Peter Kreeft is a respected philosophy professor at Boston College. He has written many influential books, and is in many ways a Catholic version of C.S. Lewis. That is, he is an indefatigable apologist for the Christian faith in an increasingly hostile and secular environment.

In his newest book, Kreeft engages in a forceful, almost emotional, assault on the cultural decline everywhere apparent in the West. In many ways this is a more popular and polemic approach than is found in his previous books, However, given the urgency and importance of the matter, he may be right to use such an approach.

He wastes no time in laying out his brief. We are at war, he argues, The soul of the West is being fought over, and it doesn't look good for our side. But knowing that we are at war is the first prerequisite for winning it. As such, we need to enter into a wartime consciousness, and get our priorities right. We need to give up our trivial pursuits and get involved in this life or death struggle.

Of course Kreeft realises that this is not just a battle against flesh and blood (or governments and cultures). It is ultimately a spiritual battle, and the most effective weapon is saints - believers who have decided to represent Christ fully in a dark and ungodly age. And saints always go into the "moral ghettos", be they Moses or Christ. "Saints are society's white corpuscles, society's saviors" he says. "If nobody wants to crucify you, you're not doing your job. Or else your job isn't his work."

Thus the fight is ultimately about which will prevail: secularism or faith. Kreeft argues that secularism is a doomed philosophy, and that no secular society has survived for more than 72 years (the former USSR being our best test case to date). Indeed, Western societies seem to have contracted "moral AIDS". We are self-destructing quickly, and the only hope is to reclaim a spiritual and moral vision for the West.

While the battle is ultimately spiritual, it does manifest itself in society and culture. And secular ideas and values are penetrating the West with horrific results. Cultural and intellectual poison is steadily destroying our culture. As Kreeft remarks, the most powerful forces in the West today are not church and state but Hollywood and Harvard. Popular culture and academia have been setting the agenda, while the faithful have been marginalised.

But it is time to reclaim lost territory, argues Kreeft. And forget about those who argue we are just trying to turn back the clock: "You can turn a clock back, both literally and figuratively. And you'd better, if the clock is keeping bad time."

We need to re-proclaim values and absolutes in a society that despises both. And we need to go even further, and reclaim conscience. Relativism, the new tolerance, the sexual revolution, and moral apathy have all combined to kill conscience.

And this can only lead to worse consequences. As Charles Colson has shown, the only two means we have to prevent community from sliding into chaos are cops and conscience. And when conscience is destroyed, that leaves only cops to stem the tide. A police state becomes the inevitable outcome. Thus our moral relativism is leading us in a dangerous direction.

Many defenders of democracy have noted this tension. For a democracy to work properly, a strong moral populace is needed. Yet a democracy tends to produce moral permissiveness, undermining its very foundations. Thus less conscience results in more cops, leading to the end of democracy.

This is the dilemma or paradox of democracy. And history offers us many examples of how this works out in a society. The longest-lasting societies have been the most moralistic, be they Jewish, Confucian, Islamic or Roman. Our recent secular societies however appear to be rather short-lived, whether fascist or Marxist.

The sexual revolution is perhaps the most important component of cultural decline. Kreeft argues that we cannot win the culture war unless we win the sex war, because "sex is the effective religion of our culture". This includes the whole array of battle fronts: pornography, homosexuality, easy divorce and abortion.

And to the extent that the church has also compromised in these areas, the culture war will be even more difficult to fight. Yet fight we must. We are called, not to live an easy life, but to take up our cross and follow our Master. The battle can be won, but only if we take our calling seriously and get involved. This book is a timely reminder to do just that.

Every Christian in America and Europe has to read this book. The Culture War in which we are engaged must be won and it can not be won if we do not know who the enemy is and how we can beat that enemy. Some of what Dr. Kreeft has to say is difficult to accept; it is the truth.

This is the 16th book I have read by Peter Kreeft. It is another solid book filled with wisdom and much common sense. The author goes into why he believes we are a culture that is in trouble, and What is the most important battle. He then tells us what we must do to change the world. It is a short book and easy to read, but it is has an important message.

I think Peter Kreeft is a great thinker and writer. But be forewarned. If you are a person looking to begin a prayer life or you are a person looking to bring more meaning to your prayer life, I WOULD NOT suggest this book. At the beginning the book reaches out and grabs you with its potential. But as time goes by may become mired in lots of philosophical "if then" statements.

My thinking is that most people buying this book want some help. They are looking for a "how to" book and this is not that book. A better book might be Prayer Primer by Fr. Thomas Dubay.

I'm sure there are some that will get much out of this, but if you are a beginner to both prayer and a Christian life, you will find this book a problem.

Kreeft is straight-forward and direct. His thinking and writing are clear. This is book is immensely practical. It is small enough to be completed in a short time and deep enough to warrant re-reading whenever the beginning pray-er needs a boost.

Kreeft's point is that we must begin to pray. Kreeft first motivates. Then he offers an intelligent summary of the major forms of prayer and the progression from rote to contemplative prayer.

Kreeft speaks directly to the reader - to me - when he asks if I really want to pray, or if, by reading a book on prayer, I have deluded myself into thinking that I am doing it. What a challenge! What clarity of purpose!

Awe inspiring in simple prose and stating simple facts. The book gives a rational explanation of why we must suffer. The message is simple but difficult-love God above all else as Mary loved and obeyed God. Jesus Christ was and is our living example. The book brillantly explains the seeming contradiction of being humble and ambitious. One of the most important books I have ever read. A powerful book.

I just finished reading this book and it has helped me tremendously. I now know which direction to go in regards to Lewis' works. I'm not quite ready for "Mere Christianity", "The Four Loves", or even "Suprised by Joy." I know that based on the excerpts I read from this great book. I will now read "The Pilgrim's Regress" It should be good. I reccomend this book for anyone wanting to know more about Lewis and his works. Peter Kreeft does a fine job.

You can find a primer much better than this. Lewis may well be the most influential Christian of this century, and deservedly so. His writings should be read by all Christians. No one has better given Christians a real sense of how the present (the shadows) and eternity (the real thing) interrelate.

I never thought the day would come when I gave a Peter Kreeft book a poor grade. But the day has come.

This book is written in the style of the classic "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis. I don't fault Kreeft for falling short of the brilliance of Lewis, for almost any author is going to miss so high a mark. But I do fault Kreeft for failing to tell a consistent story over the course of this book. In "The Screwtape Letters" Lewis shows you the life of a young man (from the perspective of his tempters) from the time he becomes a Christian, all the way through to his death. We see him while he is a baby in his faith. We see him fall into sin, and then repent. We see him struggle in World War II and then follow him to his death. Finally we get to see a glimpse of him as he rises into Glory. We can see in this young man our own lives, our own struggles and our own temptations. And we can hope for his reward.

"The Snakebite Letters" fails utterly to imitate this style. The man in this book has just converted to Christianity. Then, out of nowhere, he's sleeping with some girl we never even heard of. Then, just as suddenly, she's having an abortion. Then we never hear about her again! Then there's several chapters about him attending classes at a liberal Catholic university. Then the book just ends. What a disappointment! The chapters don't flow at all. It is as if each chapter was written independently and then hobbled together into a book.

Peter Kreeft is one of my favorite authors. I get the feeling that either he didn't spend much time on this book, or that it was heavily edited by someone else. It's a pity. Kreeft is one of the few authors that could pull off a legitimate update of "The Screwtape Letters." But he missed with this one...

This is a fabulous read. I could not put the book down until I knew just how the advice from one of the devil's hench-men to an underling would turn out. Kreeft is witty, out-right funny and deadly serious all at the same time. I was simultaneously laughing out loud and horrified to recognize my own behavior. How does an author make that possible? How could I not have known about this book earlier? The book is also full of truth and moral lessons, helpful in any age, but particularly difficult to find in the modern world and impossible to find in such an enjoyable manner.

A second set of diabolical dialog between a senior tempter (Snakebite) and his young protege (Braintwister) in the style of the Screwtape Letters of C.S. Lewis. He captures the tone and insight of the original masterpiece, giving short chapters of very funny and often uncomfortable insight into how easily we can find our best intentions twisted to serve evil ends, while still feeling "pious" and "spiritual."

This book more focuses on the institutional strategies - how the church can have its ends twisted, and still profess faithfulness. Such things as bad translations of scripture, bad and vapid worship music, emphasizing half of a truth and missing the whole, and so on. His chapters on the homosexualizing of the Catholic clergy, written 10 years ago, are worth reading in light of today's problems.

Much recommended.

The occasional good or interesting idea manages to escape from a confused sea of mannered verbiage. This is the written essence of talk radio. The writer seems more intent on giving paternalistic viewpoints in annoyingly cute expressions than explaining. A poor choice for an intelligent person. Rather than look at ideas, set them down, weigh them, and discuss methodically, this book rants. Would make good bird-cage flooring, however, and may be commended for that. The subject matter of the book is of great concern; the treatment, however, is for the mass consumption of the fear prone. I want my money back. The book should be called Kreeft for the Third Millenium, but then, who would buy it.

Just read the preface to the book and you'll be hooked!

Kreeft does a wonderful job of elaboration upon Lewis' ideas of the process of "abolishing" humanity. The central question to Lewis's book is: can we cease to be human by loosing our moral sense? Kreeft's central question is: how does Lewis's writings and thought apply to us in the Third Millenium?

His most haunting chapter is Chapter Four: "Can Natural Law ever be Abolished from the Heart of Man?" He discusses weather or not we can ever lose our moral sense, our conscience. This is an urgent dicussion, when you look at the souless children killing children in the school shootings. We seem to be raising up a generation of moral zombies who are acting like Hannibal Lecter eating each other up.

The Founding Fathers well recognized the necessity of moral law, and that structure in government can only go so far (see Federalist Papers 10 and 51). there needs to be an undergirding morality upon which our government, and every government rests. If not, somthing worse than the dark ages will occur.

(Question: What is the difference between someone without a moral sense, and someone who ignores it? I can't see any difference.)

Kreeft's voice is a voice of warning. But will we listen? And will we care?

Prof. Peter Kreeft of Boston College and author of several books such as "Making Sense Out of Suffereing" and has written a reflective writing on C.S. Lewis' "The Abolition of Man" and its prophetic role in today's civilization.

Dr. Kreeft has done a great job in making Lewis' work understandable and demonstrates how much foresight Lewis actually had in regards to the problems facing western society. Further, Kreeft expands this thought and details the modern trends of thought without overburdening the reader with "academic" jargon.

The chapters "Darkness At Noon" and "Can Natural Law Be Abolished" are the works strongests arguments for Kreeft's position, which if you want to know what that is, then buy this book. The book is cheap and is an easy read. Kreeft's wit also makes this little book likable and fun.

Fantastic book, a tough read for those unwilling to give truth a chance; like a good philosopher, Dr. Kreeft makes you think. This book will challenge your relativism and help you see that absolutes are not a thing of the past! Great read if your willing to take an honest look at your moral disposition. Perhaps it will change you, perhaps it will not. Reward yourself, approach this book with an open mind. Don't pay attention to the critic who wrote the review: "One-sided and poorly written". Read the book and decide for yourself. This person reminds me of Plato's cave- once confronted by light all he can do is recoil from it. Don't simply claim that the book is one-sided and poorly written, prove it, refute the ideas in the work. It is very easy to dismiss, but not so to refute! If your looking for an author that will challenge you with ideas in a clear, brilliant, and easy to read style, Dr. Kreeft is for you. His style embodies the phrase: "If you can't say it simply, then you don't know it"- Dr. Kreeft knows his stuff! He introduces very complex ideas in simple terms- how many philosophers do you know who do that!

One of the best modern Catholic authors writes another great book. Kreeft's style is unique to most reader's not introduced to the Socratic method of dialogue. In easier to understand language, it means that the book is written more like a play than prose. Kreeft has two main characters, a Muslim absolutist and a liberal African American woman. The two debate, discuss and dialogue about all aspects of morality. Kreeft, as usual, is easy to read and yet remains challenging in his intellectual mastery of the subject. Kreeft makes difficult ideas seem easy and absolutely destroys every single argument in support of relativism used today.

If you want to understand how modern man thinks and why he is so wrong in his thought-process, then this book is perfect.

Peter Kreeft manages a very solid refutation of moral relativism, covering virtually all possible angles. The diologue format is very easy to read (and re-read) and the arguments are not so complicated as to confuse the reader. If you are a believer in objective morality, and you desire logical arguments to back up your beliefs, this is the book for you.

You'd be better advised to spend your time with these three lovely Bible books than with Kreeft's superficial work on them. I tend generally to agree with Kreeft on theological and cultural issues, but there's a slapdash quality to his books that can get on one's nerves. Kreeft tends to force the text he's expounding to say what he's determined it's darned well going to say. For example, I don't buy Kreeft's idea that Ecclesiastes tells us what life is like without God.

Haven't read this book in four years (gave my copy to my cousin in the northern wilderness), but if memory serves, Kreeft's exegesis of these three Old Testament books was well thought out, occasionally colloquial, scholarly but not impenetrable, inspiring, apt, delightful.

The readers who prefer the actual Biblical books being discussed to Kreeft's essays about those books are, of course, right in their preference -- but it should be added that, for this reader at least, Kreeft's "Philosophies" inspired us to take long, deep, reverent looks at the texts in question. Which we might not have done otherwise.

We are perhaps entitled to disagree with a few of his notions, or argue that emphasis has been misplaced here or there -- but the reader who would not benefit in some way from Kreeft's engaging study is, I would venture to say, in a very small minority.

We remember liking best the explication of the Song of Songs. The reader who is not stirred spi!ritually and intellectually by this part of the book, we believe, asymptotically approaches the inanimate.

Have begun to read a fairly recent book by Dr Kreeft, his "Prayer for Beginners," also published by Ignatius Press. Do we exaggerate if we call Dr Kreeft a lay counterpart to the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen, an engaging lecturer-writer of unquestioned intellect and of companionable accessibility?

This is a fantastic book, but I'm afraid the title turns off many potential readers. In the book, the author Peter Kreeft indicates that the title, "The Three Philosophies of Life," was not his idea, but rather his publisher's, and that he had other ideas for the title. This book is more in the vein of practical and inspiring wisdom literature along the lines of Seneca, Epictetus, Epicurus, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, and Le Petit Prince, etc., than it is standard philosophy along the lines of Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Kant, Hegel, Heidegger, Sartre, etc. Maybe someday the publisher will reissue this book with a better title. In the meantime, check it out. This book is about life itself, in all of its depths and riches, heights and hardships. The author is a Catholic Christian, and the book deals with three books of the Hebrew Bible ("Old Testament"), yet the book is not preachy at all; I believe readers of any religion or no religion will find this book enjoyable and helpful. This book has a great deal in common with the Mitch Albom's bestseller "Tuesdays With Morrie." Check it out!

This is a wonderful little book giving a brief overview of a number of worldviews - skepticism, cynicism, nihilism, materialism, relativism, atheism, pantheism, judaism, and Christianity - seeking to show Christianity as the True worldview. The literary technique the author uses to achieve his goal is the allegory, much like John Bunyan or C.S. Lewis before him. It is a fairly quick, easy and enjoyable read. However, it is not a deep, wordy philospohical text - in fact, that is what makes the book so enjoyable and useful. Sure, there are books out there that deal with comparing and contrasting worldviews in much more detail, but those are not widely accessible to indivuduals who are just begining their journey seeking the truth. This book is a great roadmap to begin such a journey. I recomend it to one about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. It makes a great gift, especially to recent graduates.

This is a book you can give to anyone who is begining to wrestle the claims of Christianity. A wonderful, non-threatening read that is enjoyable to pick up and read as a novel. Written in the same vain as a C.S. LEwis or Tjolkien. Enjoyed thoroughly.

As I sat down on to this book on a cool, crisp, winter friday night, and began reading the journey, I began my own personal journey. This 128 page book went by so fast I think my tea didn't even have time to cool down.

Kreeft's writing style is superb. His vast amount of knowledge on the subject is written for the scholar and the layman to enjoy. In this day and age, there is a lack of philosophers who are also good communicators. Dr. Kreeft happens to be one of them. This work is a prime example of how the Christian mind can so skillfully weave allegory, imagination, and deep concepts all together into an engaging story.

The Journey is crafted after Dante's work, which is crafted after Virgil's work. Kreeft is the journeyman, and Socrates is the guide. Kreeft, being the expert in Socratic method that he is, takes a trip down 'history of philosophy' lane, constantly questioning us and forcing us to question our own preconceptions. Using wit, creativity, and logic, the reader is drawn into the debate that the traveler engages in along the road, which inevitably leads to Jesus of Nazareth. C.S. Lewis even shows up in this book. This 'spiritual roadmap for modern pilgrims' seems to have it all.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks truth. Skeptic beware! This may help show you what lies at the end of the rainbow. This fellow pilgrim loved the book.

If you want to know what the Catholic Church has traditionally taught on Heaven, avoid this book. Some of the propositions you'll meet in this unusual work are: "heaven and hell are really in the same place" and a chapter called "sex in heaven." As for the one proposition, I recently read a short work by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri on Hell which expressly states that the idea that Hell and Heaven are in the same place (simply different treatments for the occupants) is a condemned heresy. Also Kreeft either denies or comes close to denying the corporal punishment of Hell. This view is also condemned by Church Fathers, starting with St. Augustine. As for "sex in heaven," don't we get enough of it here on earth? Is this is some sort of New Age concept. What is most infuriating, perhaps, is that Ignatius Press, with the reputation of doctrinal integrity, publishes this. Does it even have an imprimatur?

The title of the book might make some people think it's going to be a very basic, light treatment of the subject. Not so. Peter Kreeft is an outstanding biblical scholar and theologian who provides ample references to biblical passages, writings of philosophers and Church fathers, and alternate views from other religions. Kreeft did as good a job with this as anyone I've ever read. He presents extremely logical and biblical arguments for the Church's teachings on the afterlife. He also offers very thought-provoking ideas about the nature of a soul and of Heaven and Hell. The question and answer parts are very satisfying--issues are examines with great depth. I especially enjoyed his treatment of time itself...what is the meaning of "eternity" and how is it experienced? I found it easy to accept all the author's conclusions, and the book's message was uplifting on top of being informative. In short, here you have it all--a scholarly look at the subject and a message of hope and joy. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who has pondered our eternal future!

I read this book years ago. I found it very interesting that the author raises questions about Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory that I hadn't previously considered. It can be easy to think of Heaven as simply "a wonderful place" and Hell as simply "a terrible place". While it is true that many things he says are opinions rather than Catholic Church teaching (I am Catholic), nevertheless, the book is excellent for raising up one's thoughts about the afterlife. Also, I respectfully disagree with another reviewer who accuses this author of heresy; I believe that this involved a misunderstanding. I am confident that, understood properly, the book contains no heresies. I recommend this book for raising one's thoughts about the afterlife.

It's impossible for this author to write about and understand something he's never been through.

The argueements presented in this book are less than valid and the writing it self is weak. I gave this book away to a pro-life friend of mine, and told her that she may like it (cause I certainly didn't). She later came to me and said, "You know, just because I am Pro-life does not mean I will automatically like everything written by a pro-lifer."

This is not the first book the well-known and prolific American philosopher has written on the subject of abortion. In 1983 he wrote The Unaborted Socrates: A Dramatic Debate on the Issues Surrounding Abortion (Inter-varsity Press). Indeed, abortion featured partially in other works, such as A Refutation of Moral Relativism: Interviews With an Absolutist (Ignatius Press, 1999).

But as Kreeft says, abortion continues to be "the most divisive public issue of our time". Thus another look at the subject is in order.

This volume, as the title indicates, is divided into three main sections. The first offers a philosophical argument against abortion. The second affirms pro-lifers as to why the debate is important and why they must continue in the battle. The third deals with objections from the pro-abortion side.

Part one of this book makes the philosophical case against abortion. Philosophical argumentation can be quite technical and convoluted, involving multiple steps, seeking the validity of an argument or the soundness of a premise. And Kreeft is a philosopher. But most people are not. Thus it is the task of Kreeft to take relatively complex concepts in logic and philosophy and make them understandable to the common reader. This he does quite well.

Generally any philosophical argument takes some amount of time to elaborate. Kreeft's 15 points take some 30 pages to unfold. But the are easy to understand and flow easily one to the other. Professional philosophers may demure, saying the argument is too simplistic, makes too many assumptions, or is not carefully nuanced enough. Possibly, yes. But Kreeft does seek to cover all the bases, and he deliberately has chosen not to go down the technical path.

The fifteen steps perhaps can be boiled down to several propositions:
-human rights are based on the condition of human reality (the nature of who we are)
-morality is based on higher law, or metaphysics
-metaphysics, not might, should determine morality
-morality (rights) should extend to all persons, not just some
-if we are unsure if the unborn are persons, then we should not abort them

If that does not seem like much of an argument, read the 30 pages and see how he carefully weaves his case together.

Part two of the book is meant to rally the troops to not give up on this vital issue. It makes clear why the debate is so important, and how it in many ways impacts of so many other crucial issues. Many areas, such as family, society, sexuality, human meaning and purpose, and even human survival, are impacted by the way we think about, and legislate on, abortion. If we give up on defending the rights of the unborn, we have given way a huge amount of moral ground. To surrender here opens up all kinds of other abuses of human rights.

Part three of the book takes on many of the common objections raised by the pro-abortion camp. It comes in the form of a dialogue between Kreeft and an opponent, a format Kreeft has successfully used in many of his earlier books. Engaging, witty and intellectually cogent, the argument made provides much useful information to the pro-life side.

The overall effect of these three sections is a strongly and tightly argued case for the protection of unborn life, and a refutation of many of the pro-abortion positions. While the book is written for people in both camps, one assumes it will mainly be read by like-minded thinkers. However, those on the other side who want to approach the issue with an open mind will find much to think about here, and perhaps even a few may find themselves changing their minds.

Kreeft believes that ideas really are powerful things and he certainly proves it in this book. By using logic and with a firm grasp on language Kreeft molds an argument stronger than most others against abortion. In fact, he is still waiting for someone to refute his "apple" argument.

If you want to find the logical basis of opposition to abortion, then you will find none better than within these pages. Kreeft is a masterful apologist and proves without a doubt that abortion is the greatest evil mankind has ever thrust upon itself...so far.