Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (2001, Hardcover)

C. S. Lewis

Mere Christianity

MERE CHRISTIANITY - C. S. LEWIS (HARDCOVER) NEW

Onward, Christian Soldier!

24th August 2010

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![



[ASIN:066424680X Smoke on the Mountain: An Interpretation of the Ten Commandments]]J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)

Common Christianity, Uncommon Insight

18th August 2010

If famed atheist Christopher Hitchens suddenly embraced Jesus Christ, what would he write to explain and defend Christian belief?

It might look something like "Mere Christianity."

Beloved author of "The Chronicles of Narnia," C.S. Lewis was once an atheist who later embraced Jesus Christ. Lewis went on to become a passionate and articulate defender of classical Christianity. "Mere Christianity" is considered to be his magnum opus defense of Christian belief.



In "Mere Christianity," Lewis strikes at the core of what Christians - all Christians - believe to be true about God and the world God has created. The title, which sounds strange today, simply refers to commonly shared beliefs among all Christians: Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, etc. Lewis begins with the Moral Argument for God's existence, moving ever closer to the person of Jesus Christ. The latter half of the book addresses what Christians belief BECAUSE of who we believe Jesus to be. He touches on issues of sexuality, sacraments, virtues, etc.

Some of Lewis' language is a bit dated. His beliefs about gender roles and marriage may also rub some readers/listeners the wrong way. But none of these detract from the significance of this book.

You can "read" MC as a superb audiobook, available through [...]. Geoffrey Howard, the audiobook narrator, is fantastic. I'm so glad they found a British narrator to read a book by a British author. I read the book in print long before I listened to it, but I enjoy the book well enough to re-read it - and I assume that audiobook actually gets closer to MC's original presentation as a series of radio broadcasts.

Check out my earlier post on good books for non-Christians and new Christians. But don't miss out on "Mere Christianity."

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