Brimming with cultural analysis, historical perspective, and bold clarity, Kevin Swanson offers a refreshingly God-centered critique of the fall of Western civilization in his new book, Apostate.
The book touches on a number of themes, but centers around sixteen specific “apostates” who—though raised in Christian homes and environments—abandoned the faith for an anti-Christian worldview. Sadly, all of these men would cause disastrous consequences because of their ideas. Some of these men include: John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche, John Dewey, William Shakespeare, and Mark Twain.
What began in the realm of “ideas” soon translated into the sphere of education and books and then to mass media (music, entertainment, internet, etc.). At the heart of this rejection of the historically Christian West was secular humanism, where man replaces God as the measure of all things. Man does what is right in his own eyes and sets the new normal of “morality” according to his latest whim.
Swanson—a homeschool father, pastor, and radio-show host—doesn’t miss the ample opportunities to decry the influence and role of secular government education in the West’s demise. Imagine the impact of anti-Christian, evolutionary-applauding, and sin-supporting education for millions and millions of malleable minds since the 1960s. Are we surprised, then, by the recent and fast-paced fall of the Christian West?
My initial feeling while reading was fear, hopelessness, and a disheartening angst. However, Swanson provides pastoral balm in the promises of our sovereign God. Interestingly, too, he prophetically speaks to the result of current cultural trends as they play out over the next 20 or so years.
The only two negatives I have about the book are that (1) Swanson seems redundant at times, even using the same phrases, and (2) the book has several typographical errors scattered throughout. Be that as it may, Apostate is an eye opening, insightful, and worthwhile read, especially if you are concerned about the state of Western civilization and wondering, “How did we get here?”
Title: Apostate – The Men Who Destroyed the Christian West
Author: Kevin Swanson
Publisher: Generations with Vision; 1ST edition (2013)
I received this for free from Generations With Vision through the CrossFocused Review program for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Brian Cosby (Ph.D., Australian College of Theology) is Senior Pastor of Wayside Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, and Visiting Professor of historical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta.