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Jenny (Reading Envy)'s Reviews > Mere Christianity
Mere Christianity
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I was aware of this book in my childhood but never read it until now, because I'm working with two C.S. Lewis classes and wanted to get a better sense of his theology. I know some people still use this book as a way to explain the tenets of the Christian faith, but I think that is unwise for several reasons:
-Most of the book is based on church (not Biblical) teachings, which are only really emphasized inside certain denominations. The virtue/vice lists and the trinity concept - these are frameworks that have been placed on the practice of religion, more of a way of talking about morality than anything else. While they have a longstanding tradition within one end of the spectrum, they are absent in others. Lewis claims to defend the main concepts, but I'm not sure what he picked is what I would have picked, having come from a different background within the same religion.
-The narrow view of Christianity continues in his pronouncement that "anyone who professes to teach Christian doctrine" will tell you to use all three - baptism, belief, and "Holy Communion." In practice only belief seems to be central to all denominations.
-Lewis is a product of his time. He claims refusing to fight in war is a sin, calls homosexuality a perversion, and jokes about why anyone would ever want a woman as a decision maker.
-Lewis has a meandering way towards most of his conclusions. One minute he's talking about letters in envelopes and then he's saying, "See, this proves God exists." Some of the time I followed him and others I felt he was being deliberately obtuse.
-Several times Lewis says "you might think x but let me explain to you why you are incorrect." I should have just stopped there. The great irony is that he will go on to show why he thinks pride is the worst sin. :)
-Most of the book is based on church (not Biblical) teachings, which are only really emphasized inside certain denominations. The virtue/vice lists and the trinity concept - these are frameworks that have been placed on the practice of religion, more of a way of talking about morality than anything else. While they have a longstanding tradition within one end of the spectrum, they are absent in others. Lewis claims to defend the main concepts, but I'm not sure what he picked is what I would have picked, having come from a different background within the same religion.
-The narrow view of Christianity continues in his pronouncement that "anyone who professes to teach Christian doctrine" will tell you to use all three - baptism, belief, and "Holy Communion." In practice only belief seems to be central to all denominations.
-Lewis is a product of his time. He claims refusing to fight in war is a sin, calls homosexuality a perversion, and jokes about why anyone would ever want a woman as a decision maker.
-Lewis has a meandering way towards most of his conclusions. One minute he's talking about letters in envelopes and then he's saying, "See, this proves God exists." Some of the time I followed him and others I felt he was being deliberately obtuse.
-Several times Lewis says "you might think x but let me explain to you why you are incorrect." I should have just stopped there. The great irony is that he will go on to show why he thinks pride is the worst sin. :)
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Shawna
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Jan 24, 2015 04:54PM
Did you read The Narnian?
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"Mere Christianity" is now only interesting to me as an historical data point. He originally delivered a series of radio talks during WWII, which means he had the assumption he was addressing mainly CoE people. The radio talks were later adapted into this book.I still wonder if the context made people more receptive to his message.
Ben wrote: ""Mere Christianity" is now only interesting to me as an historical data point. He originally delivered a series of radio talks during WWII, which means he had the assumption he was addressing mainl..."Yes. And he speaks extensively on morality in a post-Hitler era. It definitely reflects the era and CoE.
And of course it's also interesting since he was converted to Christianity.
Shawna wrote: "Did you read The Narnian?"No, do you recommend it? It's on the reading list for the students.
I'm thinning my bookshelves and found a copy of Mere Christianity there. This has to be a leftover from an earlier period in life when I was trying to impress a cute Christian. Thank you for reviewing the salient points and convincing me it's okay to donate this one. If I run into another cute Christian, I can always browse your review, Jenny.
Joe wrote: "I'm thinning my bookshelves and found a copy of Mere Christianity there. This has to be a leftover from an earlier period in life when I was trying to impress a cute Christian. Thank you for review..."Ha! Or maybe you can impress the cute Christian with something a little more recent.
In spite of the age and limitations of this work, I think it's a good idea to read it if you interacting much with young Evanglical Christians. I may be wrong (I am now neither young nor Evangelical, so I may be hopelessly out of date), but back when it was a book we all had. Often in the pastel box set of paperbacks, but the rest rarely worn at all. It's possible the copy of Abolition of Man was even blank or a sealed block, but it was there...
His book "Miracles" was, iirc, a much better and more coherent summary of his theology. I always thought it was underrated and Mere Christianity incredibly overrated. But it's been years since I've looked at either.
Rob Secundus wrote: "His book "Miracles" was, iirc, a much better and more coherent summary of his theology. I always thought it was underrated and Mere Christianity incredibly overrated. But it's been years since I've..."Thanks. I'll have to see if that's on the list of what the class is reading!
the screwtape letters is one of my favorite books of all time. if you can hear the audio with John Cleese, by all means drop everything and listen!
robyn wrote: "the screwtape letters is one of my favorite books of all time. if you can hear the audio with John Cleese, by all means drop everything and listen!"Ooh I'll look for that, thanks!
I second through fifth robyn on this!! Out of print and quite hard to find, I have seen it advertised as unabridged, but it isn't. Which in this case is a good thing because the abridgment is not severe, and removes some of the most dated and obnoxious content. (With the full version, one can easily tell this was written by a middle-aged bachelor with little ability to relate well to women... sigh)
