This book is apologist Peter Kreeft's call to arms, culturally and spiritually. We in America (and all Western cultures) are in a war, a war with devastating effects and deadly consequences. Across the different spectrums (political, religious, ideological) there is broad consensus about the status of American and Western culture. While we don't always or often agree about the root causes of our problems, that major problems exist in our society is clearly evident.

But what is the war that we must join? Is it Christians versus non-Christians? Is it liberals versus conservatives? Is it atheists versus theists? Is it creationists versus evolutionists? Many think so, but Kreeft reminds us that this war, which is being fought on cultural and spiritual fronts, is really a war between the culture of life and the culture of death. And the enemies are, as Paul knew two thousand years ago, powers, principalities and rulers in the spiritual realms.

Knowing the nature of the battle is not enough, however, and Kreeft offers a simple, yet profound, battle plan. First, we must recognize that we are indeed at war and who the real enemy is (Satan). Then we must understand both Satan's battle plan and God's battle plan. Finally, we must engage the culture of death, which Satan both inspires and delights in, as true children of God (saints).

Will we win? Not by our own power, no. But we will win, for God's power is made perfect in our weakness. Kreeft reminds us that we can have confidence in the final victory of love and good. Why can we have this confidence? Because truth is ultimately stronger than falsehood, and light ultimately stronger than darkness. Because love is stronger by far than hate. Because Jesus truly is Lord and King, and His blood is the strongest force in the universe. And because love never gives up.

The battle lines have been drawn. Many Christians have fallen into the trap of proclaiming "Peace! Peace!" when there is no peace. Hiding their eyes from the pressing issues of the day, they believe that resistance to the prevailing culture is useless. At the same time, other Christians have been too quick to declare war, mistaking battlefield casualties as enemies rather than victims. In How to Win the Culture War Peter Kreeft issues a rousing call to arms. Christians must understand the true nature of the culture war--a war between the culture of life and the culture of death. Kreeft identifies the real enemies facing the church today and maps out key battlefields. He then issues a strategy for engagement and equips Christians with the weapons needed for a successful campaign. Above all, Kreeft assures us that the war can be won--in fact, it will be won. For those who hope in Christ, victory is assured, because good triumphs over evil and life conquers death. Love never gives up. Neither must we.

Peter J. Kreeft (Ph.D., Fordham University) is professor of philosophy at Boston College where he has taught since 1965. A popular lecturer, he has also taught at many other colleges, seminaries and educational institutions in the eastern United States. Kreeft has written more than fifty books, including and, with Ronald Tacelli,

We're at war and we don't even know it, claims Kreeft, a philosophy professor at Boston College and a popular Christian writer. He describes the state of modern society and calls Christians back to a more biblical view of the world, pointing to the reality of evil spiritual beings, the existence of sin and the importance of recognizing the results of cultural pressure. He also has a fascinating argument concerning the central role of sexuality in the current "culture wars." Unfortunately, many readers will be driven off by Kreeft's snide, caustic tone. For example, he describes those who embrace the New Age movement as people "who always seemed to be flighty, flaky and female, at least in spirit." Moreover, while Kreeft frequently refers very positively to ecumenism, his perspective is much more Roman Catholic than reflective of the wider Christian audience he seeks to reach. Many readers will not agree that, for example, contraception should be categorized together with "sodomy, fornication and prostitution" as "clear and obvious sins." Kreeft's venture into the "Screwtape" idiom of C.S. Lewis makes for very interesting reading, though here, again, the assumption that the Protestant Reformation was a particularly successful attack by Satan will jar many. Kreeft ends the book with a call to sainthood, exhorting Christians to genuinely live out the goodness made available to them by the grace of God, and a stirring affirmation that goodness will indeed triumph over evil. (June) Religion Notes June Books Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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