Mere Christianity

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Summary: Mere Christianity Explains It All
Review: At the age of 25 I read this book in 1976. In the midst of its pages, I became a Christian. The conversion experience was real, it was exciting, and it was lasting. Now, 23 years later, I consider myself a child of God through the ministry of C.S. Lewis. Charles Colson, former "enforcer" of the Nixon Administration, also became a Christian reading Lewis's Mere Christianity. I recommend it to non-believers, believers, and to outright opponents of the idea that Jesus is Lord. Why? Because Lewis strips away all the silly religious accretions that obscure the true message of this historic person known as Jesus of Nazareth. All of these notions kept me away from the faith for years, and it was exhilirating to confront, via Lewis, the Jesus who actually walked the Earth and who, 25 years ago, changed my life radically and forever. I am a lawyer who knows what evidence will stand up in a court room. Lewis has it. I have been "convicted" by that evidence, by the grace of God.

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Summary: A profound look at the logic behind Christianity.
Review: C.S. Lewis explores the common beliefs of all Christian denominations by appealing to his readers logic. Beginning with observations about human nature, he builds a case for the existance of a higher power, that higher power being like the Christian view of God, and how Christianity fulfils the expectations of such a god. He searches into many of the questions that humanity has grappled with for all of time: the existance of God and an explanation of sin and evil, and also discusses the mystery of the Trinity and human redemption through Christ. Any one who reads this book will walk away at least realizing how much time and energy must be devoted to religious questioning.

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Summary: A reasoned look at Christianity
Review: C.S. Lewis is perhaps the greatest Christian thinker of the 20th century. This book is one of his masterpieces. Basically this book is a reasoned explanation of the Christian religion. He covers the Trinity, the book of Genesis, etc. However, this is not light reading. Some books by Lewis (such as the "Great Divorce" and "Chronicles of Narnia") are very light and profound reading. Mere Christianity is not light. It's one of those books that you have to read one page three times before you move on. Lewis is not afraid to get deep and detailed in this book. There's a lot of philosophy in here which I like, its not just an "I believe and that's that" type of book. Really heavy, but rewarding reading.

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Summary: The Purity of the Heart is to Will One Thing
Review: I quote Kierkegaard above because it fits more than the Nietzsche quote from the previous post (they are both Existentialists). To not like this book based on the presentation of Christianity is to not get the book. A staunch agnostic, I read this in college and was floored by the imagery Lewis brings to faith. This book may not convert you, but it offers a view of the power of faith that few writers can create. Religion, in and of itself, is a concept absent of scientific validity because, at its core, is faith. If you are looking for a historical critique or a philosophical deconstruction of Christianity then don't bother becuase, and I will state again, you won't get it. The fact that some will claim the failings of this book are its "flowery postulates without a hint of evidence" show themselves to be living examples of certain characters in the world Lewis creates. It is his attempt to explain that which can not be contained by language that makes this book great. He does not write to prove, he writes to elucidate. It is as if you are reading a landscape painting.

As for the advice to the Atheists, yes, read this book. You might possibly grasp the concept of faith and realize that your "disbelief" is itself a faith, much like Lewis describes, and that your Atheism is a disbelief against the God that is defined and not the God that is.

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Summary: Confused about what Christianity is really all about?
Review: I read this book at first as a believer in the ethics and morals that Christianity teaches. However, AFTER reading the book what I got out of it was a sense of what the idea and logic is behind the Christian way of life. Lewis tends to be able to take the most controversial of topics and somehow make them logical and understanding. I recommend anyone that is even thinking about reading this book go for it. That means the most non-believing athiest, to the extreme radical christian. Reason being is not because Lewis tries to shove anything down your throat he just wants to look at things logicly and try to understand how and why human nature is the way it is. And what role Christianity plays into it.

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Summary: Christianity Revisited
Review: My first introduction to C.S.Lewis was in 1964 as required reading in an English Comp. class. I read "What Christians Believe" and it had such a profound effect on me that I look back and think that that was when I became a Christian. I said that "Mere Christianity" for me is "Christianity Revisited" because here I am 36 years later and just now finding out that "What Christians Believe" is an essay contained in this compilation of C.S.Lewis radio shows of many years ago. I started attending church and Bible study classes on a regular basis in May 1999 and I realize now that I've been a Christian for 36 years but was "sleeping" until just recently. I'm not finished with "Mere Christianity" yet. I'm just starting book 4 but I find myself reading and re-reading what I've already covered and dreading the fact that I'm almost finished with the book. I've come to Amazon.com to find more books like this one so I'll have another available when I finally finish "Mere Christianity". I'm one that feels that, in order to really believe in anything whole-heartedly, one must question it from as many angles as possible. This book helps me do this. I'm sending a copy of this book to a person I know that is an atheist and either he will find something that he never knew or we'll have a lot to discuss. I would suggest this book to anyone. (period)

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Summary: Oh please... is it something in the water?
Review: The title shoud be changed to "I'm now a Christian and here's why...." I won't even bother to discuss the silly analogies and ridiculous attempts at logic to be found in this "masterpeice" of his. This book is great to Christians merely because it is a written example of one who has "chosen the light" and had a PhD, hooray! Also, the mere idea that there's still a war between science and religion in 2001 should baffle everyone and those responsible should find better, more constructive things to do with their life. If you are seeking the Truth, look to those whom you trust and ask them. Or look inside yourself for the answers, most are already there. Good luck to everyone and may God have mercy on your souls.