Publisher's Synopsis
The book's content is orientated towards a Christian engagement with the contemporary culture of Western countries, whose often adverse influence on nations across the world is growing. Its main intent is to provide a biblical/theological analysis of cultural changes over the past 60 years, which have been increasingly critical of Christian claims to interpret accurately human life in a fast-changing world. The author is not aware of any other publication that, from a biblical perspective, has attempted to analyse the main reasons why there has been an accelerated decline in the confidence of the Christian faith to address truly the most profound questions of human life. Outcomes of the decline are attested in identity crises, mental anxiety and depression, and a turn to sources that pretend to alleviate their worries and dilemmas, such as spiritual mysticism, drugs, drink, pornography, and gender transition, all of which increase the distress faced. The book explores the teaching of the New Testament on the fundamental rift that exists between two worlds, in which human beings live and move and have their being, according to their divergent views of what is true and what is false about existence on this earth. By way of illustration of a world that has deviated seriously from the world that God has created and is recreating in Jesus Christ, I have chosen to look at two of the most contested realities in the world today: the humanity and personhood of pre-born babies in the light of the cult of abortion, and human sexual identity in the light of the rejection of God's creation of humankind as male and female. Undoubtedly the NT teaching elucidates both the causes and the remedies of such a distressing current conflict. I believe, therefore, that this study offers a coherent and original interpretation and guidance concerning the complex questions surrounding human significance and destiny. It presents a fresh approach to the perennial question about Christ and culture in a contemporary set of circumstances.
