I have had friends deeply enamored with Ravi Zacharias, but I have found his writing and lectures to be tepid and maddening, respectively. Those who are not familiar with the works of better minds mistake Ravi for a sort of CS Lewis-like figure, or a great intellectual. He doesn’t rise to Lewis’ wasteline, I am afraid. He regurgitates the work of others, and he possesses an unfortunate dimension that was essentially absent from Lewis’ work: malice. Lewis always maintained an eye toward evangelism – really reaching to people outside the church. Ravi’s drivel is perfect cheering fodder for those who already agree with him, but little more.
I was, as such, quite pleased with the cleverness of this wonderful new game: Ravi Apologist Bingo!
Great article and concept, JB ! I can think of 1 or 2 christian bloggers who frequent Nate’s Blog who we could create a bingo card for. I’ll let you come up with who they are. 🙂
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LOL, I just wish I had thought of it. 🙂
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Wow, someone at Penn Secular Society had a lot of time on their hands! 🙂
I agree with you Matt. I’ve known a lot of people impressed with Ravi as well, but I don’t think it is well deserved. From what I understand he denies evolution and I saw him give an answer to the problem of Hell on youtube that was pretty atrocious.
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Or the response he gave that guy with the question about homosexuality.
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“I wrote a book” 😛
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Trumped only by the Atomic Option: “I have three cats!”
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And don’t forget, “I was talking to a guy”
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I think Ravi hooked me with his personal testimony. I’m Indian, Hindu, teenager, hopeless, tried to kill myself, Jesus saved me. I was hooked there. His books did not answer anything intellectual for me, but his testimony soothed my weary soul. 😐
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Oh wow, that’s really interesting. I could totally see that – he is a very engaging speaker. Lots of anecdote, woven in with apologetics, bouncing from books written to high and mighty folks he knows, etc. In fact, his speaking roves so broadly and so quick, it is very difficult at times to realize when he isn’t answering questions and when he’s using blatant fallacies to explain things. Sounds good, knows how to promote himself, and tells people what they want to hear. Its a living. 🙂
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I haven’t read any of his works and he is not on my reading list but I have had people mention him a few times. think I will let his works pass
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There is nothing – NOTHING – of original nature in his writings. If you want to see why he is so successful, just watch a youtube lecture. Preacher posing as an apologist/thinker.
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No thanks. Time is limited and usually expensive
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