Making Sense of It All: PASCAL and the Meaning of Life

Making Sense Of It All is one the best books I have ever read on the topic of Christian philosophy and apologetics. This book is unique both in its organization and content. Morris utilizes some of the scientific, philosophical, and apologetic statements of the great Christian thinker Blaise Pascal (from Pascal's book Pensees) and shows how faith in Jesus Christ is the unique answer to mankind's deepest yearnings for meaning, purpose, significance, and life eternal. This book skillfully and successfully answers many of the existential objections that people give for not believing. Morris weaves together many of Pascal's brilliant insights into a significant and powerful Christian apologetic work. Though covering a lot philosophical and theological ground, this book is remarkably readable and at places quite humorous. It addresses philosophical, theological, and apologetic issues with tremendous clarity and in an engaging style. This volume provides deep insight into why people living in today's world avoid thinking about ultimate issues. I only wish the book contained a bibliography and/or notes for further reading. Thomas V. Morris has been called one of Christianity's finest contemporary philosophers (former Notre Dame professor). This book is indeed evidence of his first rate philosophical ability.

There comes a point in almost everyone's life when they ask themselves, "What does it all mean?" Blaise Pascal, the French scientist, mathematician, and philospoher reached this point at the age of thirty-one, when he converted to Christianity, and began writing down a number of his thoughts on the meaning of life and the defense of his new-found faith. Pascal died before he could organize and publish his Pensees ("thoughts"), but fortunately for us modern readers, many fine editions have been edited and published through the years. Tom Morris, a former philosophy professor from Notre Dame, examines Pascal's thoughts on the meaning of life, utilizing his witty and entertaining sense of humor. Morris writes for the everyday man, not just philospohers and theologians, making this book especially useful for high school and college age persons who are examining their lives and seeking to make sense of it all.So go ahead, take Pascal's wager and bet on Morris's little book to bring you both enlightenment and joy.[Other excellent editions of Pascal's Pensees are offered by Os Guinness (The Mind on Fire) and Peter Kreeft (Christianity for Modern Pagans) - both are recommended if you want more perspectives on Pascal.]

Morris explains and expounds upon Pascal's thought in an easy to read manner. A apologetic work in the line of G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis.Pascal is an example of a brilliant scientific mind who found it very reasonable to believe in God, or more specifically a Christian God. Morris, through Pascal, shows that faith and reason can take you farther than either can alone. A great thought provoking book for the person seeking understanding of those hard questions.One addendum to the reviewer of May 9, 2000 who said "Pascal was a Jansenist, the Roman version of a Catholic": Jansenism is named after Cornelius Jansen, who was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ypres in the early 17th century. His main work, Augustinus, was published after his death. In this work, he claimed to have rediscovered the true teaching of St. Augustine concerning grace, which had been lost to the Church for centuries.Jansenism was never approved of by the Roman Catholic Church, and while Pascal had several Jansenist friends, and wrote in support of their cause, it is questionable whether he himself was a Jansenist. Morris addresses this issue in pages 8 & 9 of this book.

In this work aimed at a popular rather than scholarly audience, Morris presents an apologetic for the Christian faith using Pascal's arguments and extensive quotes from the Pensees. The first half of the book, a polemic against and analysis of the modern indifference toward matters of eternal significance, is quite simply brilliant, both insightful and very well-presented. After driving home the need for thinking about eternity and the afterlife, Morris addresses the most common arguments against the existence of God, both of which rest on evidentialist premises. Pascal, and Morris, does away with these objections with the use of his Wager, showing that it is indeed rational, though not coercively so, to believe in God. Morris spends the rest of the book tracing the contours of a Christian worldview including its views on human nature, human action, etc. Morris generally succeeds in his goal of popular apologetics. Making Sense of it All is set squarely in the tradition of C. S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer. Morris endears himself to the reader with his conversational style, humorous and relevant illustrations, and sincerity. I have only one gripe with Morris: he fails to uphold the integrity of the Christian vision that Pascal presented. Pascal was a Jansenist, the Roman version of a Catholic, and much of his apologetic had its foundation in the traditional Augustinian beliefs in total depravity, irresistible grace, and absolute sovereignty. Insofar as Morris moderates these emphases, he compromises the Christian faith and weakens the strength of Pascalian apologetics. In toto, though, Making Sense of it All is worth reading. Indeed, I think it wouldn't be a bad book to give someone who is seriously considering Christianity.

I would highly recommend this to those who's quest for the truth brings them to ask the tough questions about Christianity. For fans of C.S. Lewis, Morris lays out a Christian argument through the writings of Pascal's Pensees. Although only 200 pages, It will take time to reflect upon Morris's comments. Morris weaves his considerable knowledge of apologetics with the deceptively simple yet insightful positions of Pascal. As Morris states, "In this book I want to explore with Pascal those most important questions for getting our bearings". A must read.