Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
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Book Reviews of Mere Christianity
Book Review: I love his views on the potential of individuals
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read CS Lewis as a child by reading his imaginative letters on how to tempt man, `The Screwtape Letters', and then later by reading his wonderful `Chronicles of Narnia' and then the account of his conversion to Christianity, `Surprised by Joy'. I loved his writing style and was impressed with his intellect and decided to read `Mere Christianity' based on the recommendations of several friends from various Christian religions. I found it to be a very wonderful and thought provoking book.
I was most impressed with CS Lewis' views on what man/woman may become. In the last paragraph of Chapter 9 he says, "The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were `gods' and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him--for we can prevent Him, if we choose--He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said."
I also liked the way he put the personal attention and healing Christ gives to us by saying, "[God] has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. He does not have to deal with us in the mass. You are as much alone with Him as if you were the only being He had ever created. When Christ died, He died for you individually just as much as if you had been the only man in the world".
I do not agree with everything CS Lewis says, but what he says, he states very well, in clear, powerful language. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand this beautiful vision of Christianity.
Book Review: Too Bad He's Gone, He'd Answer You
Summary: 5 Stars
I was most interested in Optimus Maximus, though I disagree with two points. Still I said the essay was helpful. I think most people would find it so. But--pullease, sir!-- Christianity is NOT complex. It can be stated in three paragraphs known as The Apostles' Creed. You needn't tell me that many Christians do not know this Creed, and therefore find the many books written ABOUT Christianity complex. Of course. When one is discussing a world view one ought to go back to the earliest statement of it. Regarding the other point, I have found that many Christian women, including my wife, do not at all mind obeying their husbands. It relieves them of a great deal of heavy thinking and gives them more time to do the things they like,--such as spending time with the children, knitting, cooking gourmet meals, and gardening. My wife cordially detests the women of NOW, refers to them as the "hairy-legged ones" and numerous other nasty epithets. Not all of today's women, especially Christian women, feel "liberated" by twentieth-century mores.
For me, the value of Lewis's book is its use as a handbook to provide a language by which to speak to Christians of other persuasions. I have given away more copies than I care to count. You will remember his preface in which he says that he has found those at the center of each denomination in tune with each other more that they are with those on the periphery of their own denomination. I find this is true. As a traditional Episcopalian, I have more in common with James Kennedy, a traditionsl Presbyterian, Adrian Rogers, a traditional Southern Baptist, and Alan Keyes, a traditional Catholic, than I have with many of the bishops of my own church, who would not find MERE CHRISTIANITY at all palatable. I think the book was not so much written to convert non-Christians as to inform them about basic doctrine and to re-inform Christians when they have strayed into heresy. Just my opinion.
Book Review: Beyond Narnia
Summary: 5 Stars
Say what you like about the new Narnia movie; it's gotten people reading the Chronicles. The question most readers have upon closing the seventh volume is what to read next. For fiction, I would suggest the space trilogy, but many readers like to jump out into Lewis' non-fiction.
Mere Christianity is by far his best selling non-fiction book. It isn't just a million seller; it sells that many copies every year. It's consistently in the top two hundred books on Amazon and there are a few hundred readers' reviews. Originally given as broadcast talks over BBC radio during World War II, this material was later published in three skinny books before being collected together as Mere Christianity.
Lewis is widely read because he has a way of putting things that everyone wonders about. He argues from the natural law (why things are the way they are or appear to be), common sense (things people seem to mostly hold in common and which make up human life) and a particularly Lewisian idea of cosmic homesickness, in German, sensucht, that we are made for somewhere and someone else and, as St. Augustine put it, "our hearts are always restless 'till we find our rest in Thee."
Lewis, well read in Northern and other mythology, goes further, identifying that destination and destiny with joy, and the motif of delight is one of the things that makes the Narnian Chronicles so -well, delightful. He echoes philosopher Blaise Pascal's idea that we are made with a God-shaped hole (vacuum)that "cannot be filled by any created thing but only by the Creator as known through Jesus Christ." That's the mere Christianity Lewis finds running as a golden thread through the heart of the various denominations. "All our quarrels are lovers' quarrels," said early TV preacher Fulton Sheen. Remembering that might help us avoid petty squabbles, and instead seek together the source of that delight.
Book Review: Thought Provoking
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not a student on the writings of C.S. Lewis, but I have found in even brief introductions to some of his work an appeal that I readily understand as the reason for his popularity. From reading Mere Christianity I was struck by his ability to clearly articulate the basic principles of the Christian faith, without delving into the doctrinal disputes arising between different denominations or succumbing to the language of theologians. His writings, while some may call simplistic in their style and their analysis, are anything but in reality. What I mean by this is that Lewis has a profound way of analogizing certain principles associated with both the obvious and the deeper aspects of the faith with the more mundane realities of day to day life and etc.
I think you can have your disagreements with some of Lewis's arguments, but he certainly does hit a cord. I'm not going to get into the aspects of the faith that he discusses, I think everyone will confront those with his/her own experiences and background in mind. This book will appeal to the practicing Christian and those who have drifted away from active church attendance and so forth. Perhaps this is a good primer for those who are not familiar with the basic tenants of Christianity and would like an introduction. It seems to be written for that audience. Once again, I think everybody will have a different approach in deciding to read this book and what they take out of it.
Lewis clearly believed that what he was trying to show was the broader, more uniformly shared beliefs common (or should be) to all denominations whether they be Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Anglican (as in his case) and so forth. For those of us who have doubted and drifted away, I think there are some helpful reminders and reassurances in this book, but also some hard lessons that are not comfortable to think about. A must read.
Book Review: Enlightened and Inspired
Summary: 5 Stars
Perhaps an even better title for this CS Lewis masterpiece might be "Why Christianity?" In this slim volume, Lewis uses a chatty, accessible style to answer questions and explain his faith. The result is one of the best Christian apologetics ever. Less dense and dated that "The Pilgrim's Regress" and more broad than "The Great Divorce," this may be Lewis' finest work--which is truly saying something.
Not to give away too much of the content, but a favorite section is when Lewis discusses psychology and philosophy. As a Christian, Lewis gives one of the finest explanations for why we should not judge others; that we can only see their actions, not their inactions, and that we do not know others' genetics and life history. Only God does, so only he should judge. God may value someone who has had a cruel life merely refraining from an act of cruelty more highly that He values someone with an easy life performing a positive kindness!
Lewis goes on to point out that those given great gifts are called on to use them more in service to mankind. Rather like the old Kennedy adage that to whom much is given, much is asked.
Lewis is much more accessible that contemporary English Christian authors Charles Williams or Dorothy Sayer. Perhaps the only other modest-sized 20th century apologetic as sublime is Bishop Kallistos Ware's "The Orthodox Way." Both share the simple brilliance of addressing the common beliefs of all Christians from ancient times, rather than trying to be sectarian or trendy.
Whether you are a new Christian seeking answers, someone not yet accepting Christ but curious, or even an experienced Christian, this book will be a comfort and a source of much information.
It might not be an exaggeration to say that if you only read one book for the rest of your life, excluding scripture, this should be it!