Since it debuted in 2004, the ABC drama Lost
has sparked intense discussions about its complex themes, some of which are deeply religious. Ankerberg and Burroughs, coauthors of The Da Vinci Code Controversy
, write as ardent fans of the series who are intrigued by its mysteries and discussions of faith, miracles, dreams, prayer and God. This is not the book for fans seeking compelling speculation about what will happen in future seasons; section two, which briefly addresses some popular theories, does little more than scratch the surface of other people’s musings. And although Ankerberg and Burroughs state at the outset they’re “not saying that Lost
is a Christian show,” their book is primarily concerned with how various plot lines and characters point to the Bible and to Jesus Christ. Sometimes this yields interesting fruit, as when they analyze each Bible verse listed on Eko’s Jesus stick, but mostly the effort to pigeonhole the drama for apologetic purposes feels forced. This book will be best enjoyed by evangelical youth groups, who will resonate with its explicitly Christian focus and the “Lost Talk” discussion questions at the end of each chapter. (Dec.)
