Disarming the Secular Gods: How to Talk So Skeptics Will Listen

by Peter C. Moore

Book Overview

Peter C. Moore balances the claims of Christianity against those of seven popular "isms": humanism, relativism, narcissism, agnosticism, pragmatism, hedonism, and New Age philosophy. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830812709
• ISBN13: 9780830812707
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A good analysis of Western culture

I may be biased since Peter Moore was rector of my church several years ago. Nonetheless, as I try to be objective, this book does an excellent job indicating the many "gods" that are worshipped today in our culture. While idolatry may not now include bowing down to hand wrought images, we still look to ourselves, New Age ideas, Narcisissm or other ideas that pervade out culture. Moore especiallly is good at indicating the "realtivist dilemma" that is such a strong aspect of culture today.I think that one of the best chapters that has struck me througout the years since I have read this book isa the one on pragmatism. People are likely generally unaware that we all too often think in short-term, "practical" terms without considering that such approaches may yet be wrong. This book is a challenge to Christians and non-Christians alike. It is particulary good for Christians to understand where Western thinking has come to and how we can speak to it.

An excellent defense

Instead of simply giving an answer (or alternative) to each of the modern philosophies, Moore instead considers the validity of each one and weighs the evidence accordingly.The book is more rightly titled "An Exposition of Modern Philosophy." His intention is to discredit popular philosophies, but not to discard them altogether. Instead he highlights to contributions of each, even if he finds them seriously lacking.His final chapter "The Christian's Answer" gives thinking Christians a decent mounting point from which to formulate a cohesive theology and philosophy that will guide their lives.