I have a confession to make. I'm not proud of it, but it is true. I'm 30 years old. Since I was 9 or 10, I've been reading numerous books regularly. However, it was only a few weeks ago that I finally managed to read "Mere Christianity". All in all, I've been aware of this masterpiece by Lewis for a long time, and have even quoted some of its portions. Now, I can say that it was definitely worth the wait, yet I also wish I had read it much sooner.
Lewis is as proficient as always in explaining profound theological truths in simple terms. Remember, Lewis constantly reminds us that he is not a theologian. So, don't anticipate getting a comprehensive systematic theology from him. Having said that, he presents us with an excellent example of how to take complex theological truths and express them in a way that almost anyone, even with average intelligence, can understand. There are definitely moments when those who prefer their theology to be as precise as a Swiss watch will cringe, but he would probably wince in return at their inability to present such exact theological concepts in a way that makes them understandable.
I believe Lewis actually accomplished something truly remarkable in "Mere Christianity", which will bring great benefits to the church for many years to come. He may not be correct on every single point, but he gets to the core of the fundamentals of what it means to be a Christian. He contrasts it with various other religious and agnostic ideas, and demonstrates that Christianity is the best explanation for the world and is the most reasonable. He also emphasizes important devotional points about what it means to live like a Christian, not just to believe like one.
Don't be like me and wait until you've lived over half your life to read "Mere Christianity"! If you haven't read it yet, make it the very next book you pick up.
One of the most remarkable books that have been written. I had the privilege of reading it for the first time over 10 years ago, being borrowed by a good friend at that time, because it could not be found anywhere until the people at Humanitas had the patience and published this new edition. I confess that I was immediately fascinated by the beauty of the discovered truth, the elegant style of the presentation and the depth of the ideas presented.
The essence of the Christian doctrine is a rational one, up to a point, and from there on, it is suprarational, but it is never absurd, because God cannot contradict Himself. Each reader will observe this theme as it pervades the entire writing and, more importantly, each reader who is not a Christian will be challenged from a rational and intellectual point of view to such an extent that he must yield.
Lewis was a genius of words and for this reason he was a pathfinder for me, shaping my critical thinking and correcting me where I was wrong. I can also say that, thanks to Lewis, I have developed over time this affinity for apologetics, a fundamental discipline of Christian theology.