How Should We Then Live?

The ten-part series begins with Dr. Francis Schaeffer looking back at the time of the Romans, and how that epoch has go on to influence Western civilization. Schaeffer travels Europe, visiting ancient Roman architecture while explaining the crucial weaknesses of the Roman Empire, specifically those that ultimately led to its downfall.

The Roman Empire falls due to the shoddy beliefs that were its foundation, leading to internal degeneration. What followed was a time of political, intellectual and social turmoil, then a gradual cultural awakening. Dr. Schaeffer examines the Middle Ages and the first-century Christian churches in Europe.

"How Should We Then Live?" comes to the Renaissance, arguably one of the greatest periods of mankind. Dr. Schaeffer looks at the great, sumptuous artwork of the period and how it both reflects the time and paves a path for the future.

Dr. Schaeffer explains the Reformation as a technical term for the Reformers who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. According to Dr. Schaeffer, the Reformation was a turning away from the humanistic elements of the Catholic Church.

"How Should We Then Live?" enters the Age of Revolution, a period of laws and judiciary systems. Dr. Schaeffer explains that these sovereign laws that gave citizens democratic freedom were based on the authority, principles and teachings of the Bible.

Dr. Schaeffer shines a light on seventeenth-century scientists like Galileo, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon, noting the biblical teachings that underpin their breakthrough discoveries.

The Age of Enlightenment caused a descent in man's spirit. Since the humanistic ideal failed, Dr. Schaeffer says "humanistic man gave up his optimism for pessimism. He gave up the hope for a unified answer, and this makes modern man who he is." Dr. Schaeffer goes on in this sixth episode to explain how the artists, philosophers and thinkers influenced humanistic man's belief that he is a machine.

Beginning by highlighting the French Impressionist painters Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir and others, Dr. Schaeffer explains how modern man's humanity was lost with his new view of the world as "fragmented."

With the influence of modern art, novels, philosophy and art films, man lost meaning in life. During the middle of the twentieth century, man had only two values: personal peace and affluence. In this episode, Dr. Schaeffer explains how man got to the point in which he only cherished privacy and material goods.

Now that Christian moral values are neglected, Dr. Schaeffer argues in this final episode that manipulative elites - such as intellectuals, technocrats, politicians and scientists - will lead with arbitrary and absolute authority.