Power for Living

Strength to live (Original Title: Power for Living ) is a book published in German in 2001 and in the context of an evangelistic campaign of the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation could be ordered free of charge. The original title was released in the U.S. in 1983 and was distributed worldwide, in Japanese language, he published in 2007. The total circulation at this time was in the high double -digit million range, which is not specifically mentioned. In the U.S., the book was distributed about 13 million times.

Distribution

Strength to live was advertised in Germany with great effort in the media through television commercials, full-page magazine ads and on Germany in approximately 12,000 billboards. In Germany was particularly critical of the campaign on the one hand disguised their authors and on the other hand was as an import from the U.S. without any contact with the indigenous Christian churches and organizations. For the promotions were, among others, Bernhard Langer, Cliff Richard and Paulo Sérgio obliged to have their say in the book itself. Some initial supporters moved to the critical reactions to the campaign and after becoming aware of information about the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation withdrew their support. After the Clearing House had pointed Advertising the State Media Authorities that religious advertising was prohibited by the State Broadcasting Treaty, presented some private stations such as ProSieben and Sat.1 a broadcasting the commercials, others such as RTL they shone forth from.

Content

In the book's introduction provide numerous celebrities before, as they have found their way to God, in the course of the book the reader will be explained using practical examples ways to God.

Criticism

On the part of the Protestant Church, the book has been widely criticized in more evangelical organizations, it was also well received, such as in the Evangelical Alliance.

Hartmut Steeb, Secretary General of the German Evangelical Alliance, welcomed the campaign: "Everything that serves to spread the Gospel, is welcome. " He regrets that the foundation has not been invited in advance to a common approach.

According to Reinhard Hempelmann of the Protestant Association for Philosophical questions force is to life " in its thematic orientation, the spectrum of conservative evangelicalism associate ... The language of the book is limited to the internal area of a particular form of piety. In an exposition of the relationship between belief and action is omitted ... The Christian faith is seen mainly from the perspective of individual salvation and reassurance. The action is understood as a literary mission. " Michael Uch, also from the Protestant Association for Philosophical questions - and from various media referred to as a staunch critic of power to live - see the book, however, " clean evangelical held, "it " could well as a starting point for discussions be used from the Christian faith. " He criticized, however, that the reader will indeed be asked to make contact with a Bible-believing church, but called no contact points gets.

Foundation

The Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation was founded in 1955 by insurance entrepreneur Arthur S. DeMoss in Palm Beach, Florida. After his death in 1979, his widow took over the management of the Foundation with an endowment of $ 359 million U.S.. The Foundation is part of the fundamentalist evangelical spectrum in the U.S., where he supports in particular the activities of the Christian right financially.