A remarkable life: Ravi Zacharias, 1946-2020
UPDATE (February 2021):
Over the last months harrowing details have emerged of how Ravi Zacharias abused his position of trust and influence and abused and damaged the lives of people. In a recent blog post, LICC wrote these words, which we wholeheartedly echo:
“No apologetic can suffice. We must face tough questions on the charisma cult, wilful blindness to narcissistic leadership, lack of accountability, and defensive posturing making people deaf to those who spoke truth. Reparations must be made, where care and some sort of ‘justice’ for survivors is first priority.”
Ravi Zacharias (26 March 1946 – 19 May 2020) was an Indian-born Canadian-American Christian speaker and writer. Zacharias was the author of more than 30 books revolving around “Apologetics” (helping believers think and thinkers believer), including Can Man Live Without God?, as well as Christian bestsellers Light in the Shadow of Jihad and The Grand Weaver. Zacharias was the founder and chairman of the board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and OCCA (Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics), which provided speakers for our Rethink week in 2018.
“Does God Exist?”
It is a question also asked behind the walls of Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison, the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. Zacharias had prayed with prisoners of war all those years ago in Vietnam but walking through Death Row left an even deeper impression. Zacharias believed the gospel shined with grace and power, especially in the darkest places, and praying with those on Death Row “makes it impossible to block the tears.” It was his third visit to Angola and, such is his deep connection, the inmates have made Zacharias the coffin in which he will be buried. As he writes in Seeing Jesus from the East:
“These prisoners know that this world is not their home and that no coffin could ever be their final destination. Jesus assured us of that.”