Socrates Meets Jesus: History's Greatest Questioner Confronts the Claims of Christ

by Peter Kreeft

Book Overview

Peter Kreeft imagines what would happen if Socrates woke up today and enrolled in divinity school. Kreeft's new introduction for this edition highlights the inspirations for the book and the key questions of truth and faith it addresses.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830823387
• ISBN13: 9780830823383
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: IVP
• Length: 182 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Another Great one by Kreeft

his is another in a series by Kreeft that has Socrates reappearing in a modern day setting to challenge people with what they believe or why the live the way they do. So, much like his other books The Best Things In Life and The Unaborted Socrates, the names of people and places in this book are a series of puns and jokes. In this book, Socrates wakes up from what he assumed was his suicide in the 'Broadener Library at Have It University', which is supposed to be a renowned hub of learning in 'Camp Rich, Massachusetts'. Sound familiar? It appears that he has been registered at the Have It Divinity School. The characters he interacts with are varied and interesting. The first student he meets is Bertha Broadmind, then Thomas Keptic, Professor Flatland who teaches 'Science and Religion'. Then Socrates encounters Professor Shift who teaches 'Comparative Religions'. Next Socrates encounters the claims of Christ in Professor Fesser's 'Christology' seminar. This is the purpose of the book - to have Socrates encounter the claims of Christ. The rest of the book takes place around these seminar classes. Kreeft has a very interesting book here, in that he tries to answer the question of what would happen if Socrates of Athens were to reappear today and interact with a modern university crowd. Socrates has not changed much from dying and reappearing somewhere and some time else. He is still the ultimate questioner and his questions will challenge what people believe and why they believe. The first time I read Kreeft's Socratic style, a book written directly as dialogue, I was not all that enthusiastic about it. But now that I have read a few books in this style, I really enjoy it. It makes the reading of philosophy very quick and painless. That, combined with Socrates method of asking questions, lets you read more serious philosophy in an easier-to-approach method. Kreeft is known as a great scholar who specializes in apologetics (the defense of the faith), also C.S. Lewis and Socrates. This book brings together two of those passions of his academic life and highlights them in a fun, uncomplicated way. Kreeft has a knack for taking very difficult topics and making them far more approachable. This is a great book to encounter the claims of Christ and the modern academic setting. Though a little kitschy with all the puns, that just makes it more fun and memorable. So pick up this book and join history's greatest questioner as he confronts and challenges the claims of Christ and the modern academic environment - especially in religious schools, colleges or seminaries. My recommendation would be to give it a try even if you just want to broaden your knowledge of Christianity or to learn how to ask the right questions to get the answers you are looking for. A great scholar, Dr. Peter Frick, once said, 'Life is not about knowing all the answers but about learning to ask the right questions.' This book will help you learn how to do that. Therefore, I can onl

A joy to read and muse

The last reviewer was right-on. Considering its intended audience, it hits a home-run. I read this book several times, starting in 1983 and bought it several times to give to people. It's #1 characteristic is its humor. You cannot help but smile or burst out laughing at "Socrates" reactions to various things, especially in light of his being transported to a "progressive, 20th century age". The theme/idea is marvelous, and its treatment genuinely intriguing. Of course I am a believer in Jesus Christ, but also studied Socrates from an atheistic English professor who introduced our class to the real Socrates in a fantastic way. Always lucid and sensitive. When this book was handed to me by a friend, I could tell, just by the concept of the book, that it had a more-than-likely chance of being fun to read. Well it was, and it is very thought provoking about what our world esteems as good. Even if you are dead set against books which you think attempt to trick you into meeting God, this book is a fun read. Very witty, too.

Couldn't put it down

I found this not only an intellectually rich book, but also well written and quite frankly, difficult to put down. Kreeft stays true to using Socratic Method as different heretics come across Socrates' path on a University campus. He ends up finding Christ through a reading of the Bible. Great book for believers and unbelievers.

Appropriately thought provoking...

Several reviewers have commented on the simplistic nature of the discussion within the book. However, I think that fails to recognize the intent of the book. Kreeft is not attempting a thorough, painstaking, philosophical examination of Christianity. He is not a New Testament scholar, and would scarcely even suggest such a thing. His purpose is to use Socrates as a vehicle for approaching some of the core concepts of Christianity, specifically those most frequently addressed in popular circles. Even among the topics most purely "philosophical", he is able to address them in only an introductory way. He succeeds admirably in revealing some of the absurd notions regarding Jesus that find such frequent mention today. He employs logic in a very clear, vivid way, using it as the tool that it is to test and examine these notions. The book seems intended to introduce and encourage one to consider the claims of Christianity ACCORDING TO THE PRIMARY TEXTUAL SOURCE, the bible. NOT hearsay, weekly news magazines, and Discovery Channel documentries. If Christianity is true, then we better wake up to it, and face the issues Jesus raises as though our lives depended on it. And maybe they do. Logic and common sense demand such an examination.

Truth seeker or beginning philosopher, this one's for you

Imagine! An author wants to use philosophy and logic to examine common underlying principles of modern culture. Instead of writing (another!) college-text available to and of interest to only college students and their professors, he finds a premise and style that will apeal to the scholars and the uninitiated alike. Kreeft brings Socrates to life on the modern-day campus of Harvard. Through Socrates, Kreeft questions and examines and identifies many of the often unnamed and unspoken assumptions of modern US culture. Kreeft's writing is clean and direct.