Official Blog of HIST/REL 492, Christian Apologetics
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Mere brilliancy
Please read as much as you can of Mere Christianity.
No 20th century apologetic work had more influence on more people than C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. What is there about this work that made/makes it so appealing/successful in winning people to Christianity?
C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity talked about Christianity without endorsing any denomination and without sounding preachy. I found that a nice change from my previous experiences where it was all about how if you didn’t believe exactly what that they were saying you would be going to hell.
Lewis originally wrote this as a series of radio programs during World War 2. I think the time frame and reason it was written had a big impact on its message. The people of England needed comforting words and the encouragement to pull together for the common goal of defeating the Nazi’s. This was a concrete example of the battle between good and evil.
Not a reply but more of a continuation. I wanted to add that C.S. Lewis wrote the Chronicles of Narnia and I should also comment on his use of hidden messages in story form. I did not read the Chronicles as a child but discovered it when I was an adult. I thought it was well written and enjoyed the story. It is easily seen as a morality story, good vs evil, innocence defeats wickedness, etc. It contains witches and magic, intelligent animals, mythical creatures, battles and death, as well as children killing people, and it contained religious messages also. Aslan the lion was the creator of Narnia and was killed then resurrected to lead his followers in battle. The Christianity of the story may be hard to see but it is in there.
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
I've read C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" many times, both before my personal conversion to being a Christian and after. In fact, the quote above, combined with my personal experience of God and reading of the Gospels is what convinced me to convert. (If you're interested in this story, I can tell you in class or individually.) It strikes a chord with me because it gives such a realistic image of what my story is like. I definitely was not the same person I am today, but when God came in I was transformed into someone into something that can be much greater than I. Kent Johnsen
I'm only half way through Mere Christianity, but that is because I am hanging on every word! It's great...because it's contemporary. That is my explanation why C.S. Lewis was so, and is so popular. His analogies, and metaphors are easy to understand. He explains the keys on a piano are different than the notes on sheet music, but of the same essence. He is the first apologetic writer we have read for this class that I don't feel is to “deep.” He is speaking to the common man, me, and I do not feel he reads like a philosopher. He goes out of his way to leave theological differences between denominations out of his writings, and a guy like me appreciates that effort. He ends every point he tries to make with, “If it doesn't work for you, drop it.” He's not preaching, he's talking. I can't wait to finish...so back to reading I go.
There is still a lot of circular reasoning and taking stuff just on faith, says the still unconvinced. His words say to me that God's existence and the truth of Christianity are more likely than not, but I still don't see it as proof...or not yet, let me keep reading
I really enjoyed reading “Mere Christianity”. I had not read any C.S. Lewis before and found this to be a real treat. I was impressed with the logic he used to explain good and bad; the two are not independent powers as bad is an off-shoot of good, or as Lewis states “…badness is only spoiled goodness.” In order for a person or entity to be bad, they must exist as well as have intelligence and will. However, to exist and have intelligence and will is not a bad thing until the goodness in them becomes spoiled and they are used as tools of evil. He calls the battle between good and evil a civil war or a rebellion and the world is enemy-occupied territory where the battle is in full force. To me this comes across loud and clear as his explanation and proof of spiritual warfare and the battle that continues between good and bad. He gives a clear picture of the purpose for God to create free will; in order for man to be truly free, they must have the freedom to choose between good or evil and right or wrong.
What is there about this work that made/makes it so appealing/successful in winning people to Christianity? I think that this work was so appealing to people back in the 50's because of the argument that it was making. While there was a lot of Christians back in the 50's, this book would have made the Christians reconsider their faith as it goes into details about how apologetics can't make their arguments with flaws.
This book is a very good read and I highly recommend it.
Mere Christianity... I do not even know where to start, when I first opened this book; I was hooked. You see, so many of C.S. Lewis's ideas and thoughts ran parallel to my own. That is one of the significant things that has made this book attractive through the years. The simplicity of his writing, well, was once simple, but by today's standards, amongst standards, this may be a more challenging read. His writing is quite eloquent and often invites the reader into the story asking deep questioning and thinking from the reader. Even though the thoughts were deep, at least for me, the questions and scenarios were relatively easy.
On top of that, he also wrote this book with the intent of unity, another factor that I find extraordinary. Especially today, people get caught up in denominational wars and forget we should all be linked at the center of our faiths. However, not C.S. Lewis. He went out of his way to ensure this book could connect across denominations. He did this by sending the book to various denominations and asking for input. Then, even more amazingly, where there were disagreements in places, he would put them in the footnotes showing the other side's view.
Then on top of everything written, he stayed humble in all his writings. After reading the essential C.S. Lewis collection, I thought this man was intelligent. However, during this entire book, he would, instead, have his audience look at him as far lesser, which is applaudable. He wanted to connect deeply with the reader / original listener. C.S. Lewis knew the only way he could do that was if he kept the book simple and relied on simple ideas to win over his readers. He certainly did this brilliantly throughout mere Christianity.
The final thing I would like to point out that I liked about this book so much is that he is a believer who was once adamantly a strong atheist. This is a significant help to the book's story as it is almost as if he is waking you through the path he first had to walk through to get to faith. This sometimes makes it seem as if the individual reading is not alone, especially if they are questioning one thing or another about faith. In the few years since I first read this book, I have mentioned it to a few new or growing believers to help aid them in their walk of faith. In most cases, they enjoyed this book just as much as I did! That is primarily due to most things I have stated here in this blog post about this book.
C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity talked about Christianity without endorsing any denomination and without sounding preachy. I found that a nice change from my previous experiences where it was all about how if you didn’t believe exactly what that they were saying you would be going to hell.
ReplyDeleteLewis originally wrote this as a series of radio programs during World War 2. I think the time frame and reason it was written had a big impact on its message. The people of England needed comforting words and the encouragement to pull together for the common goal of defeating the Nazi’s. This was a concrete example of the battle between good and evil.
Jerry Taylor
Not a reply but more of a continuation. I wanted to add that C.S. Lewis wrote the Chronicles of Narnia and I should also comment on his use of hidden messages in story form. I did not read the Chronicles as a child but discovered it when I was an adult. I thought it was well written and enjoyed the story. It is easily seen as a morality story, good vs evil, innocence defeats wickedness, etc. It contains witches and magic, intelligent animals, mythical creatures, battles and death, as well as children killing people, and it contained religious messages also. Aslan the lion was the creator of Narnia and was killed then resurrected to lead his followers in battle. The Christianity of the story may be hard to see but it is in there.
DeleteJerry
"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
ReplyDeleteI've read C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" many times, both before my personal conversion to being a Christian and after. In fact, the quote above, combined with my personal experience of God and reading of the Gospels is what convinced me to convert. (If you're interested in this story, I can tell you in class or individually.) It strikes a chord with me because it gives such a realistic image of what my story is like. I definitely was not the same person I am today, but when God came in I was transformed into someone into something that can be much greater than I.
Kent Johnsen
I'm only half way through Mere Christianity, but that is because I am hanging on every word! It's great...because it's contemporary. That is my explanation why C.S. Lewis was so, and is so popular. His analogies, and metaphors are easy to understand. He explains the keys on a piano are different than the notes on sheet music, but of the same essence. He is the first apologetic writer we have read for this class that I don't feel is to “deep.” He is speaking to the common man, me, and I do not feel he reads like a philosopher. He goes out of his way to leave theological differences between denominations out of his writings, and a guy like me appreciates that effort. He ends every point he tries to make with, “If it doesn't work for you, drop it.” He's not preaching, he's talking. I can't wait to finish...so back to reading I go.
ReplyDeleteThere is still a lot of circular reasoning and taking stuff just on faith, says the still unconvinced. His words say to me that God's existence and the truth of Christianity are more likely than not, but I still don't see it as proof...or not yet, let me keep reading
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading “Mere Christianity”. I had not read any C.S. Lewis before and found this to be a real treat. I was impressed with the logic he used to explain good and bad; the two are not independent powers as bad is an off-shoot of good, or as Lewis states “…badness is only spoiled goodness.” In order for a person or entity to be bad, they must exist as well as have intelligence and will. However, to exist and have intelligence and will is not a bad thing until the goodness in them becomes spoiled and they are used as tools of evil. He calls the battle between good and evil a civil war or a rebellion and the world is enemy-occupied territory where the battle is in full force. To me this comes across loud and clear as his explanation and proof of spiritual warfare and the battle that continues between good and bad. He gives a clear picture of the purpose for God to create free will; in order for man to be truly free, they must have the freedom to choose between good or evil and right or wrong.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Sabers
What is there about this work that made/makes it so appealing/successful in winning people to Christianity?
ReplyDeleteI think that this work was so appealing to people back in the 50's because of the argument that it was making. While there was a lot of Christians back in the 50's, this book would have made the Christians reconsider their faith as it goes into details about how apologetics can't make their arguments with flaws.
This book is a very good read and I highly recommend it.
Mere Christianity... I do not even know where to start, when I first opened this book; I was hooked. You see, so many of C.S. Lewis's ideas and thoughts ran parallel to my own. That is one of the significant things that has made this book attractive through the years. The simplicity of his writing, well, was once simple, but by today's standards, amongst standards, this may be a more challenging read. His writing is quite eloquent and often invites the reader into the story asking deep questioning and thinking from the reader. Even though the thoughts were deep, at least for me, the questions and scenarios were relatively easy.
ReplyDeleteOn top of that, he also wrote this book with the intent of unity, another factor that I find extraordinary. Especially today, people get caught up in denominational wars and forget we should all be linked at the center of our faiths. However, not C.S. Lewis. He went out of his way to ensure this book could connect across denominations. He did this by sending the book to various denominations and asking for input. Then, even more amazingly, where there were disagreements in places, he would put them in the footnotes showing the other side's view.
Then on top of everything written, he stayed humble in all his writings. After reading the essential C.S. Lewis collection, I thought this man was intelligent. However, during this entire book, he would, instead, have his audience look at him as far lesser, which is applaudable. He wanted to connect deeply with the reader / original listener. C.S. Lewis knew the only way he could do that was if he kept the book simple and relied on simple ideas to win over his readers. He certainly did this brilliantly throughout mere Christianity.
The final thing I would like to point out that I liked about this book so much is that he is a believer who was once adamantly a strong atheist. This is a significant help to the book's story as it is almost as if he is waking you through the path he first had to walk through to get to faith. This sometimes makes it seem as if the individual reading is not alone, especially if they are questioning one thing or another about faith. In the few years since I first read this book, I have mentioned it to a few new or growing believers to help aid them in their walk of faith. In most cases, they enjoyed this book just as much as I did! That is primarily due to most things I have stated here in this blog post about this book.
Tanner Simon