Mere Christianity

Christianity as it meant to be.

The essentials of Christianity are presented in an enlightening, easy-to-grasp narrative. Both Christian and non-Christians benefit from reading this book. Christians will gain new insights as to why they believe non-Christians will find a brilliant exposition of basic Christian beliefs. It certainly will provoke you to carefully consider what and why you believe. Lewis writes, 'You must make your choice. Either this man [Christ] was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse...But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher.'

11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Like a Fine Wine...

This book should be savored. Hands down, it is probably one of my favorite books covering simple Christian beliefs without dragging dogma or denominational theory into it. The brilliant Lewis appeals to both logic and common sense. For the believer, this book should not be missed, and for the non-believer, Mere Christianity offers a logical, persuasive argument for belief. It is probably one of the most influential Christian books in the twentieth century. His presentation and argument for the case for belief in Christ is profound. I don't think there is a book that has affected my faith more outside of scripture.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

A rational case for belief in God, and faith in Christ

There isn't a person I wouldn't recommend this to; whether you're a Christian wanting to better understand your faith, or if -- and especifally if -- you're an atheist who believes there is no rational case for Christianity. Lewis begins in the most general, basic terms and reasons his way up toward the ideas of a moral law, a creator, and a personal God, all the while building logically onward toward the Christian religion. The interesting thing is that, by the time the reader reaches the final chapters, it has become clear that Lewis has not made his way upward, but inward from the periphery. The further the book goes on, the truer its explorations become, moving from mere fact to deepest truth. Mere Christianity is a challenging, inspiring and open-eyed inquiry into the nature of the universe.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Not for the arrogant

I have read this book many times at many different places in my life. When I arrogantly assume I know all there is to know and that I am such a well-learned scholar that someone like Lewis must be overrated and it is my job to perform an exhaustive analysis, I find this book, and truthfully anything else I read, falls short. However, when I humbly open my heart and mind and ask questions such as, 'Does God exist?' 'Does God really love me?' and 'What can I learn about God through this?' I find that I am filled with the wonder and joy that Lewis offers like a gift. Read up on Lewis' life and you will find that he was disappointed by life and love - yes he did fall in love - and learned time and time again to rest in the wonder and peace of God. This book is an installment in his life's work. Don't make the mistake of reading this through the filter of arrogance - no matter how well-educated you are or how much you think you know.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

The Most Brilliant Christian Thinker of Our Time

Anything by C.S. Lewis is excellent and thought-provoking, including the Chronicles of Narnia. However, this book is a key Christian apologetic, a marvelous unfolding of why it makes so much sense to embrace Christianity. There are parts of the book that are a little dry, and you have to read it slowly to fully absorb his points and wonderful analogies, but I've read it through three times over the years, and have gotten more out of it each time. I moved on from this book to read almost everything Lewis has written, but this is the one book I return to. I consider C.S. Lewis to be one of the most brilliant writers of any age.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Mere obfuscation and sophistry.

C.S.Lewis, a capable writer and rare example of Xian intellectual, and friend of J.R.R Tolkien, an even better writer is best known for works such as the Perelandra Trilogy, the Chronicles of Narnia, and the Screwtape letters. In the aforementioned works he used fiction and fantasy elements to conceal religious themes. In Mere Christianity, the author dispenses with using parables, allegory, and fiction. He decides to get serious and tell it like it is in Lewis' imagination, as his theology does not correspond with any reality known in this world. Perhaps Alpha Ceti Prime has a world that meets Lewis' doctrinal metaphysics? Most Xians disdain using logic and reason to support their faith and see their faith as something that is believed or not believed, and the lack of evidence therefore, requires faith. Faith which ultimately boils down to wishful thinking, is the substance and foundation of Christianity, not reason or logic. Yet Lewis, like T. Aquinas before him tries the approach of reason as does McDowell the author of Evidence That Demands a Verdict. All of this stuff I have read with chuckles and giggles supressed. To answer who made the world with 'God' is to answer an unknown with an even greater unknown. At least the origins of the Universe should be accessible and solvable by the Scientific Method. Not so God, of whom, even his supporters admit, nobody knows anything except by 'revelation' meaning hearsay. One man says 'God told me such and such' and an even bigger blockhead believes him. Surprisingly, C.S.Lewis for a smart fellow, seems to forget the obvious. If God wants us to do such and such, he or she ought to make things clear as the noon-day sun, not leave things to long dead prophets, of which the Bible itself refers to as madmen deceived by God. Why cannot God tell me point blank 'I made you for this reason, I want you to do this, and I want you to stop doing that.' But this does not occur. Attempts to justify faith, which is belief without or contrary to evidence, by reason, is like using Socratic reasoning to support the existence of Unicorns. Basically, Lewis' 'logical' arguments boil down to 'I have an inner knowledge that the bizzare version of reality contained in Holy Writ is truth.' What am I or you to do with Lewis' or anybody else's 'inner' feelings? We can't argue or discuss that rationally. Even more amusing were Lewis' attempts to justify eternal suffering in Hell. No matter how hard you try, no matter how hard you conceal your illogic and specious reasoning with sesquipedalian words [words a foot and a half long--coined by Aristotle], you can never justify giving a finite amount of evil, an eternal punishment. Nor can you ever align that with a God of good. A God who is both good and evil might work, and a God who is mostly evil works even better. But this good guy God needs to be abandoned if hellfire is retained, else Hell can be forever thrown into the trashheap of theology, and the good God retained. You can't have it both ways. Better yet, throw God in the trash can with his stupid doctrines and laws, with other relics of the ignorant and superstitious past. Trying to justify past idiocies with 'reason' denotes a really lame intellect indeed. Lewis should have stuck to fiction, which at least had the slender palliative of entertainment to justify it. Mere Christianity belongs in the waste basket.

3 out of 49 people found this review helpful.

The greatest author and apologetic. C.S.Lewis

C.S.Lewis presents Christian theology logically and defends it with brilliance.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

CS is a master

All of CS Lewis' books are well worth reading. However, if I were asked to recommend only one of his books, then it would be Mere Christianity. In this book, a convincing case is made in support of Christianity as a religion and the fundamental teachings of Christianity are well explained. Mere Christianity is a beneficial read for the believer and a thought-provoking read for the non-believer.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Must Read!

This is a book that will change your life no matter what your religious beliefs. Lewis originally gave these as talks on the BB during the WWII, and they are as fresh and applicable today as they were then. So many people owe their faith to this book, and with good reason. Give it a read and pass it on to a friend!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Everyone's different

God created us all differently and I'm glad he did. For those of us who need to understand the world and everything in it, this book is for them. Some people can just believe and some need more explanation. It's how God made us. I fell away from God because of past dissapointments with man and with church. I got to the point of doubting all the man made laws in all churches. Who's right and who's wrong? Lewis's book brings me back down to reality and helps me regain individuality, to think for myself and not be so concerned with what and how other men or women think. He challenged my mind and put it all in perspective. I highly recommend to people who want to better explain God and his creations to those, who like myself, think analytically.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Best by the Best

Other than Jesus, John and Paul, C.S.Lewis is my all-time favorite writer (none of the fiction, all of the popular prose books). I first read C.S. Lewis' works when I was about ten years old. (I am now 42.) He has better style, content, scholarship, and cohesiveness than any author I've ever read. His theology has many flaws: not clear enough on justificaion by faith, wrong view of the sacraments of water baptism and the Lord's Supper, unbiblical belief in purgatory, often passive acceptance of evolution, he did not believe in biblical inerrancy, he wrongly believed that salvation could be lost, and more. You would think today's Christians, (especially me), would be repulsed, and would attack a work with all these doctrinal errors. And some do. Normally, I wouldn't recommend reading a book with these kinds of errors. However, many of the errors are not championed at length. It seems to me that many reviewers misunderstand Lewis' true intention on many of these things by reading his works with their own preconceptions and theological demands in mind, legitimate as those may be. Judging him by his words, contrary to the opinion of some of the misguided false-prophet hunters, Lewis was a born-again saved believer. How can I proclaim this with such certainty? 1st John 5:1. 'Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.' Lewis proclaimed Jesus as Christ, as God, and as the Son of God. He believed that our sins were forgiven completely on the basis of Jesus' death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection. (1st Corinthians 15:1-4.) He believed the Gospel. Also, those who work for 'the other side' do not lead people to believe in Jesus as Savior from their sins. They don't expose Satan's tactics. Lewis did. Whoever is not against us, is for us. (There are only two sides in this war. There are no neutral individuals.) Also, I have never read any other writer that makes me feel like he is in the same room with me, talking with me, as C.S. Lewis does. As a side note, his life story is fascinating, and his whole 'culture' is warm and intelligent. As living proof, his son, Douglas Gresham, has one of the most enjoyable English voices to listen to. He credits his insight and kind disposition to the fact that Lewis was his step-father. C.S. Lewis doesn't say what you want him to say or what you expect him to say. But that is precisely why his writing is valuable: he provides an ocean of insights about the subjects of faith. Even when he is wrong, the writing is filled with more insight than that of an author who merely restates truths we already know well.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

There Is No Cause For Controversy Here, It Is 'Mere Christianity'.

One's religious beliefs are as personal and sometimes inexplicable as sexual preference. I beg to differ with the preivious reviewer. There is no need to browbeat Lewis for his beliefs and his explanation of same. If one dislikes Christianity, one need not believe. If one wants a clear explanation of the central tenets of the faith, one can do no better. Lewis at many points in this book tells the reader that he need not accept certain aspects or approaches set forth in 'Mere Christianity.' I have, myself, issues with the chapter 'Christian Marriage,' but I don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. I have just finished re-reading this remarkable work, and I found no defense of hellfire and brimstone, so the reference in the previous review puzzles me. Perhaps a jaundiced view of the religion itself has colored the reviewer's understanding that Lewis is not prosletizing, but demystifying. He is explaining a personal belief system shared by millions so that anyone can understand how the thing works. Even if one chooses not to accept the belief system, the effort is laudable. My favorite books of all time are the Narnia Stories, yet as something of a pantheist by nature, I had not read his nonfiction. I didn't want to lose my high opinion of the author by finding him to be a tiresome bible-beater. I could not have been more wrong. I see that nearly all of my instinctive spiritual seeking is compatible with the Christian faith. While Aslan remains a potent symbol for my understanding of a Higher Power, it may be time for me to graduate to a slightly more mature symbolism, and in time, to a place where symbolism is unnecessary. 'Mere Christianity' need not be read as a tract, a blueprint, a set of hidebound rules. It is a launching pad for further reflection and inquiry. Considering its mission, the book's humility, humanity, and practicality is unparalleled. In sum, 'Mere Christianity' is the finest work of its kind I have read, and I have read many.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Timeless Brilliance

C.S. Lewis's life of suffering, war and death (which led him down an intensive spiritual path from atheism to Christ) is well reflected in this work. Using simple (yet critical) philosophy and logic, Lewis describes not only that God's existence is possible, but so obvious that to reject it is intellectual (and of course, spiritual) suicide. Though originally composed for a 1940s/1950s English audience, this work is a timeless classic --- a theological and philosophical masterpiece. Even for the born-again Christian, Lewis can give greater insight into morality and divine law that may very well change the way you think forever. Lewis's reasoning is so simple and yet so advanced, that the 'freethinkers' and humanists have spent decades trying to attack it, yet Lewis's logic remains. It is mere, it is human, it is truth.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

mere christianity

In this book, Mr. Lewis offers his case for Christianity. He doesn't get bogged down in 'Our denomination is better than yours' or 'Our view of the end times is true and yours isn't' or 'Evolution is false and young earth creationism true.' No way. Mr. Lewis is much too sophisticated for that kind of stuff. What he does offer, however, is a case for 'mere Christianity.' That is, he lists the basics that traditional Christians should agree on: the existence of G-d, the objectivity of morality, estrangement from G-d, the divinity of Jesus, the substitionary atonement, the new birth, life in the spirit, etc. This book is good for somebody who has questions about the Christian faith. It won't be good for committed atheists, although they could get a thing or two out of it. And for those who no longer stand within the 'orthodox' Christian camp, this book is a good reminder of where you have been and perhaps will set the stage for new formulations of Christian doctrine. The writing in this book is clear and easy to understand. I don't think another Christian writer was as good as Lewis. If you're wondering about Christianity, and would like to see it explained with ease, this book is for you.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

C.S. Lewis is the Founder of Chrisitan Logic

In this book is C.S. Lewis's account of his religion, it is only to be read not followed. His points are true, and it is truly a book of clarification. A book that sparks interest in the human intellect and will always begin to. I am only 13 and read this book with out the slightest bordom. He is the Founder of Christian logic (well the third, Jesus, St. Paul, and then C.S. Lewis). He really did come through in this novel I must admitt in 'The Four Loves,' he was a bit rambling on and on, but this he is direct and to the point. And why shouldn't he be, I mean he is C.S. Lewis after all.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Hm.

I found the plot to be a bit lacking. God is dead.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

The intellectual catalyst to a new life.

For many years I had been a devout 'atheist' truly believing that God and Christianity ridiculous. One night, after a profound dream, I started to question my own bias towards man's supremecy. I found myself 'believing' in Christ but being still confused by my 'worldly' beliefs. A friend of mine gave me 'Mere Christianity' to read. In it I found ALL the answers I required to allow my 'leap of Faith' Mr Lewis not only has great insight into the workings of our Lord Jesus Christ but also in the workings of men. I would challenge ANY 'thinking' man not to question his beliefs after reading this wonderous selection of writings.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book changed my life

Mere Christianity did not make me a believer. I did eventually become a Christian, however, largely due to the fact that this book made me rethink many of my arguments against Christianity. Lewis is no evangelist, but he has a skill for logic that makes even the strict scientist stop and think. I read this book after reading Lewis' other work, The Screwtape Letters. The two books play off each other well and both pose many of the same questions to the reader about our perception of reality and the forces at work in our lives. Mere Christianity, unlike Screwtape Letters, is not a story but a work of expositional prose worthy of of Oxford professor such as Lewis. It gives an unbiased description of Christian belief that is not partial to any sect or denomination. The Creationist will be disappointed that Lewis is an Evolutionist, but this in no way detracts from the value of the rest of the book. The books strength is that it exhorts the reader to the same 'open-mindedness' scientists have always admonished Christians to have toward new discoveries throughout history to the scientific mind that often just assumes Christianity MUST be false.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Book.

Wonderful Christian Book.

Mere Christianity

I never received it.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.