Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Mere Christianity
Book Review: A Must Read for Everyone!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a classic of Christian literature. And I recommend it to all Christians, young or old, mature or not. I even recommend it to non-Christians. C. S. Lewis was an atheist before he came to Christ, so he understands and has worked through many common intellectual barriers to Christianity.
But more important than that, C. S. Lewis has an uncanny knack of being able to simplify some of the more difficult to grasp theological concepts of Christianity, breaking them down into more simple ideas which are more easily understood.
My only caution is that one must understand that this was originally a radio broadcast, which Lewis then wrote out and published. In some sections he takes a little more time to explain/explore things which he couldn't quite go into so much detail about on the radio. This makes for, I think, a more conversational tone of writing, which is very easily read. But also, this was originally published in the early 1940s in England, which means that there are certain cultural (English) and sociological (note the World War II influences) references and metaphors/analogies which can take a post-2000 mind a couple of extra seconds to translate.
That said, the issues C. S. Lewis tackles are timeless and his explanations still relevant. If you haven't read this, grab a copy and dive in - I think it's a book everyone should go through at least once in their life.
Book Review: A Must-Read for Christians
Summary: 5 Stars
I just re-read this book, and it still awes me. I bought it for reference for the future. C.S. Lewis is brilliant - and though he doesn't exactly promote this book as a work of apologetics, I think that is one of its greatest strengths.Book Review: A Reminder of God
Summary: 4 Stars
C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" doesn't really break new ground in original Christian thought as much as simplifies some observations of Christian strictures. It's not a guide to prescriptive living as much of an insight to what a rationally minded Christian intellectual thinks about his religion. I suppose I approached this book with minor expectations of life altering thought. That's not what I got out of it, but instead was reminded and reaffirmed of some beliefs that lay dormant but still deeply entrenched. Lewis's observations are simplistic but deep. For that fact, Lewis earns quite a bit of admiration for turning the complex into easily digestible reading is a daunting task.I found the book getting interesting about mid-way through. The first half was almost too simplistic. Lewis has some perceptive observations of society's obsession with sex (without being prudish), forgiveness being difficult to put into practice, and the ability of God to change a person but sometimes not in ways that person would expect or be comfortable with. Of particular note is Lewis' observation of when a person is brought closer to God. It is not when everything is going right in life and church visits are consistent, but rather when one is brought to question and search on their own, when life is challenging and belief is challenging. There is a lot of truth to Lewis' writing but some of it rings through clearer than others.
Life altering book...not so much. A Good reminder of God...yes.
Book Review: A Review of C.S. Lewis's "Mere Christianity"
Summary: 5 Stars
From 1942 to 1944 C. S. Lewis did a series of radio broadcasts on Christian Faith. These broadcasts were then made into a book, Mere Christianity. A guideline to why and what Christian's believe, it gives an intellectual and philosophical understanding of Christianity. It is an excellent series of subjects starting with the "Meaning of the Universe," where Lewis takes a systematic approach involving right and wrong as a key to understanding the Universe. As the book continues it follows a path in which Lewis gives insight towards more technical and precise variables of Christianity such as faith and forgiveness. He concludes the book with a large section on the "Doctrines of the Trinity," plastered with metaphors and deep explanations concerning the world around us, rather than each of us as an individual personality. However, this book is a conquest for the truth, it does not have the final answer. If one finds a final answer for their spiritual beliefs in this book, they are contradicting what they have read. A final answer can only be found within one's self. Concerning the logical soundness of this book, C. S. Lewis demonstrates an almost uncanny ability to prove religious arguments with reason on a consistent basis. And to make it even better, he builds upon each subject that he proves. This is best noted in his explanations of the universe, where he concludes that there is a one God that created everything. However, there are obvious fallacies concerning the validity of Lewis's arguments. Although a great scholar and philosopher, he was once an atheist, which gives us the hint that he might not be such a great authority. And if he is a die-hard Christian, we must not overlook the fact that he is biased. There are very few instances where counter views, and arguments are presented. However, this book was written from a series of lectures during World War 2 where Lewis was given the task to explain the truth in Christianity, not prove it. Also, a large majority of the book relates to religious presumptions, which don't go with the flow of structural logic, but when dealing with religion improvable presumptions are inevitable. However, these are all minor technicalities that have little affect on the real meaning of the book. For Christians and non-Christians alike, truth prevails over faith. We must make sure we understand our beliefs before we completely conform to them. Faith and no margin for evidence results in blind ignorance.
As a service to society, Lewis created a structural manual describing Christian values, and their affect on humanity. For the person looking for answers concerning their spirituality, this book is a gateway to finding them. It presents the reader with an opportunity to comprehend why Gods word is true. It also encourages questioning, and not only enlightens, but inspires reason. Summarizing the review is a quote that demonstrates the attitude of C.S. Lewis, "In religion, as in war and everything else, comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth - only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair."
Book Review: A Still Thought Provoking Classic
Summary: 4 Stars
We selected "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis as study material for our rather liberal and well-read class, fearing that perhaps the content was too traditional and would not generate a productive discussion. WRONG. Lewis' promotion of Christianity after his own struggle has great relevance and was an excellent choice.