The Air We Breathe

Tom Holland

It is not necessary to be a Christian to appreciate the force of Glen Scrivener’s argument in this punchy, engaging and entertaining book.

Sam Allberry

Glen Scrivener does an outstanding job of showing us that the Western world is not nearly as post-Christian as we tend to think. The evidence and fruit of biblical influence is all around us—even our unbelief is more Christian than we might realise. This is an eye-opening and game-changing book.

“Must read”

Glen Scrivener has a fresh and inspiring way of using words. The Air We Breathe is a book that begins by informing the reader of the many different cultural standards and expectations of ancient civilisations and cultures. The first chapter covers the very earliest records and historians up until the appearance of Jesus and is necessary to understand the rest of the book. Seven chapters follow, each focusing on a particular value of today’s western culture, i.e. equality, compassion, consent, enlightenment, science, freedom and progress. In each chapter, today’s value is compared and explained against the standard experienced in those ancient societies. Again, this is done with fresh and engaging wording.

For me, this book both educated and liberated me by connecting so many dots. Our since-Jesus expectations of behaviour and standards compared against pre-Jesus times became mind blowingly obvious once it was brought to life through this book. The basis of western society’s values and expectations are based on the radical ideas presented and was condemned. However, his followers continued on with these radically different ideas and today they form the foundation of the ideas on which we expect all humanity to live. I’m so very grateful to have read this book.

“How to change 'animal human' to empathic human”

It is hard to disagree with many of the comments already made about this book by Glen Scrivener. I was fascinated by his approach, in particular how human beings were at the time, and for some centuries after Christ, and how they are now. He is of course quite right to say the belief that humans should show compassion empathy and love to their fellow kind is not natural and was brought about by Jesus. I suspect that most people who feel that this is natural, humanitarians for instance, have completely missed how much Christianity has changed the Western world in particular. We can still see typical human behaviour in Russia, China, North Korea and a number of other states in the world. This book is a must read for all who really want to know what Christianity is about. In summary Glenn has pointed out that Christ brought about the change of animal human to truly human.

“Fantastic book”

Absolutely fascinating, eye opening book not only explaining how Jesus has shaped western culture but also putting forward the argument that his death and resurrection are something we should all put our faith in. Great book for believers and non believers alike.

“Offensive Apologetics!”

Though it shouldn’t be judged by its cover, it is well worth getting the physical copy for the cover is a great work of design making it immediately appealing. Thankfully the contents of the book live up to the high expectations that the cover sets.

If the best form of defence is a good offense, that’s where this book steps in. The many defensive apologetic books are so helpful, but this one puts what we believe on the front foot. Glen Scrivener shows how the values western society champions today, such as equality, compassion, freedom and progress, all arise out of the Christian faith. He does so by merging biblical teaching with historical recounting and myth busting.

Glen writes with three audiences in mind: those who have no faith, those who are giving up on the Christian faith and the already convinced believer. He writes in his usual creative yet compelling way that draws the reader in. Read it to be encouraged and buy a copy to give to an unbelieving friend.

“An excellent, helpful and faith-affirming book.”

This is an excellent book which thoroughly debunks the myth that Christianity has not had a profound and transformative influence for good on how we see the world. It certainly has and continues to do so in so many of the attitudes and assumtions that we take for granted today. This is a very readable, accessible, helpful and faith-affirming book and I loved it.

“A great book to give to an unbeliever!”

In the pages of this excellent book, Glen Scrivener opens up two thousand years of history: from the current day pandemic and social justice wars through to the very beginning in the Book of Genesis, there is a strong biblical narrative that weaves its way like a watermark throughout all of human history. From the world of ancient Greek mythology, to the brutality of the Roman empire, the Medieval period and the Reformation of the Church in the Sixteenth Century, through to the great evil of Nazi Germany and the civil rights movement of the 1960s and into modern times, there is the inescapable fact that humanity has a deeper value and this points to the God who created us and sent His Son to die for us.

The author also helpfully takes us on a brief tour of the Enlightenment period, science, philosophy and atheism through to the political issues of the modern day and explores all the different attempts to suppress Christian faith throughout the centuries. But the Christian Gospel cannot be eliminated, because all of the values and morals that society needs to hold onto point to something deeper:

“The Kingdom without the King is not a place of liberation so much as a place of judgement. But in this democratic republic, we are all the judges, and we are all the judged. We desperately need a person above and beyond the values - a person who does not simply expect our best but who forgives our worst.” (p201)

In closing, not only was this such an enjoyable and educational read, but I often find it a challenge to find a suitable modern book to give to an unbeliever - but I would not hesitate to present “The Air We Breathe” to someone who is wanting to explore the Christian faith.

Disclaimer: The Good Book Company provided me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

“A fascinating and thought-provoking read”

Having previously not heard of Glen Scrivener, I was really intrigued by the title and description of this book, especially without not having come across a book on the topics he has written about, whilst diving into history to enable the reader to take a closer look at the values they hold dear to them in the modern Western World, whether they are a Christian, new to faith, or don’t have any beliefs at all, but are interested in making sense of life.

It’s one that I feel needs to be read in order to fully understand what the author has written, and each individual needs to experience those thought-provoking moments it offers. This book has indeed helped me to think more closely about the values I hold close to me, and to learn more about the history of the influence that Christianity has had on the world in the past, and in the present day.

“Excellent Summary of The Impact of Christianity on our Culture”

Something I should clarify - Glen Scrivener is one of my favourite speakers and also an author I love to read! His book 3,2,1 was brilliant and this is also excellent. He explores the idea that we often assume that our current culture is "neutral", fighting over whether it is the Christian worldview or non-Christian worldview that will have more influence. The reality according to Scrivener is that our history has been radically shaped by the gospel, by the hope and the morality that comes from a faith in Jesus. Not only do we get a tour of history, however, as Scrivener also shows us that our world continues to use the Christian worldview to make sense of much of life and this actually helps us to understand the values we trust in. It's a book that not only encourages a Christian but might also be a challenging read for someone exploring faith who might be interested to see how much of their thinking has been shaped by the Christian faith and to question whether putting their faith in Jesus might not be illogical after all. It might actually help them to understand the world better than ever before!

“Highly Readable and Engaging”

In this highly readable, engaging book, Glen Scrivener shows that Christianity is "the air we breathe" within Western society, regardless of our individual beliefs. He shows that core Western moral convictions, such as the idea of human equality, come from the Bible and from "the Jesus revolution," not from any self-evident truth in nature. In contrast with this, he shares history from the ancient world and quotes from its famous philosophers, showing how deeply their self-evident norms go against ours. What we see as inevitable, and as obviously right, flows from Christianity, regardless how secularized Westerns leave Christianity behind in their pursuit of those virtues.

"The Air We Breathe" is fascinating. Unlike more academic books that deal with similar topics, this one is concise and frequently humorous, with Scrivener's strong voice adding to the book's appeal. He also makes a point of addressing different groups of people (Christians, secular readers, and people who have left Christianity), and anyone can enjoy and benefit from the book, regardless of their beliefs. Scrivener also primarily cites from non-Christian historians to support his case, showing that the power and revolution of Christianity in society are evident to people who disbelieve its religious claims.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Western history, social issues, or religious history. I found this fascinating, and despite how well-versed I already am with the topic, I learned a lot. My only word of warning is that some chapters include graphic details about physical and sexual violence. None of the information is gratuitous, since it reveals socially accepted evils from the ancient world, but readers who are highly sensitive to this should be aware

Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.