Book description: A cranky, atheistic philosophy professor loves to shred the faith of incoming freshmen. He is chosen by a group of scientists to create a philosophy for a computer-generated world exactly like ours. Much to his frustration every model he introduces—from Darwinism, to Existentialism, to Relativism, to Buddhism—fails. The only way to preserve the computer world is to introduce laws from outside their system through a Law Giver. Of course this goes against everything he’s ever believed, and he hates it. But even that doesn’t completely work because the citizens of that world become legalists and completely miss the spirit behind the Law. The only way to save them is to create a computer character like himself to personally live and explain it. He does. So now there are two of him—the one in our world and the one in the computer world. Unfortunately a rival has introduced a virus into the computer world. Things grow worse until our computer-world professor sees the only way to save his world is to personally absorb the virus and the penalty for breaking the Law. Of course, it’s clear to all, including our real-world professor, that this act of selfless love has become a reenactment of the Gospel. It is the only possible choice to save their computer world and, as he finally understands, our own.
My Impressions:
I am a rules kind of gal. They guide my actions, let me know when I am doing well or going off on my own. (My husband is a rules-breaking kind of guy — but that’s another story.) It is interesting that this week I have run into a lot of discussion about rules vs. relationship — Wednesday night Bible study on Galatians, Sunday morning sermon, Bill Myers’ book, The God Hater. Enough already! I get it! Or do I?
Nicholas McKenzie, a proud atheist philosophy professor, has a brother that is a definite rules breaker. Travis McKenzie, rogue computer genius, has no problem bending or out right breaking rules and the law. After years of strained relationship, Travis is back in Nicholas’ life, involving Nicholas in his clandestine artificial intelligence project. The world that Travis has created mimics the real world, yet in every model, the humans end up destroying themselves. Travis needs Nicholas’ philosophical input to put this virtual world on the straight and narrow. The Law is the Law becomes the motto of the new and prosperous world that Travis has created. And everything seems to be going just fine with Alpha 11 and the other members of the community until a virus is unleashed.
Myers has created a virtual world just like ours to show our need for relationship over rules, faith over the Law. Nicholas McKenzie has isolated himself from relationships — they are messy and hurt. So when he enters into Alpha 11’s world, relationship seems to be the key to solving the virtual world’s problems. And in turn Nicholas discovers the need of a savior.
The God Hater could be read as a suspense novel. There is enough corporate espionage, government agents and bullets flying to satisfy any suspense junky. But it is much more than that. Pick up The God Hater and enjoy the ride, but don’t be surprised if you learn a few things along the way.
Highly Recommended.
(I received a copy of The God Hater from the publisher in return for an honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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Love this personalized look at the novel, Beckie. Great review.
Becky
Sounds like a good book. I’m reading G.K. Chesterton right now, and he has a lot to say about how the world works and how it could or could not have been created and maintained differently.
I like Chesterton. I need to read The Man Who Was Thursday. It’s waiting on my Kindle