Mere Christianity

Rating:
Summary: To know, is to love.
Review: C.S. Lewis is perhaps the twentieth century's finest Christian writer. This book is no doubt one of Professor Lewis' most wonderful works. He offers a simple, clear view of Christianity. Beware! To truly understand and appreciate this book, one must come with an open and humble heart. What I mean by open is to truly see it from Lewis' shoes. And what I mean by humble is that, well, "no one can truly know Christ without humility." You must want, desire, crave, yearn in order to seek. And to seek is to know, and to know is to love. --spaceboy

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating perspectives, but strays from its premise
Review: This was one of those books that I've had in the back of my mind for some time, as being a work that I should get around to reading someday. As the featured Editorial Review points out, there is much "shouting, stomping, sweating, spitting televangelist" fare written in defense of Christian theology... but this C.S. Lewis book has the rare reputation of being a mainstream religious book that attempts to build a logical and reasoned case. A case for the core of Christianity, across the various denominations and schools of thought. It was a book worth reading, but unfortunately I don't feel it lives up to that stated premise.

Lewis builds the foundation of his case by taking things we know about human nature, and putting together deductions toward higher conclusions. Sure, a skilled trial lawyer may be able to poke holes here and there through some of the assumptions and logical leaps that Lewis makes... but he is attempting to build a logical case regardless. So far, so good.

With a foundation established, Lewis drills deeper... building a case for evangelical theism over other theological views on God such as pantheism or dualism. It is at this point where my disappointment begins. I have read other books about these these different beliefs... and it always seems to be a case of the author stating the belief in passionate and emotion-driven language, and leaving it as self-evident that the reader must agree with that feeling. I was dying to hear for the first time someone approach this issue with logical arguments in the name of reasoned discussion.

Unfortunately, I'm still waiting. Apparently Lewis didn't have better luck than any of those other authors in coming up with a reasoned explanation for his beliefs, so that inconvenient literary device goes out the window temporarily. He simply labels pantheism as "wishful thinking", then says its believers are "talking nonsense" and are "damned to eternal death". After one paragraph of the kind of thing that the Editorial Review mentioned above claimed we wouldn't see, Lewis considers the case closed and moves on to the next topic.

This was a disappointment to me on two fronts. Number one, this and other examples hurt the credibility of the book's original premise. If you're going to build a reasoned case for something, you must do so consistently or not bother at all. If one makes the argument that reason is not always sufficient and that we must on occasion revert to emotion and intuition, then acknowledge that up-front and don't masquerade as a case built by logic and reason.

Secondly, I felt the book strayed from its original premise on another front. The book spends its opening pages declaring a mission statement around "mere Christianity"... speaking of the core principles across all major denominations and school of thought, while staying away from "high Theology... which ought never to be treated except by real experts" (the author's own words). Why then does he even see fit do delve into discussion over theism vs. pantheism, when the latter theological view has a wide following in progressive and even moderate-mainline Protestant denominations (such as the author's own Anglican church!)? Maybe much has changed between the book's original time of publication and today, and I'm being unfair by viewing the book in light of today's situation... but it does seem to me that "mere" is another word for "evangelical" in Lewis' mind.

Okay, so now that I've bashed the book and surely earned the anger of many readers, I supposed I should explain what I DID like about it enough to rate it 4-of-5 stars. Despite my concerns that Lewis didn't stick to the premise as much as I would have liked, the plain fact remains that any believer would benefit from reading this book. Lewis does have a gift for metaphor and analogy, and I do not have enough room here to point out all the places in the book where this gift is used to shed fresh new light on a subject. His thoughts on the nature of the Atonement (what DOES it mean to say Jesus was crucified "for us"?) were perhaps the most interesting perspective I've ever heard, and helped me gain better understanding of a question that has been elusive to me.

All in all, I do not see Mere Christianity living up to its reputation as being a book you could hand to atheists or followers of other religion and have it magically convert them through force of reasoning. However, for existing believers it's a wealth of insights and intelligent perspectives on a wide variety of fronts... and will almost certainly give you some fresh new ways of looking at some aspect of your faith. That's certainly good enough reason to warrant a recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Simplicity applied sublimely.....
Review: Bowen Simmons has deposited here possibly the best review of Mere Christianity I've read. But as my task is to review the book, not one of it's many reviewers, I'll state only that Mere Christianity works for those capable of appreciating simplicity. Those sternly demanding difficult philosophical pretzels may huffily dismiss Lewis as a simpleton. If they also require a "contemporary" defense of ancient tenets they might easily assign the appellation to themselves.

Faith, regardless of chronology, is faith. Natural theology, in which reason alone is employed to understand God, was vigorously challenged as late (or as early) as the 13th century (see William of Ockham). I think C.S. Lewis well aware of this. But, he is evidently also aware that the promotion of faith to the ambivalent is only a partial strategy. Thus, Lewis provides a sublime distillation open to anyone willing to open the tiniest aperture unto themselves.

Though he ostensibly has, his goal is not to convert atheists (for they have a faith of their own). He merely presents Christianity for those who wish a clear, concise understanding. Yet, as in everything, we find only what we wish to find. Some will find here 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Primitive concepts outdated by todays understanding
Review: I have no doubt that C.S. Lewis was a fine man and he certainly set out to achieve a noble goal here. Making the spiritual more understandable through the application of logic has an undeniable appeal. Unfortunately, his assumptions about some of the basic concepts of human nature look positively naive by modern standards. He comes off sounding like, as one of my psych professors was fond of saying, a "park-bench philosopher". Behavioral science just had not developed to the point it has today, so he had no way of knowing that his basic assumptions about some things he viewed as givens were, in fact, not given at all. In the end, trying to make the subject of religion something that one can put to the test of "logic" is an exercise in futility. That's why it's called faith.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Tool for Intellectual Evangelism!
Review: I read this book twenty years ago, and after reading it once again it still speaks volumes about why new life in Jesus Christ is so vital. It is ideal for the intellectual non-Christian who is struggling with the claims of Christ, mentally wrestling with the truth of His message and the need of salvation and new birth. It is also helpful for the new believer to understand better his faith and his relationship with his Lord.

Lewis here is profound, yet practical. His words are holy, yet extremely human. This book is actually a compilation of three separate titles by Lewis, the first of which was copyrighted in 1943. Over the decades that have followed, his words have proven timelessly inspiring.

For the non-Christian with intellectual questions, and for the Christian who dares to think about his faith, this classic work is a must-read.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing and will challenge the non-believer and Christian
Review: In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis examines faith and Christianity without biasing any particular denomination. This book is divided into four sections. In the first two sections, Lewis writes as an apologetic. He takes a philisophical approach to describe that humans have a moral standard and this standard originates from God. Lewis also defends Jesus Christ's claim to be God and how we are redeemed through His death on the cross. I found this section to be very well written and intriguing.

In the third section, Lewis examines Christian behavior. He discusses various topics including the four Cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues, sexual morality and the Christian marriage, and my favorite chapter - "The Great Sin" (pride). I would be surprised to find a reader that would be disappointed in this section. It is very intriguing and is an excellent reference looking at sin and appropriate behaviors for Christians.

The last section discusses the trinity and Lewis's view of the life as a Christian. This is probably the most challenging section of the book. Lewis even warns readers that they may want to skip a chapter or two if they don't think it will help them. Nonetheless, I found this section to be interesting and it really gives the reader a glimpse into the mind of one of the great apologetics of the twentieth century.

I recommend this book to both the non-believer and the strong Christian. It is an excellent reference and is guaranteed to challenge you.

Rating:
Summary: Merely the best
Review: The life of C.S. Lewis is truly inspiring. He is an amazing man of God. With the gifts bestowed unto him, Lewis writes Mere Christianity- the best introduction to the Christian faith for anyone from the simpleton to the learned businessperson. Mere Christianity is a group of war-time BBC talks gathered together. In them, Lewis is persuasive and serious, humourous and easy-to-read.

I recommend all of C.S. Lewis' works.
You have not truly read a good book until you have read Lewis.

Rating:
Summary: not very good..
Review: i could only read half an hour of this critically aclaimed outline. its too wordy/complicated for even the very seasoned christian.

Rating:
Summary: Deeply moving and thought-provoking
Review: In the foreword it is explained that this book is not one of philosophical musings but a work of oral literature addressed to a people at war. It was originally broadcast by the BBC from 1942 to 1944, hence the gripping metaphors like the image of the earth as enemy-occupied territory. Mere Christianity is a book of plain but moving language.

In Book One: Right and Wrong As a Clue To The Meaning Of The Universe, Lewis looks at the law of human nature (inherent knowledge of right and wrong), certain objections, the reality of the law and that which lies behind the law. Here he discusses the materialist, the life-force and the religious views of life.

Book Two is a discussion on what Christians believe, in terms of the aforementioned occupied territory, a coming invasion, the penitent, and the practical conclusion. This section also deals with pantheism, dualism, free will, the divinity of Christ and God's intentions with the world.

Book Three investigates Christian behaviour, in terms of the cardinal virtues, social and personal morality, morality and psychology, marriage, forgiveness, the great sin (narcissistic pride; in this regard, please also read People Of The Lie by M Scott Peck), and what charity, hope and faith really mean.

Book 4 is a captivating explanation of the doctrine of the trinity. I found this part very interesting and sometimes deeply moving. Lewis speculates on the nature of time, the nature of man and the nature of God, as the Father the source, the Son an emanation of the source and the Holy Spirit as the spirit of love between Father and Son. Lewis explains what he thinks is the process whereby the individual receives a higher nature. This change in consciousness (infusion of the Holy Spirit) leads to a transcendence of the mortal nature by transforming the individual into a child of the divine.

He argues convincingly for personalities in God and God as the ultimate personality. I found this very illuminating, also in light of having recently read the books by Deborah Whitehouse and Alan Anderson on Process New Thought, especially their view of the personhood of God and panentheism as it emerges from the work of Alfred North Whitehead.

Mere Christianity is a most memorable work that expresses ideas that are relevant to our times. It is a very refreshing expression of a personal Christian belief system that could serve as a strong antidote to the dictatorship of dogma or the staid boredom often associated with 20th century religion in the West. Deeply illuminating, Lewis' words I am sure make many people reconsider important ideas that they had taken for granted.

I am not sure how close Lewis came to the truth in every respect, but much in his vision is inspiring, noble and infused with a sense of logic and common sense. Lewis' writing has an uplifting effect on the spirit. I recommend Mere Christianity to all people of faith and those in search of meaning. One might not ultimately agree with everything, but the thoughts expressed here certainly make you think.


Rating:
Summary: A Layman's explanation of Christianity
Review: C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity is a great work about faith. Many intellectuals may scoff in contempt about some of the logic that Lewis uses, but in some ways that is the entire point of this book. He gives a concise and easily understandable description of what faith means. Keep in mind that this book is comprised of essays, many of which were born out of a radio program during World War 2.

While Mere Christianity is a great read it should not be taken as the gospel truth. C.S. Lewis was a brilliant individual, but some of his beliefs about women in a religious perspective are outdated. He would be the first to tell you that he was nothing more than a layman when it comes to explaining the Kingdom of God. Qualms aside, this is a really great book and it is easy to read. Those that like Mere Christianity should read Lewis' The Screwtape Letters.