Live Not By Lies: a manual for Christian dissidents

A book which explores how Christians have functioned under totalitarianism systems

Live not by lies UPDATE
06/04/22: You can see the latest interview with Rod Dreher by clicking here. (You may need to give it a short time to load.
02/01/24: Up until Nov. 2024 the book was only available in hard-back form. However it now available in paperback and Kindle form.
From Jan 2024 it is planned to have a 'group/parallel' read of the book backed up by online discussions.
A preliminary online meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 9 Jan. 2025

Live Not By Lies is the title of the last letter Alexandr Solzhenitsyn wrote to his Russian countrymen before going into exile in the USA. It is now the title of a book written by American journalist Rod Dreher. The 'prompt' to the writer were reports from elderly residents in America who, having fled from communist regimes during the cold war years.

Dreher amplifies the alarm sounded by the brave men and women who fought totalitarianism. He explains how the totalitarianism facing us today is based less on overt violence and more on psychological manipulation. He tells the stories of modern-day dissidents--clergy, laity, martyrs, and confessors from the Soviet Union and the captive nations of Europe--who offer practical advice for how to identify and resist totalitarianism in our time.

Solzhenitsyn famously said that one of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming totalitarianism can't happen in their country. Dreher believes that many American Christians are making that mistake today, sleepwalking through the erosion of our freedoms. America is not the only country where Christians are asleep. Live Not By Lies is indeed a Wake UP call to them and an effort to equip them for the long resistance.

This article has been produced as an encouragement to all Christians to recognise that what is now happening in what were functioning democracies is moving populations around the world into scenarios which in 2019 would have been totally inconceivable and absolutely intolerable.

It also provides an opportunity to present views and be aware of the views of others.

Note:
Since Live Not by Lies was originally published in 2020 with a warning for America, many have seen in Europe and other Western nations an acceleration of 'soft totalitarianism' in our societies. Whether it is the effects of cancel culture online because of progressive voices marginalising conservative opinions, or the unprecedented restrictions of civil liberties in response to Covid-19, people feel coerced to go along with the approved narrative on whatever topic, even if, secretly, we may believe the truth is somewhat different.
Disclaimer:
The Christians Together website has no connection with the authors or publishers of these books; and nothing to gain through their promotion.

Registered members of this website can leave their comments, observations and any questions in the 'Response' facility below.

The Editor, 30/03/2021

Feedback:

	Crystal Johnson	30/03/2021 21:11
Brilliant and timely book. I am certain that the Lord wants to 'speak' to us through this. You can also catch Rod Dreher from this Sunday past on The New Culture Forum on YouTube. We are living in that 'soft totalitarianism' referred to in the book. Blessings to my precious brothers and sisters in Christ. May we be courageous in Him.
	Editor	11/04/2021 15:34
Hazel has written ("Thanks, Hazel"): >>> I found this sermon by Dr Erwin Lutzer. I haven’t read his books yet, but I did find this talk very insightful. He explains social communism, which destroys the social fabric of the west by eroding values and culture, without an obvious, physical war. He explains that social Marxism seeks to destroy the family unit. He talks about the attack on children, the destruction of their sexuality, because confused children are easy to manipulate, hence the deliberate eradication of objective truth. He gives the example, apparently true, of a young girl who said she was a cat. In woke culture whatever a person says they are must be taken as true. But the intention is to intimidate people into silence for fear of not knowing what’s appropriate any more. He also talks about the weaponisation of race. He ends with a warning, that the Church of Christ will need courage because the attacks of this emerging social order will only get worse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w11-s02RYw <<<<
	Christine Mingay	18/01/2025 20:24
Reading the book and 2 John and 3 John on the same day there was the same guidance - live in truth and love. Great confirmation!