“Post-Christian”: the Foundation of Popular Opinion

Warning: Although this is a book review, I’m also presenting some controversial ideas in the article. I want to ask you to do me a few favors. First, realize that I’m coming from a place of love. I believe you are a valuable person, made in the image of God, whether you agree with me or not. Second, please don’t close the tab before you’re finished. Before you comment, read it all. Please hear me out, and know that I will do the same for all of you. Third, I would love to hear your opinion. I love open discussion and disagreement, just not hate. Please be kind and civil. Thank you friends! Read on!

Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my view. This is my HONEST opinion.

Politics are more polarized, opinions more extreme. Outrageous views are popular and logical fallacies are the norm. Our world is chaotic right now, and I’ve been having a hard time understanding it.

It’s hard to understand why mainstream media supports the abortions of thousands of black babies while saying that they believe black lives are valuable. It’s hard to understand why schools are exposing children to dangerous ideas and discouraging trust in their own parents. It’s hard to understand why celebrities are telling us we can be whoever we want, whether it hurts us or not.

It’s hard to understand arguments built on a different foundation.

Marxist ideas are becoming more popular through the Black Lives Matter organization and constructivist ideas are hiding beneath the LGBTQ+ movement. Know what any of that means? I didn’t either a few months ago.

What is a Worldview?

Gene Edward Veith Jr. recently wrote Post-Christian to show the foundational beliefs behind the division going on in our world today. Everyone sees the world through a different lens, and that lens (or worldview) changes their actions.

For example, you probably know Hitler exterminated the Jews. If you go deeper, though, you’ll see that one of his foundational beliefs was that some humans are more valuable than others and that the less valuable ones should be destroyed. Further, he believed it is up to us to construct the reality we most desire. His worldview motivated him to act. He was trying to build what he saw as a “superior” race.

We each have a worldview that changes the way we live, whether we realize it or not.

Overview

Post-Christian is a thoroughly researched guide to the mainstream worldview today: the post-Christian worldview.

“(It is) what we are left with when we try to abandon the Christian worldview.”

The book covers the history behind it, the outworking of it, and what the author believes is coming next.

What I Didn’t Like (but why it didn’t ruin the book)

The beginning of the book covers the history of the post-Christian worldview and the philosophers who popularized the ideas that led up to it including Marx, Kant, and many others.

This section was difficult to get through due to an advanced vocabulary and long list of names. After reading the introduction I honestly dreaded reading the rest of the book. I thought it would be complicated throughout. Fortunately, the author breaks down complicated ideas in the rest of the book using examples and application points. Even though the book was well-written, it covered concepts that could be a bit over my head, so reading it sometimes felt like a chore.

But that’s how hard things generally go. If I could go back, I would totally read it again. Reading about advanced ideas and worldviews changed the way I listen to secular opinions. Post-Christian helped me better understand the world around me and showed me how to discern unfamiliar opinions from a Christian worldview.

I do not recommend this book to anyone younger than 14 or 15 as the sections on the sexual revolution, abortion, and other similar topics are advanced and unfiltered. The book is intended for a mature audience.

What I Liked

Post-Christian is thoroughly researched and covers all angles of the post-Christian worldview: the rejection of religion and the rise of nones (people who are “spiritual” but don’t consider themselves a part of a certain religion), the sexual revolution and how birth control wrecked families, the underlying belief that we are not a part of this earth but only ruin it, and many others. It is extremely applicable to everyday life and has helped me to discern the media, politics, and various articles and books. It also helped me to settle what I believe (and what I don’t believe) and why.

I talked to my mom about Post-Christian for hours, excited at how I could see this worldview everywhere. Once I knew where people were coming from, I could approach discussions with them in a more understanding way.

It is definitely a book for hard thinkers, but don’t be intimidated by the depth of it! If I can read it, you can too! Instead of leaving the hard books to the adults, approach it using a few strategies.

Tips for the Younger Audience

If you are a young teen like me, I would recommend having a parent reading through some of the difficult sections before you read it.

To help digest some of the advanced concepts, I recommend having someone to discuss the book with. It is also helpful to read Post-Christian in small sections and to keep a notepad and dictionary nearby. I read Post-Christian on a Kindle Paperwhite and was very thankful for the built-in dictionary.

Conclusion

Post-Christian is a must-read book for Christians today. And I’m not saying that because this is a sponsored post. I have greatly benefited from Vieth’s insight and will carry what I’ve learned from his book into my life. I find myself referencing Post-Christian at least on a weekly basis, and truly appreciate Dr. Veith for writing it!