Rating: 
Summary: To know, is to love.
Review: C.S. Lewis is perhaps the twentieth century's finest Christian writer. This book is no doubt one of Professor Lewis' most wonderful works. He offers a simple, clear view of Christianity. Beware! To truly understand and appreciate this book, one must come with an open and humble heart. What I mean by open is to truly see it from Lewis' shoes. And what I mean
by humble is that, well, "no one can truly know Christ without humility." You must want, desire, crave, yearn in order to seek. And to seek is to know, and to know is to love.
--spaceboy
Rating: 
Summary: Well written
Review: Lewis was a master of language. This book is written in a style that is both easy to read and beautifully constructed. He was Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge, and his works are widely recognised as masterpieces of literature.In the book, his description and characterisation of mainstream Christianity is thorough. He covers the faith at a basic level, but it is more comprehensive and comprehensible than most non-Christians and even many Christians have ever heard before. This book taught me a lot about mainstream Christianity, not in a dogmatic sense, but in a spiritual sense. Too many authors rely on discussion of theology and dogma; Lewis covers the spiritual, and this is what sets his book apart. His coverage of the faith is non-denominational, and he deals with the subject in a frank, conversational manner. It is an extremely easy read, but at the same time both interesting and involving. With that said, many of his arguments lack force. While his apologetics make use of many good analogies, his logic will be unconvincing to most non-believers. On a side note, Lewis died on the same day as Aldous Huxley and JFK. Funny how life works!
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyed it, but not without its problems
Review: Lewis was no doubt a gifted writer and a man of strong religious conviction. As a lapsed Catholic of fifteen years, I am only recently beginning to rediscover my own connection to my faith. The Pastor at the Episcopal church I am attending (I am done with the Roman Catholic church, but there is something comforting to me about the structure of the Episcopal service) recommended this to me. I read it in a couple of days, and I did enjoy it, though it had a few jarring moments: some owing to some of the more antiquated social notions (mentioned in other reviews) and others having to do with the fact that someone born in a far away land with no knowledge of Jesus Christ could never be saved. Spiritually, intellectually, morally, I just can't buy that Christianity is the way, the only way for everyone. It certainly is for me, but I think it's somewhat patronizing and ignorant to view that whole world through that kind of lens. Buddhism, Hindu, Islam, Judaism, all devout practitioners seek truth in their own way, and it would be wrong-headed to presuppose the superiority of one over all the other (leaving aside for a moment the interpretations in some of these faiths that call for subjugation of women, etc.). I did like the civil war metaphor, however, which I thought quite apt, and his rejection of the warm and fuzzy God, or as he called it "Christianity and Water" which gave me a good chuckle. Otherwise, my larger problem with this book was that the book comes across as philosophy lite. I think Lewis covers the bases of the faith adequately and in an approachable way, but he concocts syllogisms and metaphors in a way that is just not sufficiently rigorous for me from a forensic or philosophical perspective. There's some circularity, some GIANT hypotheses that he treats too casually as truths, and some chilidishly simplistic allegories. As a student of philosphy (M.A. not Ph.D. unfortunately), I found this to be profoundly frustrating. I was waiting for the core of the argument (a la Aquinas, More, Descartes, Kant, etc) and it never really comes. Having said all this, I did enjoy it, and it does encapsulate the major points very well. I just wish it could have had the same lighthearted tone but espoused a more sophisticated approach. Faith affirming, yes, in a way... but not the be all end all.
Rating:
Summary: Simplicity applied sublimely.....
Review: Bowen Simmons has deposited here possibly the best review of Mere Christianity I've read. But as my task is to review the book, not one of it's many reviewers, I'll state only that Mere Christianity works for those capable of appreciating simplicity. Those sternly demanding difficult philosophical pretzels may huffily dismiss Lewis as a simpleton. If they also require a "contemporary" defense of ancient tenets they might easily assign the appellation to themselves.
Faith, regardless of chronology, is faith. Natural theology, in which reason alone is employed to understand God, was vigorously challenged as late (or as early) as the 13th century (see William of Ockham). I think C.S. Lewis well aware of this. But, he is evidently also aware that the promotion of faith to the ambivalent is only a partial strategy. Thus, Lewis provides a sublime distillation open to anyone willing to open the tiniest aperture unto themselves.
Though he ostensibly has, his goal is not to convert atheists (for they have a faith of their own). He merely presents Christianity for those who wish a clear, concise understanding. Yet, as in everything, we find only what we wish to find. Some will find here 5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Primitive concepts outdated by todays understanding
Review: I have no doubt that C.S. Lewis was a fine man and he certainly set out to achieve a noble goal here. Making the spiritual more understandable through the application of logic has an undeniable appeal. Unfortunately, his assumptions about some of the basic concepts of human nature look positively naive by modern standards. He comes off sounding like, as one of my psych professors was fond of saying, a "park-bench philosopher". Behavioral science just had not developed to the point it has today, so he had no way of knowing that his basic assumptions about some things he viewed as givens were, in fact, not given at all. In the end, trying to make the subject of religion something that one can put to the test of "logic" is an exercise in futility. That's why it's called faith.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Tool for Intellectual Evangelism!
Review: I read this book twenty years ago, and after reading it once again it still speaks volumes about why new life in Jesus Christ is so vital. It is ideal for the intellectual non-Christian who is struggling with the claims of Christ, mentally wrestling with the truth of His message and the need of salvation and new birth. It is also helpful for the new believer to understand better his faith and his relationship with his Lord.
Lewis here is profound, yet practical. His words are holy, yet extremely human. This book is actually a compilation of three separate titles by Lewis, the first of which was copyrighted in 1943. Over the decades that have followed, his words have proven timelessly inspiring.
For the non-Christian with intellectual questions, and for the Christian who dares to think about his faith, this classic work is a must-read.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing and will challenge the non-believer and Christian
Review: In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis examines faith and Christianity without biasing any particular denomination. This book is divided into four sections. In the first two sections, Lewis writes as an apologetic. He takes a philisophical approach to describe that humans have a moral standard and this standard originates from God. Lewis also defends Jesus Christ's claim to be God and how we are redeemed through His death on the cross. I found this section to be very well written and intriguing.
In the third section, Lewis examines Christian behavior. He discusses various topics including the four Cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues, sexual morality and the Christian marriage, and my favorite chapter - "The Great Sin" (pride). I would be surprised to find a reader that would be disappointed in this section. It is very intriguing and is an excellent reference looking at sin and appropriate behaviors for Christians.
The last section discusses the trinity and Lewis's view of the life as a Christian. This is probably the most challenging section of the book. Lewis even warns readers that they may want to skip a chapter or two if they don't think it will help them. Nonetheless, I found this section to be interesting and it really gives the reader a glimpse into the mind of one of the great apologetics of the twentieth century.
I recommend this book to both the non-believer and the strong Christian. It is an excellent reference and is guaranteed to challenge you.
Rating:
Summary: Merely the best
Review: The life of C.S. Lewis is truly inspiring. He is an amazing man of God. With the gifts bestowed unto him, Lewis writes Mere Christianity- the best introduction to the Christian faith for anyone from the simpleton to the learned businessperson. Mere Christianity is a group of war-time BBC talks gathered together. In them, Lewis is persuasive and serious, humourous and easy-to-read.
I recommend all of C.S. Lewis' works.
You have not truly read a good book until you have read Lewis.
Rating:
Summary: not very good..
Review: i could only read half an hour of this critically aclaimed outline. its too wordy/complicated for even the very seasoned christian.
Rating:
Summary: Deeply moving and thought-provoking
Review: In the foreword it is explained that this book is not one of philosophical musings but a work of oral literature addressed to a people at war. It was originally broadcast by the BBC from 1942 to 1944, hence the gripping metaphors like the image of the earth as enemy-occupied territory. Mere Christianity is a book of plain but moving language.
In Book One: Right and Wrong As a Clue To The Meaning Of The Universe, Lewis looks at the law of human nature (inherent knowledge of right and wrong), certain objections, the reality of the law and that which lies behind the law. Here he discusses the materialist, the life-force and the religious views of life.
Book Two is a discussion on what Christians believe, in terms of the aforementioned occupied territory, a coming invasion, the penitent, and the practical conclusion. This section also deals with pantheism, dualism, free will, the divinity of Christ and God's intentions with the world.
Book Three investigates Christian behaviour, in terms of the cardinal virtues, social and personal morality, morality and psychology, marriage, forgiveness, the great sin (narcissistic pride; in this regard, please also read People Of The Lie by M Scott Peck), and what charity, hope and faith really mean.
Book 4 is a captivating explanation of the doctrine of the trinity. I found this part very interesting and sometimes deeply moving. Lewis speculates on the nature of time, the nature of man and the nature of God, as the Father the source, the Son an emanation of the source and the Holy Spirit as the spirit of love between Father and Son. Lewis explains what he thinks is the process whereby the individual receives a higher nature. This change in consciousness (infusion of the Holy Spirit) leads to a transcendence of the mortal nature by transforming the individual into a child of the divine.
He argues convincingly for personalities in God and God as the ultimate personality. I found this very illuminating, also in light of having recently read the books by Deborah Whitehouse and Alan Anderson on Process New Thought, especially their view of the personhood of God and panentheism as it emerges from the work of Alfred North Whitehead.
Mere Christianity is a most memorable work that expresses ideas that are relevant to our times. It is a very refreshing expression of a personal Christian belief system that could serve as a strong antidote to the dictatorship of dogma or the staid boredom often associated with 20th century religion in the West. Deeply illuminating, Lewis' words I am sure make many people reconsider important ideas that they had taken for granted.
I am not sure how close Lewis came to the truth in every respect, but much in his vision is inspiring, noble and infused with a sense of logic and common sense. Lewis' writing has an uplifting effect on the spirit. I recommend Mere Christianity to all people of faith and those in search of meaning. One might not ultimately agree with everything, but the thoughts expressed here certainly make you think.
|
