The Dust of Death

At the time he published this book (his first) in 1973, Os Guinness (b. 1941) was working with Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri in Switzerland. In the immediate aftermath of the 1960s, Guinness writes in the Preface that "what we were witnessing ... was the gradual disillusionment of a generation, even of a culture. Ideals had grown so distant they were barely distinguishable from illusions. Meaning had become a mirage. Eager minds, soaring beyond facts to a super-freedom of fantasy, had plunged earthwards. Even resolute action, which seemed to have rolled the stone almost to the top of the hill, paused for breath only to watch the stone roll backwards.... Beneath the efforts of a generation lay dust. Subsequent events and a closer inquiry, far from contradicting this suspicion, have served only to confirm it. The examination of this suspicion and the charting of an alternative is the burden of this book." In more than one hundred sections (!) with provocative chapter titles such as "The Striptease of Humanism," "The Twilight of Western Thought," "The Importance of Futurology," "The Angry Young Men," "The Psychedelics and God," and "Constructive Christian Radicalism," Guinness attempts a wide-ranging analysis of modern culture, proposing in the end Christianity: "this uniquely 'impossible' faith---with a God who is, with an Incarnation that is earthly and historical, with a salvation that is at cross-purposes with human nature, with a Resurrection that blasts apart the finality of death---is able to provide an alternative to the sifting, settling dust of death and through a new birth open the way to new life." Guinness has written a number of books since this one, of course (e.g., The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt, The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends on It). But if one wants a conservative Christian review of culture---that is much more wide-ranging than Schaeffer's own---from a 1970s perspective, Guinness's book is still worth reading.

This books provides piercing and engaging analysis. It shows a supurb care to represent the issues/persons/movements it speaks of accurately. As one who has a fascination with the 60's counterculture, but also sees many of its flaws, this book provides a wonderful basis for dialog and a balanced approach which is ready to stand up against error whether it is in establishment or counterculture garb. You should see the citations for this book, very in-depth! The wide variety of subjects and concepts that Guinness covers really makes this an interesting read. Guinness consistently produces great works that are academic but also highly practical. This is not an exception. I highly recommend The Dust of Death.

So as not to be redundant, I will 'second' the prior reviews, all of which are entirely accurate. Furthermore, Os Guinness is an exceptional writer and thinker. "The Dust of Death" is cogent, clear and well written. I have shared copies with people who have a G.E.D. to Ph.D's, and all have remarked of how clearly Guinness expresses his thoughts, and how easy it is to follow his analysis. His insights were valid and accurate when first written and continue to be relevant. Like Dr. Groothuis, when I first read this book in 1994, I was encouraged to begin developing disciplined habits of mind, eventually going on to graduate school. Typically, I read this text at least once a year. In summary, this book is an engaging and stimulating read.

Os Guinness is one of the most brilliant contemporary Christian social critics in the evangelical camp. This was his first book, originally published in 1973 by InterVarsity Press. Guinness got his intellectual start with the late Francis Schaeffer (apologist, theologian, and social critic, who died in 1984), working for several years in Switzerland at the Schaeffer community called L'Abri (shelter). He has since written many books, such as "The Grave Digger File," "The American Hour," "Fit Bodies, Fat Minds," "Dining With the Devil," "God in the Dark," and "A Time for Truth"--all of which I recommend highly.This book marked a turning point in my intellectual life when I read it in 1977. Along with "The God Who is There" by Francis Schaeffer, it gave me the intellectual confidence to engage the world of ideas with passion and precision, for the glory of God. It is an exceptional piece of Christian social criticism, well thought-out and keenly written. Guinness thoroughly analyzes the historical and philosophical roots of the countercultural in a scholarly, but engaging manner. He meticulously documents his sources and is never condescending or unfair concerning views he opposes. Guinness philosophically analyzes the roots and fruits of the counterculture and finds them wanting logically and ethically. However, he does not endorse the American status quo. Instead, he calls us to follow "the third way" of Jesus Christ, in a radical community of love and truth.The edition of the book contains some new material taken from Guinness later magisterial work, "The American Hour" (a book that never received the recognition it deserved). I recommend "The Dust of Death" for anyone desiring to understand the effect of the counterculture on American life. It is a model of how a Christian mind should engage contemporary culture.Douglas Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy, Denver Seminary

This is one of the most profound books I have read on Modern culture and Christianity. A Must read for people who are concerned with intellectual honesty in today's culture