Escape From Reason

Man is dead. God is dead. Life has become meaningless existence, man a cog in a machine. The only way of escape lies in a nonrational fantasy world of experience, drugs, absurdity, pornography, an elusive "final experience," madness. . .

If this is the twentieth-century mentality, how did it come about? And how can the Christian faith be made meaningful today? In this highly original book Dr. Schaeffer traces the way in which art and philosophy have reflected the dualism in Western thinking introduced at the time of the Renaisance. Today this dualism is expressed in a despair of rationality and an escape into a nonrational world which alone offers hope. It is shown in literature, art and music, theatre and cinema, television and popular culture.
- Publisher.

Despite our obsession with the emotive and the experiential, we still face perennial existential problems anxiety, despair, purposelessness. How did we get here? And where do we finda remedy? In this modern classic, Francis A. Schaeffer traces trends in twentieth-century thought and unpacks how key ideas have shaped our society. Wide-ranging in his analysis, Schaeffer examines philosophy, science, art and popular culture to identify dualism, fragmentation and the decline of reason. Schaeffer's work takes on a newfound relevance today in his prescient anticipation of the contemporary postmodern ethos. His critique demonstrates Christianity's promise for a new century, one in as much need as ever of purpose and hope. Market/Audience Apologetics buffs CBA readers Students Features and Benefits A new edition of an IVP classic. Traces the modern trends of the despair of reason and the escape into madness. Demonstrates how literature, film, art and music reflect these trends. Offers a Christian response that provides meaning and purpose.
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Truth used to be based on reason. No more. What wefeelis now the truest source of reality. Despite our obsession with the emotive and the experiential, we still face anxiety, despair, and purposelessness.How did we get here? And where do we find a remedy?In this modern classic, Francis A. Schaeffer traces trends in twentieth-century thought and unpacks how key ideas have shaped our society. Wide-ranging in his analysis, Schaeffer examines philosophy, science, art and popular culture to identify dualism, fragmentation and the decline of reason.Schaeffer's work takes on a newfound relevance today in his prescient anticipation of the contemporary postmodern ethos. His critique demonstrates Christianity's promise for a new century, one in as much need as ever of purpose and hope.
-Publisher