“The nihilism to which secularism has given birth leaves many with no reason for living, and death is once again in the cultural air.”

In the introductory chapter, Wright states the social and cultural context of the book. Modern society is engulfed in nihilism, which destroys a sense of life’s meaning and fosters a preoccupation with death—in contrast to Wright’s childhood when the prosperous and optimistic mood of postwar society tended to make the discussion of death taboo. The new cultural environment makes this book necessary, and Wright will present the Christian message as a cure for modern malaise.

“[M]ost people simply don’t know what orthodox Christian belief is.”

In one of the major premises of the book, Wright argues that authentic Christian belief has been covered by an overlay of influences from outside Christianity—notably from Platonism. A major purpose of the book is to dust off the Platonic residue and get back to bedrock Christian teaching, which Wright identifies with the founding documents of Christianity: the New Testament and the early church fathers.

“[D]eath is important; it is an enemy, but for the Christian, it is a beaten enemy.”

Wright extracts this message from the sonnet “Death Be Not Proud” by John Donne. In contrast to Scott Holland, Donne presents the orthodox Christian message about death, granting its power and importance but emphasizing that Christ’s sacrifice has destroyed its hold on humanity.