A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original review appears below. Roma Bryant is a well-known reviewer in Channels, now living in Mississauga, Ontario.
Zacharias, Ravi, Can Man Live Without God, Word Publishing, 1994.
Can man live without God? Ravi Zacharias writes a brilliant and compelling apologetic defense of the Christian faith – the likes of which we haven’t seen since C.S. Lewis.
To attempt an in-depth review of this outstanding book is beyond my skill as a writer, so I shall give you a small overview in the hope of catching your interest, and urging you to read this book.
Ravi Zacharias has incredible insight into the philosophical mind, where the seeming effort to find peace and serenity is by way of studying human action and contact. Because of this insight Zacharias presents a powerful argument for the defense of Christian belief.
Perhaps no philosopher articulated a more forceful refutation of theism than Friedrich Nietzsche. His efforts failed. He had temporary success; having originally seen himself as a saviour he became a destroyer as his influence on Adolf Hitler gives vivid testament. His personal life ended in tragedy, insanity and complete failure.
Zacharias’ description of the teachings of Nietzsche, Sartre and his existentialism, New Age philosophy (a secular version of Sartre’s existentialism) leaves no doubt in the reader’s mind of what it is that the Christian is standing against. With all their efforts to persuade there has yet to be found a man-made utopia.
Appendix ‘A’ “Questions and Answers on Atheism and Theism” is powerful ammunition for the Christian. The intellectual minds challenged Zacharias with some very tough questions as he spoke at Harvard University. In return Zacharias gave some equally challenging answers. Answers that make short shrift of the questions. Are we challenged to that extent or are we content to be safe in our own little community? The day may come for each of us to “stand up and be counted.” Theism is not to be defended by an “I think…” or “I believe…”; it is to be defended by an informed mind.
Appendix ‘B’ “Mentors to the Skeptic” outlines the lives of Hume, Kant, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Russell, Sartre in revealing depth.
The final chapter, “The Believer’s Treasure,” ends with a thought-provoking quotation from G.K. Chesterton:
Our civilization has decided, and very justly decided, that determining the guilt or innocence of men is a thing too important to be trusted to trained men. If it wishes for light upon that awful matter, it asks men who know no more law than I know, but who can feel the things that I felt in the jury box. When it wants a library catalogued, or the solar system discovered, or any trifle of that kind it uses up its specialists. But when it wishes anything done which is really serious, it collects twelve of the ordinary men standing around. The same thing was done, if I remember right, by the Founder of Christianity.
Can man live without God? With a powerful defense and a refutation of the atheistic principles, Zacharias’ last remark stands. “You be the judge. The jury has already recorded its conclusions in the pages of the Bible.”