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A review by alanyoung
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman
5.0
This is an excellent book - based on thorough reading, careful thought and logical structure. Who among us cannot be aware of the current turmoil and tensions? This work traces the thinking over the last 200 years which underpins our arrival in our present situation.
Many times reading it, I felt out of my depth for the vocabulary used and the past thinkers examined have not been part of my education. Many names were familiar but I had never wrestled with their writing nor any analyses of it.
There were points where I found myself disagreeing with Trueman but they were no major issues and these differences did not detract from my overall appreciation of and positivity toward the book.
It seems incongruous to me that the progression of philosophical thinking has rejected as untrue and unknowable the spiritual dimension leaving only the material, only to find itself in a position when the material realities are made subservient to unknowable inner psychology. Trueman mentioned gnosticism and it rings so true!
I found the last section of the book especially helpful for it came across to me with realistic expectations, careful distinctions and humble recognition that we Christians need also to be challenged.
I closed the book with
a better awareness of the developments in philosophy
a recognition of the effects of sin in all of us
a frustration with the way dialogue and respectful exchange is no longer possible
a conviction that I need to pick up the closing challenge to be clear on my doctrine and to live in this physical real world with integrity, humility and gentleness. This could be pithily characterised by truth and love or, to put it another way, more like Jesus.
Many times reading it, I felt out of my depth for the vocabulary used and the past thinkers examined have not been part of my education. Many names were familiar but I had never wrestled with their writing nor any analyses of it.
There were points where I found myself disagreeing with Trueman but they were no major issues and these differences did not detract from my overall appreciation of and positivity toward the book.
It seems incongruous to me that the progression of philosophical thinking has rejected as untrue and unknowable the spiritual dimension leaving only the material, only to find itself in a position when the material realities are made subservient to unknowable inner psychology. Trueman mentioned gnosticism and it rings so true!
I found the last section of the book especially helpful for it came across to me with realistic expectations, careful distinctions and humble recognition that we Christians need also to be challenged.
I closed the book with
a better awareness of the developments in philosophy
a recognition of the effects of sin in all of us
a frustration with the way dialogue and respectful exchange is no longer possible
a conviction that I need to pick up the closing challenge to be clear on my doctrine and to live in this physical real world with integrity, humility and gentleness. This could be pithily characterised by truth and love or, to put it another way, more like Jesus.