Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
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Book Reviews of Mere Christianity
Book Review: Nothing Mere about it !
Summary: 5 Stars
Sometimes a classic is remembered only as a classic and not for what made it a classic. Sometimes a generation passes and one of its greatest voices is remembered by name only. For some people, re-reading a classic may refresh their mind and heart with a book enjoyed long ago. For others, the classic book is a new conversation with timeless ideas. Mere Christianity is a classic, and C.S. Lewis is still a great voice echoing to new generations. Mere Christianity was first published in 1952 as a compilation of books and responses to questions produced from a four-part series of radio broadcasts that Lewis gave during World War II; consequently, the book has four sections corresponding to the radio series.
The short chapters in Mere Christianity are brilliantly written and enjoyable to read. Each chapter progresses through a tour of Christian beliefs and practices for the unbeliever who is honestly interested in understanding Christianity. Objections are dealt with as they logically arise. Throughout the book, Lewis is constructing a case to prove that Christianity is a logical response to the questions of our lives. Like a lawyer in court, he persuades us through the cumulative weight of his case, never getting ahead of himself. He also proves he is a master of the hypothetical example that clarifies a difficult idea. Mere Christianity is a treasure trove of amazing anecdotes that can be remembered and shared with those seeking answers about Christianity.
The first section, "Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe," begins by observing that a certain degree of morality is common among men. Nature has checks and balances that any culture can use to gauge proper behavior. The author calls this condition "Moral Law" and establishes that it must exist as an absolute standard. If no final standard exists, Lewis argues "there would be no sense in preferring civilized morality to savage morality, or Christian morality to Nazi morality" (p.25). Moral Law is shown to be the effect of a higher cause, which is tentatively called "God" at this point in the book.
Section two, "What Christians Believe," uses reason to eliminate competing views of God such as pantheism, dualism, atheism and other variants. The problem of evil is dealt with primarily by reason of universal morality or justice. Lewis asks for the basis of any claim calling God unjust if there is no absolute standard of just and unjust to begin with. Free will, mans' fallen condition, and the relationship between faith and works are used to show the necessity of the gospel. Only God, through Christ's sacrifice, could restore the relationship with man since, as Lewis says - "the worse you are the more you need it and the less you can do it. The only person who could do it perfectly would be a perfect person - and he would not need it" (p.60).
The third section, "Christian Behavior," explains that Christian duty and outward behavior is an expected consequence of the spiritual influence of Christ. The four "cardinal" virtues of prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude are observed as they occur both inside and outside of Christianity. The chapters on sexual morality and Christian marriage are very insightful and are as accurate as if they were written yesterday. Pride is called "The Great Sin" and is presented in a manner consistent with the Bible. Pride is the central problem in human history and is a spiritual vice from Hell, delivered to us by Satan who is also full of pride.
The final section, "Beyond Personality: Or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity," is the most theological part of the book. Lewis stays close to the Bible throughout most of the discussion but does not use it as part of his case. Theology is shown to be both practical and important. The theological nature of Jesus is unique among all men since he was begotten and not just created. The book concludes by showing that what seems so simple and unlikely is, in fact, the most powerful force the earth will ever know. When the case built throughout the book is complete, we see that giving up our corrupted lives to partake in the perfect life of Christ is the most consistent and realistic response we could ever have to our human condition.
Lewis writes from deep within his heart on all subjects. You may not agree with every statement made in the book, but you will laugh aloud frequently and understand "Mere Christianity" in a new way. Mere Christianity isn't "mere" at all.
Book Review: One man's meat...
Summary: 5 Stars
Mere Christianity is, if not the most successful apologetic book for Christianity, certainly one of the most discussed. Christians proudly point to it as an irrefutable argument for their faith. Atheists proudly point to their facile rebuttals as an example of how the 'best' logic that Christianity can muster is really no logic at all. Personally it has been a very important book for my faith life, but I see no reason why anyone should be brow-beaten into believing after reading this. Actually, that's not what C.S. Lewis had in mind when he wrote it.
Several reviewers are quite right when they say that the internal logic may be consistent, but that's no indication that what Lewis says is true. All he meant to do was try to get the reader into the believer's mindset, to give an insider's view of why believers might find the tenets and premises of their faith convincing. Furthermore, Lewis wanted to keep things very simple, so that even the man on the street could understand complex matters of theology and practice. He did not want to write a philosophical tome, but an intimate conversation on the content and meaning of the Christian faith.
This is a book which begs to be put in its historical context, that of World War II Britain. The message is aimed towards people who did not know if they would live another day, whether they were pilots in the Air Force or citizens terrorized by the London blitz. This DOESN'T mean he just wanted to give them something nice to believe in. He sincerely believed that he was giving them the truth. Who says the truth can't be comforting and inspiring? It is a perverse logic that says that truth must be something 'harsh' and 'impersonal'. What I usually see is that this is assumed without demonstration from the outset, and from then on religious beliefs are debunked as 'wishful thinking'.
On Lewis' argument from good and evil: he DID anticipate the 'sociobiology' objection, but he called it the 'herd instinct' explanation and did not think it touched the real issue behind his argument (see pp.9-11). Of course the ingenuity of skepticism is unbounded, so again there is no reason why even the most tightly reasoned arguments should touch the hard-core skeptic. Her eyes and ears are closed. That is not to say that Lewis' argumentation is perfect. He IS dated in places, he DOES oversimplify at times (but keep in mind his audience) and some of his opinions on Christian behavior may more reflect the preset attitudes of an Oxford don than the spirit of the faith. Overall, though, his case for Christianity is lucid, warm and compelling.
Even his most passionate despisers cannot deny, furthermore, that Lewis had a great talent for words, especially given that these chapters were originally radio broadcasts. His prose is a pleasure to read, warm, personal and measured, while sparkling with wit and just a hint of irony. You can almost see him smoking his pipe, rocking in his chair, exclaiming "who would have thought!" when he presents his case. This is a man whose faith went through enormous testing, and in fact Lewis never reached the certainty and ease of mind that he was looking for. He suffered doubts all his life, especially when his wife died. But he was always hopeful, in the best Christian sense of the word. He was confident that his trust in God would pay off. Now he knows, one way or another.
In the meantime, those of us who have not yet crossed over that river can learn much from Lewis' wisdom. His insight into human nature was remarkably prescient and still speaks to our time. Even if you don't buy his 'God-talk', you cannot help but squirm under his cold, clear, microscopic gaze as he exposes the foibles, weaknesses and shortcomings that prevent us from being the kind of people we want to be. In the end, the legacy of C.S. Lewis is not that he gave Christians the perfect weapon to cajole everyone into the fold. It is his insights into our souls that really stand the test of time. If Christianity is anything it is a religion of relentless self-criticism, which if applied honestly will drive the honest seeker to the realization of sin, at which point God may work a miracle and give him or her New Life.
Book Review: Onward, Christian Soldier!
Summary: 5 Stars
Mere Christianity was written not as a "Christian book", but as a series of radio broadcasts during the horrors of World War II. Its author is not a theologian, or even a Christian Inspirational Writer, but a soldier and medievalist/Renaissance scholar: a beer-drinking chain-smoking man who considered himself "a very ordinary layman." (6) He speaks in a spirit of love and service to show the Christian religion to the non-Christian, and to "defend the common belief that has been common to all Christians at all times."
Lewis shows the importance of peace between Christian denominations, all of which he believed to be equal. I first used this excellent product shortly after I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at age sixteen, and suddenly felt a need to leave the denomination into which I was born. Lewis' words are very reassuring for anyone experiencing similar spiritual struggles, as the denomination in which I was born and the denomination in which I was baptized, while strikingly different from each other on a superficial level, are in essence completely equal, although, as I have learned from Lewis' philosophy, there is a degree of appropriateness for each individual Believer in his or her particular chosen denomination. Yet Lewis cautions Christians not to discuss the differences between denominations except among fellow Christians. Experience has taught me this makes perfect sense.
Lewis vehemently speaks out against the rampant sin of legalism as he discusses the virtue of "temperance." If one wants to completely abstain from alcohol, one may, but a Christian ought not to pass judgment on those Christians who, as Lewis and his wife and brother did, enjoy their beer! He also points out that those who devote their lives to any thing, such as clothes or games or motorcycles are as intemperate as those who drink alcohol to excess. Lewis' wife Joy Davidman goes one step further in her clear exposition on the Ten Commandments in which she takes Lewis' concept of intemperance one step further by classifying it as idolatry.
Lewis strongly promotes the Christian work ethic and puts the responsibilities of the Christian writer into perspective. If all work performed by Christians counts as Christian service, then all excellent books written by Christians are Christian books. If, in Lewis' words, "Christian literature comes from Christian novelists and dramatists . . .", then perhaps most of us are in possession of four of the greatest Christian books ever written: Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings!
Lewis brings Christian morality to the forefront, but I believe the very people who recoil in fear at the mention of the subject are the ones who may need to take comfort in his words, as Lewis shows how the deadliest of all sin is pride, from which springs other sins such as legalism. He calls Pride the chief misery in every nation and shows how "other vices may bring people together". Conversely, I have learned from Lewis that humility, the opposite of pride, is not the belief that one is inferior to everybody else, but that everybody is superior to that one person. Many of us are humble at Christmas anyway as we think about what to give our relatives and friends as signs of love and appreciation. From my many readings of Mere Christianity, I learned that the best way to be humble is to behave as if every day was Christmas Day!
From a purely cultural perspective, Lewis' scholarship is stellar, and a Druid friend to whom I gave a copy of Mere Christianity, while remaining a staunch Druid, admires Lewis' clear writing and sharp perspectives.
I first used this product when I was a fledgling Christian myself. I have been using this product for over thirty years now and have not only been recommending it highly, but have been giving it as gifts![
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Book Review: Faith and Reason; No Contradiction
Summary: 5 Stars
Much has been written of C.S. Lewis' classic work Mere Christianity because of the wide influence it has had in the past 60 years. Mere Christianity is not only a lucid Christian apologetic, but it is the articulated philosophical process by which C.S. Lewis, originally an atheist, came to find Christianity a reasonable doctrine to live by. To be sure, his conversion was not simply a matter of syllogism applied to religion; Lewis is forthright in acknowledging and even embracing the mystery, and at times, the not insignificant confusion that can accompany the acceptance of Christ as Savior. One of Lewis' purposes--rare among popular Christian writers--is to provide a framework of belief that allows a Christian to express their faith in a manner that is intelligible and reasonable to non-believers. Relying, as Christ did, on the power of metaphor and parable, Lewis is able to provide insight into Christian principles in manner that is at once accessible and profound.
One of the major contributions of Mere Christianity is the argument of the Moral Law. Lewis draws upon a universal set of principles of right & wrong and relates them to the existence of a high power. Lewis loosely defines the "moral law" as a set of moral principles which are universal across culture, time, and geography. By emphasizing the contrast between human moral goals--for peace, altruism, etc.--with the survival-dominated behavior paradigms in the natural kingdom, Lewis argues that a universal moral law---even one that is at times flagrantly disobeyed---is evidence of a loving God.
Lewis is careful to point out that we have moral goals that often amount to nothing more than aspirations. Yet, these aspirations form a powerful framework for action since the moral law provides a universal set of expectations about right & wrong. The universal expectations are true regardless of philosophy or belief in God. For example, a person may believe that all morality is relative. However, if that same person were robbed, they would strenuously object and would seek justice through some law-enforcing institution. Thus our actions and thoughts may not always reflect the hopes of the moral law, but we carry the law with us in all of our interactions and have real expectations of behavior from our fellow man.
It is important to note that recent scholarship in evolutionary biology has begun to explore natural reasons for phenomenon such as altruism and self-sacrifice. This scholarship provides, at the very least, a plausible explanation for the moral law that does not rely on the existence of God. While research continues in this area, Scientists such as Francis Collins (atheist convert to Christianity, leader of the Human Genome Project, and author of Language of God) have developed frameworks of belief which do not set evolution and faith in God at odds with each other. In Collins' framework, evolution is simply the means by which God created (and continues to create) life. Similarly, Lewis is comfortable with evolution as a tool of God. This may surprise many conservative Christians who draw so heavily on his articulation of the Christian faith. But this is what makes Lewis' work so powerful. We see a passionate believer who embodies a faith that is not threatened by advances in scientific understanding even while refusing to compromise the moral and spiritual imperatives of Christianity.
Mere Christianity is by now a classic work in the Christian anthology. Its power is in Lewis' ability to connect with the reader without pandering. Its durability is in its reasonableness. Its attractiveness is in its commitment to raw faith in Christ. As such, Lewis' treatise is recommended for both Christians and non-Christians alike for the purpose of introspection, interaction, and exploration. Current debates within Christian circles and between believers and non-believers could benefit from Lewis' unique ability to explain the Christian faith as a vibrant, flexible but demanding discipline upon which we can place all of our hopes.
Book Review: Better to be a prostitute than a prig...
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the most insightful passages that I have ever read about sex is in this book. I cannot add to the many comments about the book as whole; but I think that Lewis's insight into sex should be noted.
Lewis says, "When an adolescent or an adult is engaged in resisting a conscious desire, he is not dealing with a repression nor is he in the least danger of creating a repression. On the contrary, those who are seriously attempting chastity are more conscious, and soon know a great deal more about their own sexuality than anyone else. They come to know their desires as Wellington knew Napoleon, or as Sherlock Holmes knew Mariarty; as a rat-catcher knows rats or a plumber knows about leaky pipes. Virtue--even attempted virtue--brings light; indulgence brings fog."
This idea that Chastity helps one know sexuality in the way a rat-catcher knows rats helps explain what Thoreau was saying in Walden when he called Chastity the beginning of genius and heroism. It's what Freud was talking about when he talked about Leonardo da Vinci transmuting sexual energy into genius. Virtue--even attempted virtue--brings light. As a physician, I know the intimate details of the lives of thousands of people and I know no perfect people. But, I know many people who have more light by simply making a serious attempt at virtue (more light in their quest for better sex and more light in other arenas).
The connection between sexuality and spirituality is complicated but direct and profound. When understood, this connection offers a way to both deeper spiritual and sexual relations. I'm not sure that I completely understand it yet (after studying that connection for 30 years) but this book (in Chapter 5: Sexual Morality) offers important clues.
Having counseled thousands of women and having treated them medically, I have found that real virtue (not the fake stuff) does bring clarity and the most sexual and skilled women are often the most virtuous. The over indulged frequently suffer with difficulty with orgasm and depression and forms of self abuse.
Here's another one of my favorite passages:
"Finally, though I have had to speak at some length about sex, I want to make it as clear as I possibly can that the centre of Christian morality is not here...The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual: the pleasure of putting other people in the worng, of bossing and patronizsing and spoiling sport, and back-biting; the pleasures of power, of hatred. For there are two things inside me, competing with the human self which I must try to become. They are the Animal self and the Diabolical self. The Diabolical self is the worse of the two. That is why a cold, self-righteious prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. But, of course, it is better to be neither."
I have attended (as physician) prostitutes and am a friend to women who have worked in the sex business--some as prostitutes. I've found the mark left by work in the sex industry usually leaves a woman with a hard shell but very tender and forgiving heart. While the fluffy woman on the front seat at churh will sometimes have a soft shell and very hard and unforgiving heart. I would agree with Lewis that the Prostitute is nearer to heaven than the Prig.
I'm sorry if this review sounds preachy. I don't mean to try and expain what Lewis explains so eloquently in his book. But, as someone who has treated thousands for sexual dysfunction, as the author of what is presently the best selling sex manual on Amazon, I thought I might hopefully write a note to encourage more people to pay attention to Lewis's chapter on sexual morality.
Peace & Health,
Charles Runels, MD