Douglas Wilson introduces his case for “historical optimism” by asking that the reader willingly suspend unbelief (10). Tolkien was once asked if he believed Middle Earth was real, to which he replied: “one hopes.” Wilson’s Heaven Misplaced is a call to suspend unbelief. Unbelief in what? Unbelief that the knowledge of God will cover the earth before the Second Coming; unbelief that Jesus Christ will be the desire of nations before the end of this world. If one who is by nature a product of American evangelicalism is willing to suspend unbelief even to read such a short book, then it is at least possible that though not persuaded by the end, he may reply: “One hopes.”
Can I borrow this book?
of course.