Rating: 
Summary: A must read for all Christians
Review: This is the meat of Lewis's apology for Christianity. One of his main arguments is that we all have something inside of us that makes us know what is right. This cannot be taught by our parents, but is inherent and innate. There must be a higher power - God. All of Lewis's works are extremely profound; he has the knack for saying so much in so few words and this is especially the case in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Very, very good, but watch out from now on...
Review: It is quite astonishing that of all the authors who were active in the war years, for some curious and wholly inexplicable reason Lewis is now such an astonishing stumbling block - and to so many diverse groups.His deeply penetrating insights into the nature of man, reflected here, make for a very convincing explantion of 1). Why Christianity is profoundly different from all other religions, even any other conceivable religion, and b). Why it actually takes into full account the real nature of man, and (and this is the thing that atheists find most deeply offensive), the nature of almighty God in any form which would be self consistent. This last point is worth repeating more precisely, since his exposition of this logic takes up the bulk of his writing here. Lewis here actually shows how the other deities which have been conceived by man are some way or other are either by hypothesis not divine at all, but simply other created beings, or, in some sense are logically badly conceived. This single poit is worth reading the book for. Again, and more strangely, the book probably deeply offends American Christians, but for very different reasons. Because of Lewis's authorship of several other works, he speaks of many moral issues (which aren't relevant to this book) which impinge very much indeed on the nature and character of nations or organisations that purport to be "moral leaders". Almost everything he writes is likely to show light into somewhat murky areas, points of character on which people find very hard endure illumination for very long. There are long standing difficulties in the association of statehood and Christianity which have long been the concern of European protestants, and it is hardly believable that Lewis can .. effectively.. reach out for so many decades and prick so many hearts. Lewis has over and over again has been accused of constructing a RATIONAL hypothesis structure on the predicates of his belief... Perish the thought! In this century, its all done by feelings, and the mind is just a wretched encumberance... Stand by to see this man become a very, very controversial character. By the way, he's dead right about one thing. If you belive in Jesus, and his death for your sins... then you're saved. And thats that.
Rating:
Summary: Mere brilliance
Review: No matter how far along you are in your Christian walk (I'm 30+ years into it), or even if you are a "seeker", just investigating the Christian faith, there is great benefit to be received from this book. Lewis, of course, is a great literary scholar and author, but he is a layman in theological matters, yet he has a better grasp on doctrine and morality than many more learned theologians. Who said theology is just for the theologians anyway? With relentless logic and literary grace Lewis not only builds a solid case for Christianity but equips the believer with analogical paradigms for better understanding his or her own faith. Of course, not everyone will be convinced, but this book has convinced many in the latter half of the 20th century and beyond about the claims of Christ. I don't agree with every point Lewis makes, but the gist of his message is hard to refute. I have to make a comment about Kathleen Norris' Foreword in this edition. She starts out by making the point that "This book begs to be seen in its historical context". Actually, this book stands on its own better than most without any historical context whatsoever. Having read two books by Norris, I know there are points of disagreement she has with Lewis, and her backhanded way of casting a shadow on the book's message adds nothing and actually detracts. Skip that part and delve right into the masterpiece that is "Mere Christianity".
Rating: 
Summary: A Decent, well-paced introduction to the Christian faith
Review: Some statements: @ the time of writing this short review there are nearly 80 reviews, and rarely do I usually think that I have something to add when so many have already given their opinion. Still, I think I have some important statements for readers out there who have not yet encountered this book. The title, Mere Christiantiy, is really key. While many conservative evangelicals, who often lack a real encounter with the deeper Christian theological tradition present in works by such men as Niebuhr, Tillich & Barth, may present this book to you as THE definitive argument for Christianity, he/she would be in error. Indeed, this is not the author's intent whatsoever. Rather, this book is to serve as a mere cursory introduction to what he sees as Christian orthodoxy, or gestalt if you will ---being the elements present and preserved throughout the faith's history. In some way, he fails @ this task showing that he himself was not immmune to the prejudices of his time (e.g., passages that present the man as 'head of the household'). Also, Lewis was neither too liberal nor too conservative, though he was certainly traditional. He certainly was NOT fundamentalist or evangelical (e.g., he did not adhere to the plenary, verbal inspiration of Scripture). Thus, to read him as being an adherent to this flavor of Christianity is to MISread him. Of course, this book has its apologetic elements, and of course, it is not exhaustive. Lewis is not trying to subjugate all of our doubts to the mastery of his arguments. He rarely was so arrogant. One must read this with his attention in mind--- to explain mere Christianity will simultaneously showing it to be reasonable. And, he attempts to soften some of what to outsiders may seem as rough edges and succeeds quite often with amazing fecundity. Despite the impression some may get from the strong recommendations given for this book (and it is indeed a classic), it is best not to assume that this will be the end all to searching. Mere Christianity serves best to introduce an ignorant person of the beliefs of Christianity when knowledge is lacking and to aid the believer in understanding his own faith. For those who would want to encounter more developed, firm arguments and/or have travelled further down the path of intellectual development, this book can't harm, but there is much more to be sought out. For a strong apologetic work, which is more contemporary yet still becoming dated itself, I recommend Hans Küng's ON BEING A CHRISTIAN. This work is rather large, so for a smaller volume, try Keith Ward's GOD, FAITH & THE NEW MILLENIUM.
Rating:
Summary: ONWARD and UPWARD
Review: If you remember the Tardis, the transportation machine that Dr. Who used to move from one time dimension to another, you will remember that it appeared to be a British telephone booth but, once inside, you found a huge multi-faceted complex. C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity is like that. A simple approach for believers or non-believers begins as a simple fireside chat about the existence of God and, if He exist, what His relationship is to Creation and the creatures. But once Lewis has captured your interest, you will find that there are many levels of focus in our search for God and that sundry evidences of God are right under our noses in a very matter-of-fact pattern. Lewis guides us through, if not an absolute tour of a search for God, a comprehensive survey of the basic questions most people ask about God and His nature. A great beginning book for seekers and skeptics. (By the way, didn't Dr. Who reallllllllly get the idea for the Tardis from C.S.Lewis' book, The Last Battle...Onward and Upward!?!)
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic book for either the believer or the non-believer
Review: Lewis makes a solid case for Christianity in this highly readable series of talks he delivered on the BBC. Lewis' common-sense approach, and easy-to-understand analogies catch the reader unawares. One finds him or herself agreeing with Lewis, even when one is unsure what it is one has agreed to. In Book 1 Lewis makes the case for morality, or what he terms "the law of human nature" written upon men's hearts. In Book 2, he examines the competing conceptions of God and makes the case for Christ. Here he states that all Christian denominations tend to hold 3 things in common - these being baptism, belief (faith), and Holy Communion. In Book 3, he examines the Cardinal virtues, the theological virtues, and the importance of living virtuously. And in Book 4 he leads the reader into the doctrine of the Trinity and what this means for the believer. An Anglican himself, who avoided speaking of Catholicism, contrary to the direction many have taken this book, Lewis argues against a kind of non-denominationalism. He says that if Christianity is viewed as a hallway inside of a mansion, his job is merely to bring us into the hallway. Which room we enter, he says, is up to us, but he does argue that the worst room is still better than remaining in the hallway. Readers desiring to learn more about what led to Lewis' conversion to Christianity should read G.K. Chesterton's "The Everlasting Man," as Lewis has said that this book greatly influenced his belief in Christ.
Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: This book is certainly one of the classics of Christian Apologetics. In itself, however, it is insufficient to meet the needs of contemporary Christians. So, I also recommend other books such as Norman Geisler's "Christian Apologetics," William Craig's "Reasonable Faith," and Vincent Cheung's "On Good and Evil."
Rating: 
Summary: Well written; poorly thought out.
Review: This book is a fine example of how beautiful prose can mask otherwise muddled thinking. Those who are desperate for some validation of their religious beliefs will undoubtedly praise this diminutive tome. Those with sharper wit will easily see past the eloquent facade and discover why this emporer has no clothes.
Rating:
Summary: A Touching Explanation of God
Review: C.S. Lewis has created a masterpiece in "Mere Christianity." What I have heard about this book is quite true. Lewis does make a convincing case about the existence of God. In doing this, he borrows greatly from other Christian thinkers who have understood the natural law (i.e., what men hold in common as good) as a proof that some outside force has created these laws, or common assumption about good, which we all hold. In short, man is the best evidence for the existence of God. Lewis then makes a case for Christianity as the fulfillment of the God which he has already made effort to demonstrate exists. Having said what Lewis has done, I should now state what he does not do in this book. He does not argue for dumbed down theology. He does not disdain organized religion. He presents the basics with every expectation that the reader will build upon it. Lewis writes, "I hope no reader will suppose that 'mere' Chrisianity is put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions - as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in." Lewis teaches that religion is God's statement about certain "quite unalterable facts about His own nature." In reading Lewis, I cannot tell you that if you are an unbeliever Lewis will convince you. As a Catholic converted from protestantism, I have always accepted the existence of God, and more particular, the Judeo-Christian God. But I can say, that Lewis writes with such ease and uses such good common sense that his ideas may plant a seed for thought into your mind if you are presently an unbeliever. Lewis may not "bring you into the hall" of mere Christianity, but he does provide some well thought-out ideas that are worthy of any man or woman to ponder in deciding whether Christianity is true. For this reason, I heartily recommend "Mere Christianity" to all of you.
Rating: 
Summary: This edition has errors in the text.
Review: While this is absolutely my favorite book, I am sorry to say that this particular edition (2001 Harper Collins) is very disappointing. The impression I get is that this edition somehow manages to make the work seem more dated than it actually is. They have reverted the text to all the wartime British uses ("should" for the future tense, some very dated slang, etc.), and it was very disquieting for me (whom, among many I know, this book has served as a timeless, universally useful guiding light since my Confirmation) to read the first sentence of the (probably well-meaning) foreword: "This is a book that begs to be seen in its historical context." I feel quite safe in asserting that Professor Lewis would say this is the last thing it begs. He would say it begs to be read, understood, and pondered by anyone and everyone who is willing. I do not think historical context was on his mind when he wrote this, nor is it on most people's minds when they read it and God changes their lives through it. Perhaps Kathleen Norris was looking a bit too hard for something original to say about this book. This false thesis is unfortunate, because the Foreword does contain the best statement of M.C.'s picture of Christianity I have seen, which is quoted at the top of the back cover. Most importantly, in section I,5 alone I found five textual errors in a space of four pages. This is unacceptable. Please buy this book, but buy the older Touchstone edition (ran from 1996-2000) instead if you can.
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