Above the line there is absolutes (whether they are sufficiently justified). This line of despair normally moves in the following historical pattern: philosophy → art → music → general culture → theology (Schaeffer 16). Thesis: In giving up the hope of rationality, a rationality that is founded only in the revelation of God in Christ, man is plunged below the line of despair. It was Hegel who messed it up and introduced irrationality." Schaeffer fails that because he thinks "The Greeks were okay who got reason right. For all of Van Til's problems, Van Til knew if you were going to press the antithesis, you were going to press it in the right place. Schaeffer sees himself broadly within the tradition of Cornelius Van Til, but he is a watered down version of Van Til. There is no intellectual rigor whatsoever. Schaeffer fundamentally misrepresents every philosopher and group with whom he deals. Unfortunately, the devil is in the details. Schaeffer offers a stirring vision on how the loss of God affects every area of life. The book is quite exciting for the reader actually believes he will take these arguments and reclaim culture for Christ. From Schaeffer I moved to James Sire from Sire to Douglas Groothuis, and from Groothuis to Cornelius Van Til. I first read this book in 2002 and it was the primer that got me into apologetics and philosophy.
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