Book Review: What’s So Great about Christianity

If you walk into any book store and browse the newest books, you are likely to see a book attacking religion in general or Christianity specifically. A market has sprung up around such books as The God Delusion, God Is Not Great, or Letter to a Christian Nation. Dinesh D’Souza has written a very good rebuttal to these books. The first thing I noticed when I picked up What’s So Great About Christianity is the lack of a question mark in the title. The Title isn’t a question, it is a defense. In this very well written book, D’Souza attacks many of the common myths professional atheists use to attack Christianity. He doesn’t use scripture to refute their claims, but history, science, and reason.

What’s So Great About Christianity is divided into a number of sections. Each section is roughly three chapters long. Some of the sections include: Christianity and the West, Christianity and Science, The Argument for Design, and Christianity and Morality. D’Souza analyzes many of the attacks against Christianity using noted atheist such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens to explain the atheist viewpoint. He then tears apart the atheist claim piece by piece.

What’s So Great About Christianity is a very serious defense of a key element of Western Culture. D’Souza states, “Many of the best things about our world are the result of Christianity, and some of the worst things are the result of its absence, or of moving away from it.” This is a very bold statement and by the end of the book, it is one that is hard to argue against. Whether you are a believer or not, it is hard not to acknowledge Christianities part in shaping our world for the better after you read this book.

I would encourage both Christians and non-Christians to read this book. D’Souza’s asks unbelievers to not, “…read this book merely as an intellectual exercise,” for in a very real way, your life may depend on the questions in this book. Instead, put serious thought into it. If you are undecided, D’Souza points out that death will eventually force a choice on you. “Death forces upon you a choice that you cannot escape…when you die all abstentions are counted as ‘no’ votes,” says D’Souza.

I have read very good books about religion before. I think this one is a step above most of them. I would challenge any of my readers who think Christianity is the root of many of today’s problems. I would ask you to go into your local bookseller and read a random chapter of What’s So Great About Christianity. You might be surprised, and you might find yourself asking questions you haven’t asked before.