... is Jesus rediscovered.  Starts off turgid but improves, if unevenly.  That is, it meanders - as though the author is thinking through his theology as he talks to his readers.  It is not well thought out; excellent insights are interspersed with many head scratching moments. The older British language and presentation style is not the smart pithy sound bites that grab the modern reader, but a working out of the Jesus as the author has discovered Him.

I did appreciate his turn from a rabid socialist upbringing, to disenchantment (he was in that group of  foreign reporters in the Soviet Union who fawned over the tyrant Stalin which was an early red flag in his shift away from his background), to discovering Jesus in middle age.

Most of the material is from the late 1960's, and Muggeridge looks prescient indeed as he ruminates on the future of the church and the culture poised then at the precipice of that cliff over which the 60's counter-culture lept with such elan.  I found this more informed than his theology.  There are several good nuggets to chew on, but they tended to be more on what fills the gap when Christianity recedes from the culture, the media and education.

He uses some memorable word pictures.  Here's one: it is a source of terrific weakness that the great majority of official churchmen don't believe what they purport to believe.  He likens these "pillars" of the church to those in an Italian renaissance painting:  they look like pillars, but they don't hold anything up.

The summation with the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi is a perfect close to remind us to be about the Lord's work as His instruments in our culture.  Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
and so on brings his message back to the simplicity of being a follower of Jesus Christ.  And that is what we are all encouraged to rediscover.
... is Jesus rediscovered. Starts off turgid but improves, if unevenly. That is, it meanders - as though the author is thinking through his theology as he talks to his readers. It is not well thought out; excellent insights are interspersed with many head scratching moments. The older British language and presentation style is not the smart pithy sound bites that grab the modern reader, but a working out of the Jesus as the author has discovered Him. I did appreciate his turn from a rabid socialist upbringing, to disenchantment (he was in that group of  foreign reporters in the Soviet Union who fawned over the tyrant Stalin which was an early red flag in his shift away from his background), to discovering Jesus in middle age. Most of the material is from the late 1960's, and Muggeridge looks prescient indeed as he ruminates on the future of the church and the culture poised then at the precipice of that cliff over which the 60's counter-culture lept with such elan. I found this more informed than his theology. There are several good nuggets to chew on, but they tended to be more on what fills the gap when Christianity recedes from the culture, the media and education. He uses some memorable word pictures. Here's one: it is a source of terrific weakness that the great majority of official churchmen don't believe what they purport to believe. He likens these "pillars" of the church to those in an Italian renaissance painting:  they look like pillars, but they don't hold anything up. The summation with the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi is a perfect close to remind us to be about the Lord's work as His instruments in our culture. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
and so on brings his message back to the simplicity of being a follower of Jesus Christ. And that is what we are all encouraged to rediscover.