In this book, Anthony Esolen zeroes in on a series of falsehoods that in our time we are nearly compelled to accept, either explicitly or implicitly, or falsehoods that the "elites" among us accept, without their always telling us so. A falsehood is not just an opinion that happens to be incorrect, but a radically wrong way of viewing the world and man's place in it. The falsehoods in question are related; they follow from one another. The chapters of the book thus move from one falsehood to the next, from the most fundamental and ultimately destructive, to the falsehoods that spring from them and do the proximate work of destruction.Introduction: -The First Lie: There is No God -The Second Lie: There is No Objective Moral Truth -The Third Lie: There is No Such Thing as Beauty -The Fourth Lie: Human Nature Does Not Exist -The Fifth Lie: Equality is the Foundation and Fulfillment of All Human Society -The Sixth Lie: Cultural Progress is Inevitable -The Seventh Lie: Western Christian Men
The genius of Anthony Esolen, dubbed "the best writer in America," again shines through in these pages. Esolen deftly weaves together literature, history, and contemporary examples to masterfully reveal objective truth to a culture assailed by one fusillade of lies after another. In these incisive pages, containing fresh, logical insights about belief in God, you will rediscover beauty and reason in your life. Through captivating stories and pearls of wisdom, you will see common threads that will lead you to a deeper sense of gratitude, awe, and wonder about the sacredness of life. Thus renewed, you will be empowered to share the liberating truth of God's love with others. You will discover: The two conditions to which refusal to believe in God conforms us The evils that result from a utilitarian rejection of absolute values Seven lies in contemporary society -- and the truths that they attempt to hide How you can become more discerning to detect the language of lies Ways in which beauty is illuminating and reflects the truth The dangers of experiments against reality (e.g., with sexual relations, gender, etc.) You will be edified by unvarnished real-world examples of authentic community building (and tearing down) in families, schools, and society. In addition, you will find out what equality really means in education and relationships as well as how to grow in true obedience and virtue. Esolen includes a special reflection on the Ten Commandments and how they relate to<