Idols for Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American Culture

by Herbert Schlossberg

The power of your worldview lies in the fact that it is hidden. It is a collection of your underlying beliefs and assumptions which color all of your thinking, yet is rarely examined openly. Idols for Destruction is a challenging read, but well worth the effort for those who would like to gain a fresh perspective on the worldviews that they have unconciously adopted. The author writes from a Christian perspective, and most people will probably not agree with all of his ideas, but he systematically goes through most of the 20th century influences on Western thought and compares them with a traditional Judeo-Christian world view. He does an excellent job in drawing out the implications of the various philosophical systems and providing examples of how they are manifest in modern culture. The most useful things I have gained from this book are first, a review of most of the philosophies which have shaped this century and a heightened awareness of what worldview is implicitly expressed by various thinkers and writers. This helps me to be a more critical thinker and to analyze people's arguments better. The second thing I have gained is the realization that there are other options then whatever worldview happens to be the most popular today. This has opened up whole new areas of thought and allowed me to understand a much broader range of ideas by people who have differing worldviews. This book is very well documented. It helps if you have had a college course on Philosophy or have a quick reference book to help you to understand all of his references to philosophical and moral systems. It is not casual reading, and it will force you to do some hard thinking, but it is well worth the effort.  -- Anonymous review from Amazon.com

Endorsements:

"The bookshelf next to my desk holds Christian classics and books I refer to often. Idols sits on that shelf, for Herb's lucid critique has been an invaluable reference for my own writings. It helps believers to understand the ideologies that undergird secular culture, and how they dramatically--and dangerously--differ from the Judeo-Christian view based on adherence to absolute truth." -- Charles Colson, Prison Fellowship

"Well-written and highly readable... discerning and critical analysis of our times; a stimulating contribution." -- Carl F. H. Henry

"This book has become a vade mecum for thousands of Christians who understand the cultural disaster of our time and are determined to do something about it." -- Richard John Neuhaus, Editor-in-chief, First Things

"Now that Francis Schaeffer is no longer with us, Schlossberg is just about the most provocative Christian thinker around." -- Harold O. J. Brown, Professor of Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"Years before anyone talked about an American 'culture war,' Herb Schlossberg penned an acute description of the crisis of virtue that is the domestic issue of the 1990s. His diagnosis remains essential reading for everyone who believes that self-governing republic requires self-governing and morally serious citizens." -- George Weigel, President, Ethics and Public Policy Center

"Thorough, provocative and especially penetrating. If you want to think Christianly about culture Idols for Destruction is must reading!" -- John H. White, President, Geneva College

Paperback; 344 pages