This book fails to provide any engaging explanations or compelling arguments regarding the validity of Christianity. I decided to read it because my younger brother, who vacillates between paganism, a rather weak form of Christianity, and whatever else offers him comfort, believed that I might find it interesting and that I could gain a better understanding of Christianity. He seems to have mistakenly equated my disagreement with a lack of understanding.

The arguments presented by Lewis in this book would have been quite interesting if it were intended as a satire of narrow-minded Christian apologetics. However, it is meant to be taken seriously. The fact that this book has any significance at all makes me feel rather disheartened. His arguments for the authenticity of Jesus as the son of God are so easily refuted that it is astonishing. It's as if he is using logic similar to that of a third grader trying to figure out how the world's supply of cows produced the milk that was used to make the cheese that the moon is supposedly made of.

To spare you, dear readers, some time, a fair amount of torn hair, and several millimeters of gnashed teeth, I will summarize as follows:

Christianity is considered true because the author of a series of books where children enter a wardrobe and are transported to a magical land with faster time, talking lions, and wars against mystical beings believes that the stories of Christianity are too detailed and fantastical to be fabricated.

Jesus was truly God because the other alternatives are that he was the devil, which is clearly not the case, or a madman. And according to the author, nobody could be so insane as to think of themselves as God, despite the fact that most people who will eventually read this are likely to be within the vicinity of someone who believes themselves to be God, Napoleon, or Jesus. The possibility that Jesus could have been a liar is not really considered.

Some day, I hope to come across Christian apologetics that don't leave me amazed that the author managed to avoid, on a daily basis, walking into traffic and getting hit by a truck because he forgot to open his eyes when getting out of bed.

I think you'd have to be rather malicious to deny the man's good intentions or to imply that there aren't any interesting ideas here.

And yet, the thing is almost astonishingly naive. He begins with some reasonable, albeit questionable, ideas regarding basic ethics and morality. However, by the time he actually reaches the discussion of the "atonement" and the trinity, he winds up sounding like a backwoods redneck who grew up listening to gospel radio and Billy Graham.

He frequently mentions that we should not think like children, and yet his concepts about God and Jesus are as simplistic as those of Santa Claus and Superman. Moreover, his ideas about other religions reek of Western superiority. This is especially crass considering everything that occurred between the UK and India in the few decades prior to the book's writing. Gandhi, Besant, Krishnamurti - all of that was contemporary. There was absolutely no excuse for being so ignorant about Hinduism, Buddhism, or even Islam, if there ever was one.

The strange thing is that his Narnia books seem to contain so much more than these extremely narrow views.

The moment I finished reading Screwtape Letters, I was instantly captivated and became a die-hard fan of this remarkable author. It made me eager to explore his other literary works. Mere Christianity, of course, is one of his most renowned masterpieces that I simply could not afford to miss. As I had mentioned in one of my reviews of his other books, I truly admire Lewis' profound wisdom in sharing his faith through his writings. He has the remarkable ability to provide concrete illustrations of the Christian doctrines by presenting practical examples. Surely, as a Christian, one will immediately recognize that this wisdom does not stem solely from Lewis but from God Himself. The wisdom and understanding he shared about Christianity is a vivid manifestation of his harmonious relationship with his Creator. I firmly believe that this is precisely what Christianity is all about - nurturing a healthy personal relationship with Christ.

Unlike Screwtape Letters, it took me a considerable amount of time to complete this book. This is because I felt an urgent need to pay meticulous attention to every word the author was saying. Surprisingly, I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with what Lewis was expressing in each and every chapter. It wasn't because he was overly convincing, but rather because it aligned perfectly with what the Scripture also proclaims (although it would have been even better if the author had also included the references for the Bible passages he was referring to).

A plethora of basic Christian beliefs were expounded upon in this book. However, I will just enumerate a few based on my understanding of what the author is trying to convey:

1. God is the Creator of us all, and within every human being, He has bestowed a conscience. This conscience empowers us to have a sense of right and wrong.

2. Alongside conscience, He has also granted us free will, which allows us to make choices - whether to obey or disobey Him.

3. God originally fashioned the world to be good. It is due to man's disobedience that this world has turned bad.

C. S. Lewis remains one of my all-time favorite authors.

This collection of broadcast talks that were later transformed into books offers a systematic and logical exploration of Christianity.

I am truly astounded by Lewis's remarkable creativity and his seemingly inexhaustible reservoir of metaphors and illustrations.

Lewis is not only clever but also extremely witty. His unique voice has an irresistible charm that constantly draws me in.

I thoroughly relished this book and will undoubtedly return to its pages time and again in the future.

Re-read on 11.04.21 and 10.01.22, each time finding new insights and enjoying the engaging prose all over again.

His work continues to inspire and enlighten me, making him a literary giant whose influence will surely endure for generations to come.

This short book contains some extremely profound thoughts.

It is truly remarkable how within its concise pages, it manages to explore and convey ideas that are both thought-provoking and profound.

The author has a unique ability to distill complex concepts into simple yet powerful statements that leave a lasting impact on the reader.

Each thought seems to be carefully crafted and placed, inviting the reader to reflect and contemplate on their own beliefs and perspectives.

Whether it's about life, love, or the human condition, this book offers insights that can expand one's understanding and open up new ways of thinking.

It is a gem of a book that should not be overlooked, as it has the potential to inspire and transform the way we view the world around us.

Wow.

This is one of those books that I have heard about for as long as I can remember. We finally read it as a family for school. (#sonlight) And it was not what I was expecting. But it was really, really good. It was also interesting to know the historical context as well.

I think that a lot of it might have gone a bit over my head. C.S. Lewis is just one of those authors who seems a whole lot smarter than I am. ;) Especially in his nonfiction books. I may need to read it a dozen more times or so to get it all, but it was very interesting and it made me think.

I've grown up with Christianity and thought I had a pretty good understanding of it all. But C.S. Lewis's analogies and simple (yet complex) explanations made me understand certain things to a whole new level. He explained the basics of Christianity in ways I hadn't ever heard it explained before.

When I first started reading this, I wasn't sure what to expect exactly. Despite it being a classic and having heard about it all my life, recently I had heard several people tell me that some of the theology was off. I didn't find that to be something I noticed until the very end of the book (even though, heeding the warnings, I tried to be vigilant), and even then I'm not entirely sure. I think I need to do more research on some of the things in question.

So, as with every book, read with discernment and check it against Scripture. :) I'd recommend this to experienced Christians and decided skeptics alike (and everyone in between). It's a thought-provoking read that can offer new perspectives and deepen one's understanding, regardless of their religious stance.

In 2022, I had a wonderful experience. This time around, I read while listening to the conversation between Dr. Merkle and Pr. Douglas Wilson (in the Canon+ App, The Commons by New Saint Andrews College). It was truly fantastic. The exchange of ideas and perspectives was engaging and thought-provoking.

In 2016, I also had a positive impression. Although I didn't agree with every line he writes, there was still a lot to appreciate. The work had its own merits and offered valuable insights.

Overall, both experiences left a lasting impact on me. They broadened my understanding and challenged my thinking. I look forward to more such encounters in the future.

I truly adored this book and would highly recommend it to all Christians.

In fact, even those who are not Christians will gain a profound understanding of what Christianity entails.

The first section is written in a way that assumes the reader has no prior knowledge of Christianity. This is extremely beneficial as it not only goes back to the fundamentals but also provides valuable information for those without a Christian background.

I was astounded by how relevant this book remains today. Although there were a few references that indicated it was written in the 1950s, it is still incredibly applicable to Christians 70 years later.

Lewis is truly a genius. He would explore profound concepts, yet use vivid imagery that made them accessible to me.

Then, just when I was in awe, he would slip in a bit of snark and I would burst out laughing.

I'm rather sad that the book has come to an end and I can't wait to read it again at some point.

Some chapters in this work are truly phenomenal, presenting great insights and intuitions. However, overall, I was rather surprised by the consistent use of fabricated and custom-made logic to defend Christian dogmas. This really annoyed me because throughout the entire book, there are so many strong points and fascinating ideas.

Let me bring just a couple of examples of his “made-up logic”. When Lewis attempts to explain the reasons behind man's “free will” and tries to answer the question: “how can anything happen contrary to a being with absolute power?”, he gives the example of a mother who tells her children what to do, but they often don't do it. Of course, there is a certain poetic value in this comparison. But in itself, it is a wrong syllogism because a mother does not have absolute power over her children. Then he claims that free will is the only thing that makes love and beauty possible and that “a world of automata would hardly be worth creating”. But why? Where is the justification for this assertion? It is simply missing. Why would such a world hardly be worth creating? Who knows what God deems as worth or not worth creating? This is just one of the many statements that Lewis makes which seem to stem from his own personal logic rather than proper, philosophical reasoning.

Other reviewers have already highlighted the several logical fallacies present in this book, so I will conclude here. Thanks for reading.

Brilliant, like so much of Lewis's writing.

It is truly remarkable how his work manages to be both profound and accessible.

I really liked how it helped explain some more complicated Christian concepts.

Lewis has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and present them in a way that is easy to understand.

He doesn't shy away from the difficult questions, but instead approaches them with intelligence and grace.

At the same time, he still goes back to the basics of what it means to believe in Jesus.

He reminds us of the fundamental principles of the Christian faith and why they are so important.

This combination of depth and simplicity makes his writing a valuable resource for both believers and those who are exploring the Christian faith for the first time.

Overall, I found this piece of writing to be both enlightening and inspiring.

It has given me a new perspective on some of the key concepts of Christianity and has deepened my understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Christian faith or who is looking for a thought-provoking read.

4.5

I'm not entirely sure what the specific article is that you want me to rewrite and expand. However, I can start with the sentence "gonna go take an ibuprofen" and expand it a bit for you:

I'm really not feeling well at the moment. My head is pounding and I just can't seem to focus. I think I'm gonna go take an ibuprofen to see if that helps.

I know that ibuprofen is a common pain reliever, but I always make sure to read the label and follow the instructions carefully. I don't want to take too much and cause any harm to my body.

After I take the ibuprofen, I'm going to lie down and try to get some rest. Maybe that will help me feel better and be able to get back to my normal activities.

I hope this helps! If you can provide the specific article that you want me to rewrite and expand, I'll do my best to meet your requirements.

4 stars

I have a deep affection for C.S. Lewis. In fact, Narnia is among my all-time favorite works of his. I have always been filled with curiosity about reading this particular book. I discovered that his perspective on Christianity was truly fascinating. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book. Although the narrator, Geoffrey Howard, wasn't my absolute favorite, the book itself was truly great. It offered profound insights and engaging content that kept me hooked throughout.

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Audio book source: Audible Plus
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Geoffrey Howard
Narration Rating: 3 stars
Genre: Non-fiction
Length: 5h 52m

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