Francis A. Schaeffer

Have Christians compromised their stand on truth and morality until there is almost nothing they will speak out against? Has the evangelical church itself sold out to the world? In this explosive new book, Dr. Francis Schaeffer exposes the rise of compromise and accommodation, and the tragic consequences of this, within our society and within the evangelical church. A provocative and challenging book -- but one that is tempered by Dr. Schaeffer's deep commitment to Christ and love for the church. -- Back cover.

It happened so subtly that few people noticed at first. Little by little, morality and freedom started to crumble. It came first in government, in education, in the media -- and finally it began to shake our families and our own lives. Something fundamental has changed. Law and government no longer provide a foundation of justice and morality but have become the means of licensing moral perversions of all kinds. Education has become the enemy of religious truth and values. And the media have provided the means for propagating the change. In this explosive book, Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer shows why this has happened. First, he shows how we have failed to understand the problem -- to see that the whole foundation for society has shifted radically from its original Judeo-Christian basis to a humanistic basis. Second, Dr. Schaeffer calls for a massive movement -- in government, law and all of life -- to reestablish the Judeo-Christian foundation and turn the tide of moral decadence and loss of freedom. - Cover flap.

Whatever Happened to the Human Race? provides us with a foundation for understanding and action. We see not only the facts of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia, but also the ideas behind these life and death issues. Dr. Schaeffer and Dr. Koop illuminate for us the anti-God and anti-life attitudes that dominate our society today. In these pages we find the tools for action to change what is happening in America. We find the answers we need to restore the dignity and sanctity of every stage of life.

It is assumed in the film and the book that the past took place objectively and that our present is also not an illusion. It is also the position of the film and the book that just as individuals are responsible for their choices, notwithstanding hereditary and environmental influences, likewise society as a whole is responsible for the direction it takes. Dr. Schaeffer's master theme may be summarized in the form of a controlled experiment: (1) Take the history of the West since the time of the Romans. Consider what world view gave strength to the Christians of the Roman era. This strength rested on God's being an infinite personal God and on his speaking in the Old Testament, in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, and in the then-growing New Testament. (2) Examine the impact of this world view upon men's lives and hence upon the form and conduct of society as a whole. This involves a consideration of its survival and spread in the alien Roman world and the ups and downs of its treatment in the formally Christian West thereafter until early modern times. (3) Withdraw this world view (in other words, look at society in the past century or two when Christian influence has been fast waning) and see what changes take place in the life of the individual and society. Thus introduced to the overall structure of Dr. Schaeffer's theme, the job of the rest of this study guide is to take you through the detailed presentation, chapter by chapter. - Introduction.

Joshua walked onto the pages of history at a crucial moment. God had promised centuries earlier that Abraham's children would inhabit the land of Canaan. Subsequently, God had led Abraham's descendants out of Egypt with a mighty hand and had given them his law at Sinai. When Joshua assumed leadership, the people of God were standing on the east side of the Jordan River, ready to take the land. How did the people of God understand their relation to God? How did they conquer the promised land? What impact did they have on later generations? Dr. Schaefer expounds the book of Joshua, highlights its characters and events, points out how it links together the rest of Scripture and reveals the unchanging realities of God's ways with men. - Back cover.