Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Mere Christianity
Book Review: A pivotal work for anyone examining Christ and faith
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite its critics, who usually don't successfully supply reasons or specific citations as support for their accusations, "Mere Christianity" continues to reveal just how deep faith in Christ is and how well it holds up against nearly all examinations and critiques (after all, it is faith, not scientific process or theory...theory also requiring belief...I digress).
Lewis is clear, concise (for the most part) and takes the reader on a ride that tickles the mind while strengthening the soul.
In essence, this book opens up a discussion about the legitimacy that faith, specifically in Christ, has in the grand scope of human interaction, culture and ideas.
With the more recently and the less, to be honest, inspiring, "Simply Christian," by N.T. Wright, Lewis will always be relevant to the thinking follower of Christ who will not become complacent in thought or life.
Book Review: A too often misunderstood classic
Summary: 5 Stars
At the time that I am writing this review there are 361 other reviews already posted for this book. Obviously a lot has been said, and instead of writing a lengthy review discussing why I liked this book (a topic which I will shortly cover at the end), I am going to focus on answering what I perceive to be incorrect views about the book. In particular, I'd like to address the following groups of thought: those who think this book is good theology, those who think it is bad theology, and those who think it is just plain bad logic.
The thing that the first two groups have in common is that they both read this book as a work of theology. And on some level this book is theology; I suppose no book can be without theology insofar as it is impossible to talk about anything without implicitly making statements about God. To be sure, this book deals with a lot of material that we can probably all agree is clearly of a theological nature. However, the point I want to make to the first two groups of thought is that Lewis himself acknowledges that he is not a theologian, and that his work here should not be taken as a book attempting to answer the more difficult and deep theological problems. He is concerned, as he notes in the preface, with the basic points that all Christians tend to agree upon.
I go to such length about this topic because when people then go on to read this book in a theological way they make errors in understanding what Lewis is and is not saying. For example, on page 48 Lewis writes, "The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they must be free." Now, it is possible to read (as some have, in fact some I know personally have) these words as being in full-fledged support of free will and/or a repudiation of predestination. But to read Lewis as saying either of those things would be a mistake, a mistake he warned us not to make when he said in the preface that he is not interested in discussing high theology. Another section that people seem to get snagged on is on page 141 when Lewis writes about "drifting away".
So if we're not to draw conclusions about what Lewis is talking about when he writes about "free will" and "drifting away", how are we to read this book. Lewis himself gives us some guidance in the preface, but suffice it to say that we should not attempt to nail Lewis down on one side of these issues or another. For all Christians, Lewis claims, accept that there is something called "free will" and something called "God's sovereignty"; and then again that there is something called "drifting away" and something called "God's strength". The point here is that in some mysterious way these seemingly exclusionary things all exist in reality.
To finish this point, perhaps one more example will be helpful. Let's reduce what Lewis is saying about "free will" and "God's sovereignty" to the statement: "We glorify God when we choose to follow him". It simply is not possible from this statement to say the Lewis believes that we have complete free will to choose God or not. And answering that question is not important to Lewis. What is important is the end result; that God is glorified when we follow him. The same pattern of Lewis focusing on a more basic issue can be seen in the "drifting away" example... the point isn't whether or not a Christian can lose his/her faith, but rather that strengthening faith and obedience requires practice and effort.
Enough with the problem of erroneously reading theological points into this book. I'd like to address one last group, which is those that say, "Lewis did not prove Christianity, so this book is worthless." Again, close reading would help prevent people from making such statements, since Lewis writes (I can't remember where, but I think in the preface) that no religion can be proved or disproved. Again, Lewis' point isn't to prove that Christianity is the truth. Rather, he wants to point out to people that, in his opinion, Christianity is the religion/philosophy that is most logically sound. Now I suppose people who disagree with Lewis can be upset with him for basically calling them illogical or without common sense. But when people criticize him for not "proving Christianity" they are simply putting words in his mouth and then turning around and attacking him for those words.
I've tried very hard to point out where I think some people have gone wrong in their understanding of this book, and I hope that I've been able to do so respectively. I think this is a great book, especially for those who are thinking about what they believe or are in the very beginning stages of their Christian walk. Lewis is a great writer, and I often found myself laughing or, conversely, (almost) crying. He has great insight into the human condition and the human mind. If you take this book for what it is (an apology of Christianity on a basic level) I think that most people will enjoy what Lewis has to say.
Book Review: A wonderful, enlightening book.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a gem!
And for the atheist who didn't agree with C.S.Lewis, of course there is a moral law! Without one there would be far more criminals today! Can you honestly say that not once when you did something wrong you didn't feel a pang of guilt? Where did that pang come from? We all have a moral law, otherwise we could do anything without the least bit of regret, remorse, or guilt!
And I disagree with you when you say "atheist". An atheist is an individual who believes there is no God. Just in saying you are an atheist you are admitting that there is NO SUCH THING. Everyone has a God, whether it be money, power, the One True God, but most likely yourself. I pray that you will find the Truth soon.
Book Review: After the first few chapters...
Summary: 2 Stars
After having only read the first five chapters of this book, I can already conclude that in my opinion, this book fails miserably at presenting a logical argument for the basis of Christianity. Lewis employs one logical fallacy after another in the first few chapters to prove that there is some Universal code of conduct (whether we follow it or not is our own personal decision). He claims that set A of morals obviously is "more correct" than set B of morals, as set A models itself more closely to the Law of Human Decency. His argument is strongly based on his belief that morality does not change over time, nor does it differ in any significant way from culture to culture.This is simply untrue, and his entire argument can so easily be disproved that a child could come up with sufficient counterexamples. Two quickly jump to mind... Firstly, attitudes towards homosexuality (homosexuals are abhorrently immoral in the eyes of Christians, but homosexuality was considered a blessing in the eyes of North American Indian religions). Secondly, attitudes towards drugs (Christians seem opposed to drugs and view drugs as being immoral, whereas many other cultures embrace drugs and find them to be a wonderful tool of knowledge). Who is to dictate which culture is more right in this case? Christians would obviously state that they are correct, seeing as homosexuality is condemned by the Bible. However, to say that Christians are correct would be to use the assumption that Christianity is correct, which is what Lewis is trying to prove in this book. You cannot use an assumption to prove an assumption! (The sky is green. Hence, the sky must be green.)
Lewis' logic often resembles something akin to using examples to prove a point. Anyone who understands basic mathematics would realize that examples are utterly insufficient in proving a theory. I can easily say that 0 + 1 = 1 and 2 + (-1) = 1, hence any two numbers added together must equal 1. But clearly 3 + 3 = 1 is a ridiculous statement to make.
Thus, sadly, there is little point for me in continuing to read this book, as Lewis will be extending his argument for Christianity based on his earlier arguments, which I believe I have sufficiently disproven.
I give this book two stars because despite the fact that I think Lewis' arguments are flawed, his writing style is excellent.
I realize that some of the Christians here will mod down this review as being unuseful, but just because my views disagree with yours does not indicate that my review is any less valid, important, or useful than your own. There is no harm in disagreeing and I hope I inspire at least one of you to read this book more critically and formulate your own arguments for the validity of Christianity. I read your reviews with an open mind. I hope that you will do the same with mine.
Book Review: Amazed
Summary: 5 Stars
I recomend this to any one wether Christian, athiest, agnostic, deist, antitheist, and the like. a work like no other. truly amazing