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''How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture'' is a major Christian cultural and historical documentary film series and book. The book was written by presuppositionalist theologian Francis A. Schaeffer and first published in 1976. The book served as the basis for a series of ten films. Schaeffer narrated and appeared throughout the film series, which was produced by his son Frank Schaeffer and directed by John Gonser.〔Colin Duriez (2008). ''Francis Schaeffer - An Authentic Life'', page 184. InterVarsity Press〕 In the film series, Schaeffer attacked the influences of the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and Charles Darwin. The films were credited with inspiring a number of leaders of the American conservative evangelical movement, including Jerry Falwell. The complete list of materials that the Schaeffers produced under the title "How Should We Then Live?" include the initial book, a study guide for the book, the ten-episode film series, and study aids for the films. ==Overview== According to Schaeffer, ''How Should We Then Live'' traces Western history from Ancient Rome until the time of writing (1976) along three lines: the philosophic, scientific, and religious.〔p20〕 He also makes extensive references to art and architecture as a means of showing how these movements reflected changing patterns of thought through time. Schaeffer's central premise is: when we base society on the Bible, on the infinite-personal God who is there and has spoken,〔p22〕 this provides an absolute by which we can conduct our lives and by which we can judge society. This leads to what Schaeffer calls "Freedom without chaos."〔p105-113〕 When we base society on humanism, which he defines as "a value system rooted in the belief that man is his own measure, that man is autonomous, totally independent",〔p60〕 all values are relative and we have no way to distinguish right from wrong except for utilitarianism.〔p251-2〕 Because we disagree on what is best for which group, this leads to fragmentation of thought,〔p184-197〕 which has led us to the despair and alienation so prevalent in society today.〔p209-10〕 Another premise is that modern relative values are based on Personal Peace (the desire to be personally unaffected by the world's problems) and Affluence (an increasing personal income.)〔p205〕 He warns that when we live by these values we will be tempted to sacrifice our freedoms in exchange for an authoritarian government who will provide the relative values.〔p227〕 He further warns that this government will not be obvious like the fascist regimes of the 20th century but will be based on manipulation and subtle forms of information control, psychology, and genetics.〔p228〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「How Should We Then Live?」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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