This weighty work, steeped in philosophical language and argument, won’t be for everyone, but it does provide substantial...
A manifesto regarding the sovereign power of God, written for a secularized world.
Vass (A Reformed View of the Sovereignty of God in a Postmodern World, 2012, etc.) offers a well-researched, erudite study of postmodernism and its relationship to traditional Christian views of God. Roughly the first half of his work is dedicated to exploring the topics of modernism and modernity, postmodernism and “postmodernity” (which “suggests that we cannot be certain that there is any objective truth to be discovered”), and even post-secularism. This is no small task, and it involves introducing readers to the ideas of a wide range of thinkers, from philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche to theologian Rudolf Bultmann. It’s in the second half, however, that Vass moves from a pedagogical stance to a hermeneutical one as he discusses the sovereignty of God. The author’s goal is to emphasize God’s complete power and control over all creation. Vass argues against widespread views on free will, stating that God controls everything: “In His sovereignty God decrees all things, even all sins.” He also notes that “There is no freedom until the Spirit of God creates it.” But while he blames postmodernism for many views that he finds to be unbiblical, many of them seem to simply stem from the ideas of the 16th- and 17th-century Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius. For instance, at one point, Vass forthrightly states that “God does not love everyone” and goes on to explain that God saves those he does love and doesn’t provide salvation for those he hates. Although he asserts that the God-loves-all philosophy stems from cultural relativism, it may instead have deeper roots in non-Calvinist Christian sects. These aspects aside, the author does provide a powerful statement of belief in God’s ultimate sovereignty, daring postmodernists to provide a reasonable retort beyond simple unbelief. After so much development, however, it would have been nice if the two halves of Vass’ work were better integrated.
This weighty work, steeped in philosophical language and argument, won’t be for everyone, but it does provide substantial food for thought.Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5127-9729-9
Page Count: 239
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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