Lahaye/Jenkins - "Left Behind"

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The "Left Behind" series is a popular science-fiction series dealing with the Armageddon, and the Antichrist's time on Earth (for a little background).

Does anyone have any opinions on this series?

 

I've read all of them (except the latest one...I'll get that soon).

Early on, the books were great. They've developed into "good" books. The characters are well developed, the plot lines have been good, even some of the "bible-lessons" have been wonderful.

Honestly, I don't agree with the whole pre-millenial view of end times. So, theology aside ... this is a good series. I'd recommend them.

 

What do you mean by "good" books?

Politically correct? Religiously appropriate? Educational? Or just plain high-quality?

 

I mean "Well Written"

They have been fun to read ... high quality liturature.

 

I read the first two books, but then just kinda got bored of them. But I think that they do a good job in teaching people at least some part of the Book of Revelations.

 

I've read everyone of of them, save the latest, and I'd say that despite the fact I'm agnostic at best, it's a good series. Makes ya think. It's decently written (though I think it could have been done better), with good, realistic characters and so forth. All in all, it's kind of a religious Tom Clancy series (and that said, Cap'n Steele would be a protestant Jack Ryan).

I dunno. Like I said before, it makes you think. The series isn't exactly Pulitzer Prize material, but it's entertaining, and it's a good lesson on how many Christians interpret the New Testament. So, if I'm walking down the street and suddenly people disappear into thin air, I'll know enough to fly to Chicago and join the Trib Force

One nitpick that just came to mind...in the first book (Left Behind), it gave statistics that about 1/4 of the world's population vanished. If you got together 40 people, I really doubt even ten of them would be "true believers." The ratio of "Christians" to Christians is staggering. I think Jesus would be lucky to get one in a hundred, at the very best.

 

C'Jakob, I disagree with your statement that the books teach people a lot about the Book of Revelations. It is true that the Antichrist and some other things are featured in the Bible, but some of the things that are in the novels are completely without Biblical base: the Rapture itself is nowhere to be found in the Bible. It was a theological invention of just a few centuries ago (hence it being a part of some Protestant faiths, but not the older forms of Chritianity like Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox). It will, however, teach you plenty about whatever faith is held by the authors.

TheNovak, I agree with you completely about very few Christians actually being devout 'true believers.' I posted some question regarding belief in the Devil a long time ago, to see how many stuck with the Bible or church doctrine and how many had become more moderrated and secularized by modern life (I got the idea from some news magazine program which had done the same thing). IIRC, the results were in favor of more independent beliefs. If you want to see it, I think you could find it by searching for 'devil' or some such.

EDIT: I looked it up, the post is 'Religious Curiousity'.

[ September 03, 2002, 04:39: Message edited by: The Deviant Mage ]

 

The Deviant Mage, perhaps not to such a profound level on teaching people about Revelations. I would agree much of the Left Behind series is conjecture, but at least it makes other people aware about the Book of Revelations, and what is prophesised in the Bible, albeit vague and unclear.

[ September 03, 2002, 02:52: Message edited by: C'Jakob ]

 

I'd have to agree - I know a lot more about the Book of Revelations now than I did before. Then again, I am/was Catholic, and we/they tend to ignore that book

 

Hope you don't see me as bragging but my father sells Left Behind. He's the Asian Distribution HQ or something like that until the large bookstores ripped him off. I have yet to read Left Behind but soon I'll read them. I have not heard one bad review from anyone who's read them. Honest.