revealing the true face of atheism. Not by thumping on a Bible, but by using the very words of the atheists themselves to help weave the true story of Christianity.
 Unimpressive, doesn't live up to promises December 1, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I purchased this book because I was tantalized by its promise to be a rational argument for Christianity and a bold response to the arguments of New Atheism. Unfortunately, D'Souza never delivers.
Instead of strong arguments for Christianity and belief in God, this book delivers only chains of fallacious argument that evaporate under any kind of critical examination. D'Souza has a bad habit of beginning to construct an argument, but never finishing it. Instead, he makes leaps to unsupported conclusions, and delivers each weak assault with an undeserved smugness. Ceci n'est pas une bon mot, M. D'Souza.
Even as an affirmation of faith, this book fails, as one gets the distinct impression that D'Souza is much more interested in attacking New Atheism (which he does not successfully do) than in defending the modern Christian faith.
Overall, I regret my purchase; it's best checked out from your local library.
A First Rate Argument for the Christian Faith November 8, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book presents a sound argument for the truth of the Christian faith and also helps to define what that faith entails. I highly recommend it to all interested in understanding the rational basis for Christianity and faith.
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