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Like many of my generation, Francis Schaeffer was an icon whose books were immensely influential. My guess is that his son Franky was turned off by the hypocrisy he saw while living a storied life as the son of an Evangelical celebrity. Things are often quite different behind closed doors, and with the parade of prominent Christians making their pilgrimage to L'abri, he probably saw quite a bit of surprising - and discouraging - behavior. I understand some of that "juicy gossip" about prominent Christians is in his book.

However, each of us make our own decisions, and there are many who manage to hold to their faith despite the failings of those around them. It appears that Franky chose the route of bitterness and rejection instead of forgiving those who disappointed him, and crying out to God to help him live a more authentic and faithful Christian life.

I remember long ago talking with a man who rejected his religious faith and wrote what he said was a devastating refutation of Christianity and the Bible. However, he did not have the heart to have it published, explaining that he did not want to have a hand in destroying the faith of others. I hope that God had mercy on that man's soul.

The Apostle Paul warns: "not not let many be teachers, for they will have a double judgment." By writing what is apparently a polemical book against Christianity, I fear that Franky Schaeffer has placed himself in grave spiritual danger.

My guess is that his son Franky was turned off by the hypocrisy he saw while living a storied life as the son of an Evangelical celebrity.

Franky Schaeffer didn't start having problems until about three or four years after his father's death.

His then-dream (decades before Sherwood Films came along) was to produce and direct big-budget films that didn't compromise the Christian message, nor compromise on filmmaking quality. His first film was called Wired To Kill. It was a huge commercial and financial disaster. Franky didn't allow his financial backers (mostly evangelicals) to see the script before he took their money.

Franky's crisis of faith coincided with the fallout over his terrible films. IMO it was no coincidence. Franky's been harboring a grudge against his family and evangelicalism ever since.