Berlin University

Hi, I’m Pastor Lutzer, and I’m standing in the lobby of Berlin University — one of the greatest universities in the world, with an influence that has reached far and wide. This institution has produced philosophers like Hegel, as well as biblical scholars like Rudolf Bultmann, who challenged traditional interpretations of Scripture. Heinrich Heine was also here, along with someone who remains incredibly influential — someone who, in many ways, still rules the world from his grave.

Come with me as I go up these stairs to read a quotation from that individual. Behind me is a quote from Karl Marx. Though it’s written in German, I will translate it for you. It reads, “Up until now, philosophers have only interpreted the world; the point, however, is to change it.”

I bring this up because Karl Marx indeed changed the world. It’s important to realize that philosophers are not just intellectuals secluded in ivory towers; their ideas have real consequences. And, as history has shown, bad ideas create victims. Today, Marx’s philosophy continues to have a tremendous impact on nations around the globe.

I mention Marx because I’ve recently written a new book titled The Eclipse of God. In it, I discuss the influence of figures like Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, and Sigmund Freud, exploring how the shadows that once loomed over Europe have now reached the West, even the United States. The book aims to help us understand how philosophy shapes our minds, often without us even realizing it. I also examine unbiblical theories of God, highlighting how we have reshaped God into an image that suits our own preferences. In many ways, we’ve become a people who not only tolerate God but also remake Him to fit our desires.

The burden of my book is to address the question: How do we live in a society where God has been eclipsed? I’ve often wondered how different the course of history might have been if, instead of Karl Marx’s words, we had the words of Jesus here on this wall: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Imagine the implications of such a different philosophy. It would have led to a vastly different world.

Thank you so much for joining us today. God bless you, and may you have a good day.