Total Truth

Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity

Study Guide Edition

Nancy R. Pearcey

foreword by

Phillip E. Johnson

wheaton, illinois

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity (Study Guide Edition)

Copyright © 2004, 2005 by Nancy R. Pearcey

Published by Crossway Books,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

First edition 2004

Study Guide edition 2005

Published in association with Yates & Yates, LLP, Attorneys and Counselors, Orange, California.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Cover photo: “Le Semeur 1” http://www.kmm.nl/indexflash.html#voorpagina

First printing 2004

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the EVS® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Scripture quotation marked KJV is from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

ISBN 978-1-4335-0220-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pearcey, Nancy.

Total truth: liberating Christianity from its cultural captivity / Nancy R. Pearcey; foreword by Phillip E. Johnson. Study guide ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 13: 978-1-58134-746-3

ISBN 10: 1-58134-746-4 (hc: alk. paper)

1. Christianity-Philosophy. 2. Apologetics. 3. Christian life. 4. History-Religious aspects-Christianity. 5. History-Philosophy.

I. Title.

BR100.P37 2005

2005

261—dc22

2005011392

Contents

Foreword by Phillip E. Johnson

Introduction

Politics Is Not EnoughLosing Our ChildrenHeart Versus BrainJust a Power Grab?Mental MapsNot Just AcademicWorldview TrainingAcknowledgments

1: What’s in a Worldview?

Chapter 1: Breaking Out of the Grid

Divided MindsBible School Drop-OutsSubtle TemptationEnlightenment IdolTwo CitiesAbsolutely DivineAristotle’s ScrewdriverBiblical ToolboxRead the DirectionsBorn to Grow UpA Personal OdysseyManifesto of UnbeliefLike a Swiss FarmerGod WinsScolds and ScalawagsIn Love With CreativityChristian Philosophers Out of the ClosetReligion: Good for Your HealthBenevolent Empire

Chapter 2: Rediscovering Joy

Sealy’s SecretCapitol Hill GuiltBecoming BilingualThe Faith GapDisconnected DevotionChristian SchizophreniaWhy Plato MattersThat Rascal AugustineAristotle and AquinasFluffs of GraceThe Reformers RebelEscape from DualismCreation: God’s Fingerprints All OverFall: Where to Draw the LineRedemption: After the Great DivorceChristianity Out of BalanceMore Than SinnersGod’s OffspringJars ...

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About Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity

"This book continues the Schaeffer-inspired project that Nancy Pearcey and Chuck Colson began in How Now Shall We Live?-awakening evangelical Christians to the need for a Christian 'worldview,' which Pearcey defines as 'a biblically informed perspective on all reality.' This is the rare long book that leaves one wanting to read more."
-Publishers Weekly

"On one level, this book is a lucid, easy-to-understand manual for worldview thinking. But it also breaks new ground in worldview analysis."
-World Magazine

"Pearcey is an outstanding writer with the ability not only to express deep thoughts in a very readable way, but one who also understands a biblically reformed world and life view. If you buy only one book this year, this would be at the top of the list."
-Equip for Ministry

"Pearcey helps readers see how many modern Christians unwittingly accept a sacred/secular split, which allows them to relegate faith to the private sphere of life. She then clearly puts forth a Scriptural picture of integrating all of life under the liberating Lordship of Christ and shows what that truth means for the areas of public policy, family life, science, business, law, education, and more."
-Covenant Magazine

"Total Truth questions the modern American cultural attitude of keeping religion a private matter, claiming that Christianity's truth is best served by being brought into the public sphere to maximize its influence."
-Midwest Book Review

"Thoroughly researched, well-written and well-argued, Total Truth will prove to be a useful and easily accessible guidebook for many who seek to develop a comprehensive biblical worldview that affects not only beliefs but actions."
-CaliforniaRepublic.org

How can you liberate Christianity from its cultural captivity? In this superbly crafted cultural analysis, a noted author passionately argues that Christianity is truth about all reality, not just religious truth, and that to keep it privatized is stripping it of the power to challenge and redeem the whole of culture.

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Table of Contents