Socrates Meets Jesus by Peter Kreeft

Reviewed by Josh Hickok

     What could a book that places an ancient thinker in the present world of academia possibly tell us about the Christian faith?  As it turns out, more than one would think.  And this is exactly what Peter Kreeft did. 

     The book’s title, “Socrates Meets Jesus” is somewhat misleading.  Socrates never does really meet Him (at least, not in the ordinary sense).  What does happen, however, is a confrontation between one of histories greatest purveyors of logic and the current radical liberal “Christian” university.  Never mind the story behind it- it’s not intended to make much sense.  All you need to know is that the historical Socrates somehow transports to modern day times, and just so happens to land among some students ready and willing to debate.  The meetings are hilarious.  Reading at how appalled Socrates is of Bertha Broadmind’s (what I like to call) educated sophistry makes one smile.  But more than that, this book exposes a sad trend in our schools – postmodernism.  Ms. Bertha is so dedicated to being “politically correct” that she is willing to sacrifice sound logic for its sake.  Of course, Socrates will have none of that and what better writer to act as Socrates than Kreeft himself.  You’ll forget that the character Socrates is actually a new rendition (except for Socrates’ views on cars!) of the old legend himself, as Kreeft seamlessly blends the historic with the contemporary.

     Later, after Socrates is done making a nuisance of himself by demolishing post modernistic thought, he begins to question the Christian worldview starting with its Judaic background.  He reads the OT in one week (imagine how many Christians haven’t read half of it their entire life!) and proceeds to the New.  Without me playing spoiler, he evaluates the truth claims of Christianity both intellectually and personally.  The results are, well, you'll just have to read it yourself.

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Rating:

(8 out of 10)

About the Author

Peter Kreeft is generally regarded as one of the top "Christian" philosophers in the world today.  Midwest Apologetics strongly disagrees with his Roman Catholic theology.