Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
WaterBrook (2010), Edition: 1, 407 pages
Description
Abby, a Christian missionary raised in New Guinea, goes to America only to discover a nation where Christianity has completely died out. She must face the spiritual implications of transhumanity-- humans with replacement silicon brains that promise eternal life but make impossible personal connection with God.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Tmtrvlr
In the future, it’s possible to live forever—but at what cost?
The year is A.D. 2088, and Christianity has died in America. The Last Christian is an interesting look at a futuristic world where Christianity has almost died out. In the jungles of Papua New Guinea, Abigail Caldwell has lost her
In this future time where there are self-driving cars, common virtual reality, and brain transplants, Christianity is considered hate speech. Abby has a choice to make – flee the country or face arrest. The story is rather profound when you think of the way things are already going in America, and it will make you reflect on the message. I get a little nervous when an author wants to add to the gospel message, but I think the author just wanted to convey the message of grace and not works.
The story has action, adventure and a great message. I really was not expecting the twist at the end!
The year is A.D. 2088, and Christianity has died in America. The Last Christian is an interesting look at a futuristic world where Christianity has almost died out. In the jungles of Papua New Guinea, Abigail Caldwell has lost her
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family and her entire village from a mysterious brain disease. She receives a unexpected 16 year-old recorded message from her grandfather asking her to go to America and spread the gospel. Is Abby ready for the danger and does she really understand the gospel message she has known her whole life?In this future time where there are self-driving cars, common virtual reality, and brain transplants, Christianity is considered hate speech. Abby has a choice to make – flee the country or face arrest. The story is rather profound when you think of the way things are already going in America, and it will make you reflect on the message. I get a little nervous when an author wants to add to the gospel message, but I think the author just wanted to convey the message of grace and not works.
The story has action, adventure and a great message. I really was not expecting the twist at the end!
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LibraryThing member tarenn
THE LAST CHRISTIAN by David Gregory is an Inspirational Sci-fi thriller set in the future, the year 2088. It is well written with depth and detail. It is very deep and overwhelming at times but it has a great message throughout the book. It is also full of bible references. It is a throught
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provoking, and very interesting in "what if's". It has betrayal, suspense, sadness, action, faith, a little romance, intrigue and religious themes. The characters will pull you in and keep you there. They are exciting, strong and innocent. There are also evil characters in this story. If you enjoy sci-fi thrillers, and throught provoking that leave you wondering about the future of Christianity in the modern world this is definate the book for you. This book was received for review from Waterbrook and details can be found at My Book Addiction and More and Random House Publishing. Show Less
LibraryThing member skstiles612
What an awesome look at what our future might hold. Abby is an American raised in isolation with the Inisi tribe. When her people start dying she leaves the village and seeks help not knowing who to trust. Upon returning to the village she finds all have perished. No one can explain the strange
I felt sorry for her for her constant loss. I was reminded of Job who lost everything and yet remained faithful to God. Abby was a modern day Job. She was willing to push her own grief and sadness away for a higher purpose.
The marriage of Religious beliefs and Technology proved to be a thought provoking avenue to travel. I loved a lot of the technology of the year 2088. It made me realize that we are only 78 years away from that date and the possibilities now. This was an absolutely thrilling book to read and I can't wait to pass it to my friends. This is a must read for anyone who loves Science Fiction
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illness that killed everyone in her village and no one can explain why she alone survived. After receiving a strange message from her grandfather, Abby goes to America to bring Christianity back to a nation that has rejected it. She finds the America she once heard about with its religious freedoms, no longer exists. She takes up the mission to bring Christianity back to these people and uncovers a hornets nest that will put her own life at risk. I felt sorry for her for her constant loss. I was reminded of Job who lost everything and yet remained faithful to God. Abby was a modern day Job. She was willing to push her own grief and sadness away for a higher purpose.
The marriage of Religious beliefs and Technology proved to be a thought provoking avenue to travel. I loved a lot of the technology of the year 2088. It made me realize that we are only 78 years away from that date and the possibilities now. This was an absolutely thrilling book to read and I can't wait to pass it to my friends. This is a must read for anyone who loves Science Fiction
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LibraryThing member Justjenniferreading
This book was amazing. It had a little of everything in it.
The technical aspect of the book was very interesting to me. The idea that all people can be connected to each other constantly was very interesting. It added a new level of intrigue to the story. In this story technology has tried to rid
The story was pretty faced paced, right from the beginning. And while the technology was really futuristic it was feasible. I think I was able to understand the technology because it is, I think, where technology is currently heading, so it wasn't difficult to imagine.
I loved how the story combined the technological society, and that of a non-technological religious society. Seeing the differences between the religious society and the technological society was quite eye opening. The path that was explained in the book as to how society became non-religious is very sobering.
The writing was very good. It was easy for me to connect to the characters in this story. They were well written and well developed. I loved Abby, based on the culture she was thrown into she was quite naive, however she was actually a very intelligent character.
I really loved this story. I was so easily drawn in to it.
The technical aspect of the book was very interesting to me. The idea that all people can be connected to each other constantly was very interesting. It added a new level of intrigue to the story. In this story technology has tried to rid
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the world of the social ills that had once existed. However it seems that technology has taken one thing away from the culture...The story was pretty faced paced, right from the beginning. And while the technology was really futuristic it was feasible. I think I was able to understand the technology because it is, I think, where technology is currently heading, so it wasn't difficult to imagine.
I loved how the story combined the technological society, and that of a non-technological religious society. Seeing the differences between the religious society and the technological society was quite eye opening. The path that was explained in the book as to how society became non-religious is very sobering.
The writing was very good. It was easy for me to connect to the characters in this story. They were well written and well developed. I loved Abby, based on the culture she was thrown into she was quite naive, however she was actually a very intelligent character.
I really loved this story. I was so easily drawn in to it.
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LibraryThing member PamelaBarrett
Christian Science Fiction with a twist, because in 2088 Christianity in America in a thing of the past. Artificial Intelligence is common place, and Virtual Reality is where most people spend their time. 34 year old Abby Caldwell, born to missionary parents, spent her entire life in an isolated
History Professor Dr. Creighton Daniels comes across a story on the Grid about Abby returning to America, and as an expert in historical religion, he is intrigued by her story. As he contemplates meeting her, he also finds a message from his recently deceased father and slowly realizes that his father and her grandfather knew each other.
David Gregory’s well researched novel, took me into a world I never want to see—a world where speaking about God can get you arrested. A society that does whatever it wants in VR, and an individual’s wants are more important than the family. Where AI, taken to the limit, is no longer used for limb replacements and to help people with sight and hearing, but has industrialists funding silicon brain transplants to make people transhuman. A brilliantly written, futuristic thriller that leaves you questioning what is important in life.
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jungle village in New Guinea. She leaves the village to get help when the villagers mysteriously start dying. She hopes to find the answer in America. There is also another reason to go to America: her grandfather left her a message about what was happening to Christianity—a message posted 16 years earlier on the Grid.History Professor Dr. Creighton Daniels comes across a story on the Grid about Abby returning to America, and as an expert in historical religion, he is intrigued by her story. As he contemplates meeting her, he also finds a message from his recently deceased father and slowly realizes that his father and her grandfather knew each other.
David Gregory’s well researched novel, took me into a world I never want to see—a world where speaking about God can get you arrested. A society that does whatever it wants in VR, and an individual’s wants are more important than the family. Where AI, taken to the limit, is no longer used for limb replacements and to help people with sight and hearing, but has industrialists funding silicon brain transplants to make people transhuman. A brilliantly written, futuristic thriller that leaves you questioning what is important in life.
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LibraryThing member seizethebook
I don't usually read "futuristic" kind of books and I'm not sure if I would have picked this one to read from the bookstore or library shelf, but now, after reading The Last Christian by David Gregory, I consider myself "stretched" in my reading interests. I enjoyed this book for its unique
I think one of my favorite things about this book was the character named Abby, who is a 34-year-old daughter of missionaries from Papua New Guinea. She has spent her entire life in the jungle, but comes to America to try and find out what disease wiped out her entire village. She finds a country where Christianity has died out. As a result of a cryptic message from her grandfather, Abby embarks on a mission to re-introduce people to God.
There are other things going on in the book, such as a plan by an artificial intelligence innovator to implant silicon brains into humans in order to make them live forever. And then there's Creighton Daniels, whose life intersects with Abby's when his father is found dead of an apparent suicide and Daniels begins to investigate.
The "plot thickens" when Creighton and Abby uncover facts that reveal malicious intent on the part of some of the scientists working with the AI project. They find themselves on the run and their lives threatened.
This Christian thriller is a great read, if you can get past some of the scientific language used throughout. I just skimmed through those parts and it did not affect the overall enjoyment of the book. I recommend this one.
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approach to romance as well as the interesting ideas the author has about future technology. It was believable as well as fascinating.I think one of my favorite things about this book was the character named Abby, who is a 34-year-old daughter of missionaries from Papua New Guinea. She has spent her entire life in the jungle, but comes to America to try and find out what disease wiped out her entire village. She finds a country where Christianity has died out. As a result of a cryptic message from her grandfather, Abby embarks on a mission to re-introduce people to God.
There are other things going on in the book, such as a plan by an artificial intelligence innovator to implant silicon brains into humans in order to make them live forever. And then there's Creighton Daniels, whose life intersects with Abby's when his father is found dead of an apparent suicide and Daniels begins to investigate.
The "plot thickens" when Creighton and Abby uncover facts that reveal malicious intent on the part of some of the scientists working with the AI project. They find themselves on the run and their lives threatened.
This Christian thriller is a great read, if you can get past some of the scientific language used throughout. I just skimmed through those parts and it did not affect the overall enjoyment of the book. I recommend this one.
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LibraryThing member celticlady53
The Last Christian is a story that could very well happen in the future. This book is really about two things. The technology that allows for artificial brain transplants and Jesus/God. In 2088 the internet is obsolete as is Christianity. One has been replaced by the Grid and the other has not.
A tribe in Cameroon is wiped out by a strange disease and the only survivor is a young woman named Abigail Caldwell. She has lived in the jungle for 34 years and is forced to come to the U.S. to try to find out what happened to her tribe and to try to do what her grandfather wants her to do to try to spread the word of God. What ensues is a roller coaster ride of suspense. This futuristic thriller keeps the reader wanting more. A large cast of characters, political intrique, medical marvels and greed has the story going in a fast pace. I enjoyed this story very much.
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People have no memories of religion. Life is all about technology. Cars that need no drivers and books are also obsolete. People would prefer to read all they need on the Grid. Virtual Reality is no longer a dream for the future, it is the future.A tribe in Cameroon is wiped out by a strange disease and the only survivor is a young woman named Abigail Caldwell. She has lived in the jungle for 34 years and is forced to come to the U.S. to try to find out what happened to her tribe and to try to do what her grandfather wants her to do to try to spread the word of God. What ensues is a roller coaster ride of suspense. This futuristic thriller keeps the reader wanting more. A large cast of characters, political intrique, medical marvels and greed has the story going in a fast pace. I enjoyed this story very much.
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LibraryThing member Lynngood
Circa 2088 Abby has come out of Papua New Guinea where she has lived in isolation for all of her 34 years as the daughter of missionarys. Seeking medical help for her dying village she ends up in the United States where she finds that God has been eliminated from society. Inadvertantly she uncovers
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a plot to replace the brains of everyone with a silicon transplant with much greater power ... except it severs ones relation to God. Show Less
LibraryThing member loubigfish
Has some good characters and a good story line. Is it believable? Well that it what you need to figure out...
Has some good chapters... but I was left wanting more.
Has some good chapters... but I was left wanting more.
LibraryThing member DLester
My Synopsis:
The Last Christian by David Gregory
(For review from Waterbrook Multnomah)
Abigail Caldwell has lived all of her life in a remote jungle area of Papua, New Guinea. Her parents were missionaries to the Inisi tribe, when the government decided that the Inisi would be cut off from the
During her absence from civilization, the United States has completely turned away from God and is no longer a Christian nation. After hearing a message from her grandfather, one of the top neuroscientists in the country, urging Abigail that she may be the last hope for reintroducing Christianity to the U.S., Abigail embarks on a quest to re-establish Christianity. When she meets a young professor, Creighten Daniels who is searching for answers about his fathers suicide, they realize that new artificial brains being developed has something to do with the mystery of Creighten's father as well as the demise of Christianity. Will Abigail be able to find the secret of her grandfather's cryptic message? Will she and Creighten find love despite their differing views? Will Abby be able to re-introduce Christianity or will she be, The Last Christian?
My Thoughts:
The Last Christian was a very interesting book. It's kind of Christian Fiction meets Science Fiction. Not only did you have issues of faith and carrying out the great commission as a theme for this book, but there was artificial intelligence and political intrigue mixed in. It was a very interesting premise and one that makes a lot of sense. With some many advancements in technology the idea of an "artificial brain" is not that far off base. It has always been a goal of the human mind to find the "fountain of youth" or ways to prolong life, this book takes it one step further to being able to sustain life indefinitely.
One of the things that I found really interesting was the lecture that Creighten gave his students about the reasons for the fall of Christianity. I think David Gregory really hit in on the head with these ideas. It was like looking into the future and seeing the direction that our country is going in, eerie and scary kind of stuff. It was a great book and I recommend it to readers of Christian Fiction as well as Science Fiction. I liked it a lot.
The Last Christian by David Gregory
(For review from Waterbrook Multnomah)
Abigail Caldwell has lived all of her life in a remote jungle area of Papua, New Guinea. Her parents were missionaries to the Inisi tribe, when the government decided that the Inisi would be cut off from the
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outside world in order to preserve their way of life. For 34 years, Abigail has had no contact with her other family in the United States. Due, to a freak disease, Abigail is forced to leave the jungle in search of help for her dying village, but what she finds when she emerges from the jungle will shock and amaze her.During her absence from civilization, the United States has completely turned away from God and is no longer a Christian nation. After hearing a message from her grandfather, one of the top neuroscientists in the country, urging Abigail that she may be the last hope for reintroducing Christianity to the U.S., Abigail embarks on a quest to re-establish Christianity. When she meets a young professor, Creighten Daniels who is searching for answers about his fathers suicide, they realize that new artificial brains being developed has something to do with the mystery of Creighten's father as well as the demise of Christianity. Will Abigail be able to find the secret of her grandfather's cryptic message? Will she and Creighten find love despite their differing views? Will Abby be able to re-introduce Christianity or will she be, The Last Christian?
My Thoughts:
The Last Christian was a very interesting book. It's kind of Christian Fiction meets Science Fiction. Not only did you have issues of faith and carrying out the great commission as a theme for this book, but there was artificial intelligence and political intrigue mixed in. It was a very interesting premise and one that makes a lot of sense. With some many advancements in technology the idea of an "artificial brain" is not that far off base. It has always been a goal of the human mind to find the "fountain of youth" or ways to prolong life, this book takes it one step further to being able to sustain life indefinitely.
One of the things that I found really interesting was the lecture that Creighten gave his students about the reasons for the fall of Christianity. I think David Gregory really hit in on the head with these ideas. It was like looking into the future and seeing the direction that our country is going in, eerie and scary kind of stuff. It was a great book and I recommend it to readers of Christian Fiction as well as Science Fiction. I liked it a lot.
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LibraryThing member dccab73
I loved this book!!! The themes and ideas that were presented REALLY had me thinking, what if?? I was thinking as I read the book, this was similar, at least for me, to 1984...VERY SCARY! I believe that many of the concepts presented in the book are not that far off. Look how our idea of marriage
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has degraded in the United States. Is it possible in the future that marriage will be nothing but a contract and we are "Life partners"? HMMMM! I think we are quickly heading that way. Also the idea of Christianity being eliminated form American society. We are already well on our way. Gregory, in my opinion did an exceptional job with the story and I loved his writing style. I cruised through this book effortlessly. I will definitely recommend this to my friends. If you are a Christian this should be a must read as it presents futuristic ideas of what may come if we as Christians keep conforming to the world's view rather than our Saviors! Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Another INSPY read, The Last Christian failed to thrill and raise questions of faith in what I would consider an appropriate manner. It concerns itself with the struggle for eternal life, both spiritual and physical by asking if living forever physically truly means losing one's connection with
Unfortunately, the story itself is weak. Almost all the main characters are self-righteous with little to no character development. The reader is forced to accept the idea that someone growing up in a tribal culture with no access to the modern world would adapt as quickly and as successfully as Abby does. Add to that a plot line that contains more pontificating than it does action, and the novel quickly spirals downward.
As for the faith aspect of the story, it contains a very limited view of what it means to be a Christian, one in which the Bible states all of the rules, regardless of the inconsistencies contained within. No other religion is acceptable; I even felt this attitude to be applicable towards other Christian religions, like Roman Catholicism. It is a disturbing, isolationist approach to faith that does more harm than good and is the reason why the idea of Christian living holds negative stereotypes.
This was not a novel that I felt promoted Christian ideals in a harmonious light but rather did more to confirm the divide between "Christians" and non-Christians. This is so unfortunate because the message of the story is quite special, this idea that one person can make a difference in this large world of ours. Unfortunately, the delivery of this message is so exclusive that it turns off a large majority of the world's population. As a result, The Last Christian is not a novel I can recommend to anyone in good faith. There were too many disturbing aspects of the faith discussion to be able to promote this as a book that people should read.
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God. This is presented in the context of a future American society in which Christianity has supposedly died out. While Mr. Gregory presents some great arguments as for the reasons why Christianity failed to exist beyond the 21st Century, the probability of this occurring to a country founded on Christian ideals is low; as a result, The Last Christian loses some credibility with its premise.Unfortunately, the story itself is weak. Almost all the main characters are self-righteous with little to no character development. The reader is forced to accept the idea that someone growing up in a tribal culture with no access to the modern world would adapt as quickly and as successfully as Abby does. Add to that a plot line that contains more pontificating than it does action, and the novel quickly spirals downward.
As for the faith aspect of the story, it contains a very limited view of what it means to be a Christian, one in which the Bible states all of the rules, regardless of the inconsistencies contained within. No other religion is acceptable; I even felt this attitude to be applicable towards other Christian religions, like Roman Catholicism. It is a disturbing, isolationist approach to faith that does more harm than good and is the reason why the idea of Christian living holds negative stereotypes.
This was not a novel that I felt promoted Christian ideals in a harmonious light but rather did more to confirm the divide between "Christians" and non-Christians. This is so unfortunate because the message of the story is quite special, this idea that one person can make a difference in this large world of ours. Unfortunately, the delivery of this message is so exclusive that it turns off a large majority of the world's population. As a result, The Last Christian is not a novel I can recommend to anyone in good faith. There were too many disturbing aspects of the faith discussion to be able to promote this as a book that people should read.
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LibraryThing member autumnesf
Very interesting read on a time in the future where God has been abandoned and the human race is trying out artificial brains.
LibraryThing member atdCross
That people downloading their (brain (person) in a silicon brain with the consequences of losing their spirit and, as a result, their connection with God is nota credible premise. Those who transfered their brains didn't seem less human but still showed emotion and morality, which is impossible
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without the human spirit, in my opinion. To lose your spirit is to lose your whole humanity. The book did not make me eager to read the next page, the characters were not interesting, and the ending was not memorable (forgot how it did and and I just finished reading it last night). The idea that America totally abandoned their founding father's faith in God was a good idea to start with but the approach the author took with it was unappealing. Show Less
LibraryThing member cstebbins
religious end of the world type novel. A staple of the wiseacre "knowledge" that was spooned out to many of us in school was that millennial or apocalyptic expectations have been a delusion common to all generations, based on ignorance and stress. I wonder just how accurate that is. Two days before
The book was ok--no worse than the usual supermarket rack "thriller", but it got along without the usual coarseness and pointless violence.
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I got this book, I listened to an item on NPR about some laboratory in New York that has succeeded in cloning human "embryos" (their word). A "bioethicist" from a university in Ohio explained rather nonchalantly that anybody worried by this is obviously ignorant and wrongheaded. I understand that various would be prophets have predicted doom many a time in the past, but it does seem, and I emphasize seem, that the coming challenges are qualitatively different from those the world has faced in the past.The book was ok--no worse than the usual supermarket rack "thriller", but it got along without the usual coarseness and pointless violence.
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LibraryThing member Cataloger623
407 pages . Science fiction from a Christian perspective." It is set in the 2088 and deals with a girl who grew up in the jungles with a remote tribe and comes out to find the US now a completely secular nation" Technology has reached a point where it is now possible to upload the contents of a
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human brain into a computer. The book explores the question do you have to have a body to have a connection with God? Would a person who is now in a computer be a moral being capable of repentence? What are the implications of a society that seeks relief in virtual reality? I normally do not read "modern Christian fiction" but I am glad I made an exception for this book. I found the book to be similar to C.S. Lewis's book That hideious strength. Yet this book has the benefit of a writer with a science education and solid theology. This combination gives it a level detail that keeps the story current. Lewis's work is better than this book but this book is good. Show Less
LibraryThing member impactwriter
Suppose there was a plan to change out all human brains with synthetic transplants that would essentially last forever, including the ability back up all of the experiences that it collected over time. One would be virtually (forgive the pun) immortal. What's the drawback? Could it result in the
But what if society had already abandoned its belief in God, as it did in this novel? It results in a state of mind all too ready to accept such a new reality.
The premise is quite interesting and well thought out. I got to like a couple of the characters very much. Something, though, wouldn't allow me to pull the trigger to give this a five-star rating. It may be that I thought of an angle that the story could have included, but the author either didn't think of or didn't think worthy of his tale. No matter, it wasn't an enjoyment killer.
The author provided many a thought-provoking postulation, like this one:
"What if reality is different than you have believed? What if ultimate reality is a Creator who designed us with a human spirit, who wants to join himself to that spirit, who wants to infuse us with his very own life? And what if our spirit can't find fulfillment or peace or true purpose except by being joined to the One who made it?"
If this bodes true, then humanity is doomed by accepting an artificial means for remaining alive forever.
Definitely worth the time spent reading.
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loss of the human soul, never afterward able to connect with God?But what if society had already abandoned its belief in God, as it did in this novel? It results in a state of mind all too ready to accept such a new reality.
The premise is quite interesting and well thought out. I got to like a couple of the characters very much. Something, though, wouldn't allow me to pull the trigger to give this a five-star rating. It may be that I thought of an angle that the story could have included, but the author either didn't think of or didn't think worthy of his tale. No matter, it wasn't an enjoyment killer.
The author provided many a thought-provoking postulation, like this one:
"What if reality is different than you have believed? What if ultimate reality is a Creator who designed us with a human spirit, who wants to join himself to that spirit, who wants to infuse us with his very own life? And what if our spirit can't find fulfillment or peace or true purpose except by being joined to the One who made it?"
If this bodes true, then humanity is doomed by accepting an artificial means for remaining alive forever.
Definitely worth the time spent reading.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010
Physical description
407 p.; 5.17 inches
ISBN
1400074975 / 9781400074976