CHAPTERS AND THEIR SYNOPSES

                                                                                    FOREWORD

This segment of the book, the Foreword, makes clear that a culture war is going on right now in the United States.   A culture war is basically an all-encompassing struggle for the hearts and minds of individual people.   Your mind is extremely important.   It is the source of every thought and every decision.   The Foreword also discusses the two opposing sides of this culture war, and what it means for each of us.    

 

                                  CHAPTER 1:      THE BIG QUESTION

This chapter explores the Big Question:  Is there a God?   It is a question for which every functioning human mind must find an answer.   Something in our psychological makeup requires it.   And the answer we arrive at carries tremendous influence over our lives.   Some great thinkers have gone to great lengths to create belief systems to answer the most important questions of life, while leaving God out of the equation.   Many individuals have invented their own personal worldviews, while putting on psychological "blinders" to shut out any thoughts of God, convincing themselves that they already "have all the answers."   But--- if you have the courage to pick up this book and keep reading--- you'll find more answers than you ever knew existed.   The author doesn't pretend to have ALL the answers.   But there are enough in this chapter to open up your mind, get you thinking, and put you on the trail for the answer to the biggest question of all.

 

                                 CHAPTER 2:     THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH

Funny thing about the truth.   Everyone says they like it.   But when they see the real truth, a lot of people don't.   If you are not a man or woman who adheres to the truth as a principle, you'll be marked by others as a liar and a phony.   Also, truth is a very powerful weapon.   Way back in 1960, just one news story made a liar out of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.   In 1974, another news story actually put an end to Richard Nixon's presidency.   In recent decades, many film-makers have been "revising" history itself, in an effort to promote their own ideologies.   This chapter shows how--- in this culture war--- truth is often the very first casualty.

 

                                 CHAPTER 3:     WHAT IS ATHEISM---  REALLY?

We're all familiar with the word atheism.   But what is it?   What's really at the core of atheism?   What makes atheism rewarding for the atheist?   This chapter looks for answers to these questions, and a great deal more.

 

                                CHAPTER 4:     SEARCHING FOR GOD

In a way, God is like many other mysteries in life.   To find the answer, we have to search for it.   This is one of the more "personal" chapters in the book.   The author began his search as an agnostic.   In this chapter, he describes his quest for answers to the Big Question.   Also, he provides advice which can help anyone to find their own answer to "the Big Question."

 

                               CHAPTER 5:     WHAT MAKES GOD DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER GOD?

There have, of course, been countless gods worshiped throughout history.   What distinguishes the true God from all the others?   This chapter looks at some of these ancient religions, describing archaeological discoveries that show what they were like.   Even more importantly, it also details numerous discoveries which corroborate events recorded in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible--- some of these discoveries going as far back as the 24th century BC.   While Beyond the Comfort Zone is NOT a history book, it does show that history provides a great deal of relevant information for our purposes.

 

                              CHAPTER 6:     AN AMAZING GOD, WHO GOVERNS AND GUIDES THE WORLD

This is the pivotal chapter of the book.   This is where we find overwhelming evidence which adds up to proof of God's existence.   More than that, it's proof that He is intimately involved in human events, shaping history itself to conform to His plans for mankind.   The pseudo-religious view called deism teaches that God indeed created the world, but then left it to run by itself, according to His established laws of physics.   However, numerous examples are shown of historical events where God has directly intervened--- events which happened centuries AFTER the Bible was written, and even extending into modern times.   These well-documented proofs leave no doubt that God did not abandon the world after creating it, but that He continues to play an active part in humanity's dealings.   This is the kind of genuine proof that causes atheists to suddenly lose their eyesight--- because even if it's right in front of them, they claim not to see it.

 

                              CHAPTER 7:   HOW THE EXISTENCE OF GOD CHANGES EVERYTHING

Now that we've seen overwhelming evidence of God's existence in Chapter 6, the focus is on what it means to us as individuals.   This chapter looks at why God puts such a high value on faith--- a quality often scorned by atheists and skeptics.   Once we realize God is there, we're no longer an isolated microbe with a meaningless existence, wandering around on a speck of rock at the outer rim of the Milky Way Galaxy.   God's very existence gives vast new meaning to our lives.   Not only this, but He is shown to be our greatest advantage in life.

 

                               CHAPTER 8:     THE CHALLENGE OF BEING AN AMERICAN

This chapter focuses again on the Culture War.   In the first two pages, we're shown how the conflict took root and developed in the US.   Then we see clearly the "battle lines" of the two opposing sides.   American society itself is critiqued.   We see that the country has become a gigantic corporate state, where the individual has been reduced to almost nothing.   In America today, many curtains of darkness exist, which makes it seem almost impossible to cut through them.   But knowing that God is real shows us that He is in charge of the big picture.   Which means that victory in this war is not only possible, but inevitable.

 

                               CHAPTER 9:     SINCE THERE IS A GOD, WHICH GOD?

Since it's been demonstrated that God is real--- and that He is an active participant in history--- we should try to get the most accurate view of Him possible.   But there are several great revealed religions which recognize Him:  Judaism, Christianity and Islam.   This chapter briefly discusses them all, and encourages readers to decide for themselves which form of faith to choose.

 

                               CHAPTER 10:   THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH AND BLIND FAITH

Some unbelievers seem to scorn any type of faith, thinking that all faith is blind.   This chapter makes it clear that some kinds of faith are accompanied by reliable knowledge.   Not all faith is "blind."

 

                               CHAPTER 11:    HOW CAN GOD ALLOW SO MUCH EVIL IN THE WORLD?

This chapter tackles the question of evil.   Nonbelievers sometimes claim that because there is so much evil in the world, this "proves" there is no God.   Even though atheists use it for their purposes, the question of evil is a valid one.   And there are good answers for it.   Since God does allow evil to exist, it is important that the reasons be discovered and understood.

 

                                CHAPTER 12:    WHAT IS HELL?   CAN GOD REALLY ALLOW SUCH A PLACE?

Here is another of those points which unbelievers sometimes use to scoff at religion.   Just as with the question of evil in the world, this chapter faces this issue head-on.   Not just theological views are presented; also, a well-documented 20th century event is discussed which provides us with an eyewitness description of the actual Hell.

 

                                 CHAPTER 13:    A PERSONAL BRUSH WITH THE SUPERNATURAL

In this chapter the author recounts some actual incidents in his own life which brought him into unexpected contact with supernatural forces.   The most harrowing experience was the occasion where he went through a demonic possession event.   All these incidents are described in great detail.

 

                                  CHAPTER 14:   WHAT THE HELL IS SIN, ANYWAY?

The chapter starts by stating the obvious: "The idea of sin is not a popular one these days."   In fact, we can watch any number of popular movies and TV shows where the word "sin" is nowhere to be found.   But if we open up a Bible, it's not that rare.   If our entertainment culture can ignore the concept of sin, does that mean it doesn't exist?   This chapter tackles the subject of sin--- not judgmentally--- but with a down-to-earth understanding of the weaknesses of the human condition.   Also presented is a hypothesis which looks at a possible scientific basis for many human weaknesses.

 

                                   CHAPTER 15:   A SMALL DISAGREEMENT REGARDING THE END OF THE WORLD

In the Christian Bible, the book of Revelation is without doubt one of the most contentious points of doctrinal disagreement between various churches.   The book of Revelation discusses that part of history known as the End Times, and contains many obscure references which (over the centuries) have been interpreted in wildly different ways.   This chapter discusses many of these views and, in a non-judgmental way, provides a clarifying perspective for modern readers.

 

                                   CHAPTER 16:   PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS, MORMONS AND WITNESSES

With the multitude of Christian churches today (to say nothing of synagogues and mosques), the modern religious landscape can look like a sea of confusion.   This chapter looks at how Christianity--- once encompassing a single unified Church--- has split into so many parts.   Also, it identifies the main turning point in the development of religious freedom in the Western world, as well as some of the tremendous advances in individual freedom which have taken place since that turning point.

 

                                   CHAPTER 17:   DARWINISM VS. CREATIONISM

The discoveries of modern science have thrown a whole new light on mankind's past, as well as on the modern world we live in.   The theory of Natural Selection (Evolution), in particular, has prompted many thinkers to call into question the ancient biblical account of creation.   This chapter shows that the book of Genesis was intended to have a far deeper meaning than simply being a textbook on humanity's origin.   While atheists and other scoffers may try to convince others that science has "killed God," this chapter allows us a view far beyond the usual shallow arguments.

 

                                   CHAPTER 18:   THE CHALLENGE OF TRUTH

This chapter challenges the reader to look for truth--- not the truth obscured by all the background noise we find today (such as the entertainment media and the pundits that we call "opinion makers")--- but the REAL truths which are hidden behind the world's glare.   Perhaps the central theme of the entire chapter is summed up in this one sentence: "Once we realize that God does exist, then we have to acknowledge that He is the greatest truth."

 

                                   CHAPTER 19:   A QUESTION OF PROOF

This chapter, along with Chapter 6, provides the kind of proof that skeptics hate and atheists fear.   A fact not often publicized, is that God has worked some astounding miracles in history.   Chapter 6 detailed some his most crucial interventions throughout history.   This chapter describes some of His outright miracles--- miracles which took place before countless eyewitnesses.   (One of them was so astonishing that thousands of onlookers thought they were witnessing literally the end of the world.)   These kinds of miracles defy all attempts to explain them away.   Those who deny, or even hate God, are forced to shut their eyes to such miracles.   Because if they dared to acknowledge them, they would have to admit that God truly does exist.

 

                                   CHAPTER 20:   THE TOUGHEST HURDLE

This chapter is for readers who have found the answers they've been looking for.   The self-blinded atheists, the knee-jerk skeptics, the trembling cowards who didn't have the guts to keep looking--- these types will have tossed this book aside.   Only those with open minds who are genuinely searching for answers will read it through.   This last chapter advises readers of the things to watch out for in their quest for faith.   But it also reminds them of the infinite rewards.   NOTHING in this world is worth giving up the quest for our own salvation.   And once we know the kind of loving and all-powerful God we are giving our faith to, every obstacle which stands in our way dwindles to nothing.