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Summary: I Hate this Book!
Review: Am I the only one who finds this book mean-spirited, even sadistic? Lewis takes these poor neurotic people and consigns them to hell. They get a chance to go to heaven for a visit. There, they only see Jesus briefly from behind as some kind of celestial bus driver, and God not at all. They are mostly left to shift for themselves, without a single kind word, even though they are obviously in extreme psychological pain. Occasionally heaven deigns to send them a helper in the form of a flaming angel or someone they despised on earth. The outcome is already decided,though, in nearly every case, allegedly by their "choices" on earth (although one expects that they were always neurotic and weak; they just grew that way, like an oak seed grows into an oak tree). Lewis refuses to be drawn into a discussion about predestination, but it is clear he has nothing but scorn for these poor weaklings who didn't cut the mustard to begin with. There's no talk of grace here; it seems clear that the inferior neurotics just don't "deserve" to get into heaven, unlike all the "great" "well-adjusted" Christians who reside there. I suspect what is really going on here is that Lewis despises the neurotic aspects of himself, and has found a way in fantasy to damn them, while celebrating his own rectitude. I would have been much more impressed if the people in heaven had faults and weaknesses, but were full of grace, love and understanding instead of "virtue"; and if Christ had met the neurotics with assurance and love and help instead of just sitting at the front of that d--- bus. Lewis's sneering, superior attitude toward the poor "sinners" in this book is particularly unjustified, in light of what should be apparent to everybody: neurotic sinners usually end up being neurotic believers.
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Summary: What a Ride!
Review: Even though I like other C.S. Lewis books, I didn't think I'd enjoy his fiction. I preferred facts over fantasy. Then, at the coaxing of a friend, I read this book. While reading the first few chapters I was entertained by his imagination & creativity, but soon my interest soared. The second half of the book captivated me and the inferences to theology amazed me. Before I finished this book I was ready for more of his fantasy works. Upon finishing this book I exclaimed, "Clive, you're the man!" ... and yes, I did thank my friend for his encouraging me to read this book.
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Summary: Review From a "Non-Choir Member" Who Enjoyed The Preaching
Review: I don't think Lewis meant to "preach to the choir." He knows that many fine people deny Christianity because they think its a naive and silly belief. Lewis understands the skeptics mind and speaks directly to it. He isn't an entrenched, Christian Theologian, he is a normal man who speaks planely. In fact he almost always prefaces his books by downplaying his own knowledge of Christian Theology. This make Lewis very approachable, yet intellectually sound. Unlike the other reviewers, I am not a Christian and I have read and enjoyed this book. Lewis was a die-hard ATHEIST before he became christian. He was a brilliant intellectual and made the leap of faith, not because he got hit on the head, but because he objectively analyzed the Bible. His background alone puts me immediatley at ease when I read him. He won't try to manipulate the facts to push you toward Christ. He just lays down his ideas, with nothing up his sleaves and lets you make of it what you will. Unlike many Christian apologists, he knows that you can't be forced into Christianity (God Knows Many Have Tried). Skeptics, myself included, should read at least some of Lewis. I suggest Mere Christianity as a primer and then The Great Divorce. If you are a responsible intellectual, unsatisfied with other "Christian" apologies, and looking for concrete answers concerning the Christian Faith, it would be foolish to ignore Lewis.
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Summary: An easy read, but thought provoking
Review: This is one of Lewis' easier reads with beautiful imagery, but as with all of C.S. Lewis' books thought provoking. It does suggest a purgatory, but I think the main purpose of this book is to illustrate how people willingly choose sin over God and that it is a choice. A choice that we can easily fall into without thinking, but nonetheless a choice. Regardless of whether you believe in purgatory or not you can get quite a bit from this book.
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Summary: Enter Joy
Review: "There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'They will be done,' and those to whom God says 'They will be done'." This is a quote from this little volume, and effectively sums up the entire book in that one sentence. THE GREAT DIVORCE, like Lewis's TILL WE HAVE FACES, is his song of songs, his great achievement. Tolkien's was LORD OF THE RINGS, Adams' WATERSHIP DOWN, Sinclair Lewis' MAIN STREET. These novels are generally regarded as their major works. This little book, published in a little periodical called The Guardian, is one such book. (It was this periodical that Lewis's classic book THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS also appeared). Sadly, SCREWTAPE, though excellent in and of itself, is often given much more credit than this, which is a deeper work (and to those who know THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, know what a feat that is). Perhaps one reason that this work is such an excellent little volume is its length of gestation: it was concieved in 1931 and written in 1944. Insipred by a sermon found in Jeremy Taylor's WORKS, suggested such a premise as to think, or take, the absuridity of damned souls getting a real refreshment from hell. Also another source was the fourth centru Latin poet named Prudentius Aurelius Clemens (his contribution can be found in "Hymn for the Lighting of the Lamp). Assuredly, one of the reasons that it took so long to be written (the first known written account is a diary entry by his brother Warnen on Paril 15, 1932) is he had not had it visualized. In terms of inspiration his fiction arose from "seeing pictures" in his mind. (Example: One of his images he received when he was about 16, and it was a faun with parcels in one hand and an umbrella in the other, standing in a wintery, snow laden forest). Much of this short little novel has a direct comparison or parellel to Dante's DIVINE COMEDY. Just like Beatrice to Dante, so also was George MacDonald to C. S. Lewis. MacDonald was almost a Universalist. He believed most of the world populace would submit and enter into joy, and know God's love. A lot of this would occur after death. According to Sayer, Lewis did not believe this, but thought it was a possibility (much my view on purgatory). What Lewis had to do was to rectify this belief with the others of purgatory, hell, heaven, predestination, damnation, etc. How he did so was a stroke of genius: he made hell and purgatory the same place. To those who would leave and give up a vice, it was only purgatory; but to those who were determined to keep their wickedness, instead of entering into joy, were damned. To enter into Heaven, the only prerequiste was to give up a vice. That was all. Some lust, some apostasty, some selfishness and false love (the mother Pam for her son Michael). Just like Dante, Lewis has an Apostate Anglican bishop in there. One of the things that he has done most brillantly is the potrayal of the Platonic belief that the essence of something is more real than the thing itself. Virture is more real that the vitrue that is practiced. Everything in God is much more real and tangible than hell, and Lewis does this marvelously. A device he borrowed from a writer whose name was unknown to him, Lewis made everything very, very real, and the damned men and women were but ghosts in that heavenly place. Each had an accompaning Spirit, one who has surrendered to God. In that place, the ones saved are real and can bend the grass and walk and swim, but always traveling further up and further in (to borrow a Narnian phrase, although it equally applies here). To aid the damned, the real, the saved, must go back and forsake their journey for a time, to aid those that will. One of the grandest scenes is toward the very last, in which a lady named Sarah is seen. In this, another of his master's ideals is expressed. Sarah Smith is no great woman by earth's standards, but she is so close to God, everyone she meets she changes for the better. God wants to use you, not only for his own intimate purposes, but for you also to update and bring the quality of the life for others around you to a much better place. Her whole train of follows is transformed by her love, because she allows God to work through her, and submitted to her; in turn, she transforms others, because she is a yielded vessel. Macdonald states of her "There's joy enough in the little finger of a great saint such as yonder lady to waken all the dead things of the universe into life". Likewise, because of Lewis being yielded to God, this book has a similar effect (as, perhaps, all of his books do -- I cannot say all because I have not read all). Ultimately, the entire point of this beautiful little book is that there could be no damnation without free choice. God made us to fellowship with us, not to damn us to hell. We are to enter into joy - but because we live in a fallen world, we might choose to hang onto some vice instead of entering into joy. Joy, that grand and beautiful intimacy with the Lord, real satisfying water that will forever quench your thirst, that is what C. S. Lewis is about. Let us not choose to stay in Hell. But one must understand this - Lewis is not advocating there is such a thing as bus rides to hell. The novel is, of course, but a dream. It is no way an examination of what lies after we die, although it does give thought to MacDonald's view on Universalism, though Lewis did not hold that view himself. Enter into joy, dear child, and meet Christ.
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Summary: Great Images of Heaven and Hell
Review: Although this book is written as a novella, it contains TONS of thinly disguised theological truths and brain-shaking ideas. This is one of those books where everything means something. Every bit of the scenic description of Heaven and Hell reveals something that Lewis believes to be true about the two places and how people respond to them. Other fascinating things about this book are the fictional characters and seeing how different types of people respond to being in Heaven. There is one man who realizes that now that he is in Heaven, and in the presence of God, he is no longer useful. But he doesn't want to start feeling useless, and so cannot enter the presence of God--because in Heaven God provides for everyone's needs. This book really makes you contemplate whether Christianity is more about the journey or the destination. It's entertaining and full of wisdom, and is a must-read.
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Summary: More than afterlife philosophy
Review: Lewis' The Great Divorce is a chilling story which goes deeper than it seems. It is very easy to pass this little tale off as mere philosophy or "thoughts on death"; the truth is, this book is a warning against those who think their "story" is neither good nor bad. Lewis doesn't leave much wiggle room in describing heaven: it is a place so substantial that it cuts and causes pain for those who don't realize the wonder of it. There isn't much solace in hell, either: completely reversed, hell has no substance at all. In fact, its residents don't even realize they are even in hell in the first place. I believe Lewis intended this to be a caveat against a lack of substance in one's life as well as death. Of course, Lewis and I are both Christian, so working within that understanding, there is much more to be said. But even for non-believers, The Great Divorce is a commentary of great value, as many of Lewis' works are. In the end, it would seem that The Great Divorce isn't about Heaven and Hell; it is about the great chasm between Life and Death themselves.
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Summary: An aetheist's perspective
Review: This book basically examines the Platonic ideal of belief. In summary, a group of real world souls take a bus to heaven and speak with angels. Through opposition to their flawed eyes, Lewis describes divinity. Fabulous. I've made all my friends read it.
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Summary: Read -- and Believe
Review: The Great Divorce is arguably one of Lewis's best books. His thought provoking journey from Hell to Heaven on a day excursion suggests quite powerfully that Hell is a choice -- and a choice that many people freely make. It is ironic that (with a solitary, glorious exception) all passengers on the excursion choose to return to Hell, rather than to enter Heaven -- because they still, even after death, refuse to give up the sin that most seperates them from God. A profound read.
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Summary: Great Book
Review: C.S. Lewis explains things about heaven, hell and the like in the form of a novella in this book. It uses great imagery and symbols to grasp spiritual and deeper concepts. The material itself makes you think about what Lewis is saying, what you believe and what the Bible teaches. It is worth buying and reading over and over.
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