Finding Truth by Nancy Pearcey

Some claim Christian faith does not have an intellectual foundation. Pearcey puts that false notion to rest in this book.

Pearcey looks at what Paul wrote in Romans and notes that he contrasts Christianity with idols. People believe in God or a God replacement, an idol. She extracts five principles from Paul's writing and applies them to world-views.

Principle 1. Identify the idol. Everyone that reject God, she says, has one. She takes us through current thought, identifying the idols of materialism, rationalism, etc.

Principle 2. Identify the idol's reductionism. Belief in anything other than man being created by God in the image of God reduces the view of human life.

Principle 3. Test the idol: Does it contradict what we know about the world? Every idol-based world-view will fail this test.

Principle 4. Test the idol: Does the world-view contradict itself? Every one will collapse and Pearcey has done a great job in showing us how that happens when one takes a world-view to its logical conclusion.

Principle 5. Replace the idol. Make the case for Christianity as it is the world-view providing the better answers.

Pearcey wants Christians to develop critical thinking skills and use the above principles. “If you master the strategic principles in this book, they will equip you to identify and engage critically with the ideas that have shaped the Western world in every subject area.”

This is an excellent book. I was amazed at how Pearcey took on today's wide spread philosophies. She frequently showed how the philosophers “borrow” from Christianity, acting as if Christianity is true. The book helps us better understand history. It also shows how Christianity is the best at explaining humanity, the rational world, etc.

This is a great book to use with young people in families or youth group studies. There is an extensive study guide, about a quarter of the book. This book is a great resource for home school families and Christian schools.

It is a great book for Christians of all ages too. Within its pages are the critical evaluations of philosophies adults are confronted with by their friends and co-workers. With the extensive study guide, this book would make a very good selection for an adult study group.

Nancy Pearcey rejected Christianity as a teen, becoming an agnostic and skeptic. She read a great deal of philosophy. Later, during a visit to L'Abri, she was introduced to an approach to Christianity that addressed her questions. She had discovered apologetics. Pearcey is currently scholar in residence and professor at Houston Baptist University. She is also the editor-at-large of The Pearcey Report. You can find out more about her and her work at http://www.pearceyreport.com/.

David C Cook, 384 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.