O carte la care mă întorc mereu cu drag :)

The person who becomes better understands more and more clearly the evil that still remains in him. The person who becomes worse understands less and less his own wickedness. A person who is not entirely bad knows that he is not too good; a person who is completely bad believes that everything is okay with him. (…) Good people know both what is good and what is evil; bad people do not know either one.

However, the gift of oneself must be real. One must give oneself "blindly". Christ will truly offer you a true personality, but you should not turn to Him for its sake. Nor can you approach Him as long as what concerns you is your own personality. The true first step is to seek to forget completely about yourself. Your true, new being (which is Christ's as well as yours, and is yours precisely because it is His) will not appear as long as you run after it. It will appear when you run after Him. (…) Even in social life, you will not make a good impression on others until you stop thinking about the impression you make. Even in literature and art, no one who is concerned with originality will ever be original; while, if you simply try to tell the truth, you will become original nine times out of ten, without even realizing it. This principle applies in all circumstances of life. Renounce yourself and you will discover your true being. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, the death of your ambitions and desires every day, and finally, the death of your entire body, submit to them with every fiber of your being, and you will find eternal life. Do not keep anything for yourself. Nothing that you have not given will truly belong to you. Nothing that has not died in you will ever rise from the dead. Seek only in yourself and you will finally find only hatred, loneliness, despair, anger, destruction and decomposition. But look at Christ: you will find Him and you will find everything with Him.

There is literally NOTHING to complain about with this book. Lewis is such a brilliant writer and speaks so much TRUTH in Mere Christianity!

It's definitely one that I would recommend to anyone and everyone, both Christians and non-Christians.

If you have any questions about Christianity or even about the world to some degree, you should absolutely give this book a go!

It's one I will surely be re-reading and returning to for advice.

Favorite takeaway and something every Christian should hear: Careless Lives Cost Talk Read the book if you wanna know how important that is! ;)

This book is truly a gem. Lewis's writing style is engaging and easy to understand, yet profound and thought-provoking.

He presents the basic tenets of Christianity in a way that makes sense and challenges the reader to think deeply about their beliefs.

Whether you are a devout Christian looking to deepen your faith or a non-Christian seeking answers, Mere Christianity has something for everyone.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring the meaning of life and the nature of God.

This is the 70th anniversary of "Mere Christianity," which is actually edited from three older books published between 1942 and 1944.

In my review of the science fiction masterpiece by S. Fowler Wright, "The Amphibians," I discussed universal moral codes. These are the things that have bound human beings together across distance, generations, experience, and epochs. That book, written a decade before C.S. Lewis' first fantasy, "Pilgrims Regress," prefigured and influenced the kind of allegorical fantasy that millions now know and love in the Space Trilogy and in The Chronicles of Narnia. The idea is that no matter how alien a civilization may seem, there is a common sense of right and wrong inherited with evolved consciousness. There really is no relativity. The details may vary - one culture may allow for more than one wife, while others maintain monogamy, for example. But there is still one Law of Nature, and when we understand the reasons for the differences, a singular truth emerges. We discover just how similar we are to people all over the globe, even in those civilizations from a thousand years ago. Whether one is deeply religious, adheres to no particular faith, or is atheist, we all know the codes of Right and Wrong, even when we pretend not to. We know when an act is wrong, especially when it is committed against us. We may defend our actions because we know they are wrong - it wasn't our fault, or I was tired and grumpy, or I didn't have time to keep my promise. Even atrocities committed in the name of religion are done under a guise to justify the wrong action. And the architects of genocide still complain when they don't get a fair deal.

Such was the understanding of C.S. Lewis when he was asked by the BBC to deliver a series of radio talks during World War II. These talks would later form part of the book we know today as "Mere Christianity." His task was to inform the British public about what Christians believed, and he wanted to emphasize the commonality between all Christian churches rather than try to sway people to one particular faith. Because of what was happening in Britain and the world at the time, he wanted his words to be a source of comfort and strength. Britain had lost almost a generation of young men fighting in the trenches of foreign lands in "The Great War," and now, several decades later, this new war brought death right to everyone's doorstep, with 400 German planes bombing civilians each terrifying night. Therefore, Lewis was not just trying to proselytize about Christian faith, but about the universal codes, to remind the ravaged world that, when dealing with either friends or enemies, we are dealing with immortal souls. And thus, his words helped transform terror into courage, revenge into forgiveness, and survival into selflessness.

He does, of course, detail what Christians believe, and he does it in a very natural and friendly way, without being too preachy and easy to understand. I was surprised how he approached some explanations from a depth psychology perspective, not just a theological one, but ultimately the pathology of behavior still leads to a separation from God. He uses the analogy that to live "in Christ" is to literally be the cells of Christ's body. We must work in harmony rather than act as a cancer.

Speaking of Christ, Lewis gives a very simplified breakdown of his understanding of what Christians believe about Jesus as the Son of God, as "begotten," as part of a tripartite personal God, and as dying for our sins. If you are confused about these sorts of things, you'll probably still be confused (like me) after reading this book, but it'll get you closer to a basic understanding much more easily than reading St. Augustine, I can assure you. Lewis does a great job of choosing everyday analogies to describe deep theological issues that readers can actually understand. As a side note, some of his analogies could make for some good allegorical fantasy, and I'm surprised he never used these ideas in his later fiction. If I were a novelist, I'd be inspired. Maybe someday I'll write my own book instead of writing reviews criticizing the work of others. Perhaps sometime after I actually start that diet and exercise routine I keep promising my wife.

Some readers may be surprised to see that Lewis refuses to take the evangelical path here. Though he says that Christians believe that their beliefs are the best and true way to God, Christians must be aware that they have no concept of God's plans for others who practice different ways of communion with the Eternal, nor can we make assumptions about the actual relationship that others have with God. As such, he doesn't want Christians dictating laws and policy any more than he wants other religions outlawing wine with dinner.

"Mere Christianity" is a warm and friendly hug in a time of incredible devastation, and it seems appropriate to reread today while our fellow human beings continue to face senseless invasion and killing authorized by selfish and damaged minds. Whether or not you are a Christian, this kind and inclusive book serves to remind us today of the codes that bind us all, and perhaps as more of us live by these codes, the more we can resist and defeat what is evil in this world.

A great book about Christianity can be an enlightening and profound read. It delves into the teachings, history, and significance of this major world religion. Such a book might explore the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. It could also discuss the various doctrines and beliefs that form the foundation of the faith, such as salvation, grace, and the Holy Trinity. Additionally, a good book on Christianity might examine the impact of the religion on society, culture, and individual lives throughout history. Whether you are a devout Christian seeking to deepen your understanding of the faith or someone simply interested in learning more about Christianity, a great book on the subject can provide valuable insights and perspectives.

I always have a great passion for Christian authors who have the courage to oppose the modern fallacy that once you embrace Christ, all your troubles will vanish. The concept that God is a lenient father who grants our wishes and asks for little in return is, understandably, quite prevalent. However, Lewis firmly rejects this idea!

Some notable quotes are as follows:

Concerning the belief that God is an impersonal life-force: "This is a rather tame kind of God. You can activate it whenever you desire, but it won't cause you any trouble. [It has] all the excitement of religion without any of the sacrifices." (p. 35)

"The Moral Law provides no basis for believing that God is good in the sense of being indulgent, soft, or sympathetic. There is nothing lenient about the moral law. It is extremely tough. It commands you to do the right thing and doesn't seem to care how painful, dangerous, or arduous it may be to do so." (p. 37)

This is a book that should be read slowly and with a prayerful heart. It is truly worth the effort.

2024 Review

To my great surprise and delight, I have found that a significant portion of what I have grown to love about the Anglican church over the past year must have been initially discovered by me here in Lewis. It is truly astonishing how this place has had such a profound impact on my spiritual journey. This realization has made me look at Lewis in a whole new light.

This is such a convicting yet practical book. It challenges my beliefs and makes me reflect deeply on my faith. The teachings and insights presented within its pages are not only thought-provoking but also applicable to my daily life.


2020 Review

I really need to accelerate my re-reads of Lewis. It has been a full decade since I last delved into this particular work, and that time span feels far too long. Lewis's writing has always had a special charm for me, and I am eager to once again immerse myself in his words and gain new perspectives.

This is a truly great book.

From the moment I started reading, I was completely captivated by every single sentence within its pages.

The author's writing style is so engaging and masterful that it draws you in and makes you reluctant to put the book down.

Each sentence seems to be carefully crafted, filled with vivid descriptions, profound insights, and a unique charm that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

I found myself not only enjoying the story but also learning a great deal from the author's words.

This book has truly left a lasting impression on me, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

It is a literary gem that is sure to be cherished by readers for years to come.

It was truly fascinating to peruse this right after delving into Cicero's On Moral Duties. Both Cicero and Lewis share a common concern for an orderly society. They both strive to present the profound thoughts and ideas of philosophers in a language that the common man can understand. However, the issue lies in the fact that Cicero overlooks some fundamental questions.

Cicero and Lewis concur that adhering to general principles of kindness, honesty, and the like is beneficial in creating an orderly society where individuals can flourish. Yet, Cicero looks to Nature as a guide. The problem here is that when we observe nature, we encounter conflicting elements. As Lewis illustrates, when one hears a cry for help, two desires may arise. One is the urge to assist (the herd instinct), and the other is the impulse to flee (the instinct for self-preservation). Strangely enough, human beings also experience a third element in such dilemmas. We feel compelled to follow the first desire despite the presence of the second. The factor that judges between these two instincts cannot be the instinct itself. It is something external. Lewis believes that this "outside" experience suggests the existence of a being behind this Moral Law. In contrast, Cicero can only attribute anthropomorphic tendencies to Nature: she "demands" and "abhors" certain things. But upon closer inspection, these demands and abhorrences (our instincts) are arbitrary and hardly serve as a reliable guide. Cicero might perhaps attribute this judgmental factor to reason. But according to him, reason is a gift from Nature. So, if both our contradictory instincts and the reason to judge between them come from Nature, wouldn't the principle of non-contradiction come into play and suggest that there must be something else at work here? Nature is contradictory because it is currently flawed, but the Moral Law as Lewis perceives it is not in contradiction with itself as it stems from a higher source. (I hope I have understood all of this correctly.) Essentially, I think Lewis offers a solid and accessible presentation of the argument from morality.

That is perhaps the most apologetic part of the book and is not yet a comprehensive case for the Christian God specifically. His case for the Christian God is not thorough or nuanced. If it were, it would be an entirely different and much larger book. Instead, he transitions more into an introduction of why Christians believe that the intelligent being is the Judeo-Christian God. It is partly apologetic but mostly expository.

Part three assumes the stance of Christianity and explores how Christian behavioral ideals make sense. The aspect that I appreciated the most from this section was the discussion on pride and humility. Despite what we may claim, there seems to be a greater emphasis on external acts or deeds rather than on the state of the heart. The greatest sin is pride, not some other "favorite" sin. His caution that pride can often be used to suppress simpler vices is something that I want to internalize more deeply. As Lewis remarks, "many a man has overcome cowardice, or lust, or ill-temper by learning to think that they are beneath his dignity - that is, by Pride." We must never enlist pride to cure our vices.

He also challenges Christians for expecting non-Christians to live according to Christian values and abide by Christian morality. It was interesting that he used marriage as an example. What basis do we have for expecting those outside the faith to have Christian marriages? Granted, he did not refer to gay marriage, but although I know his views on homosexuality, I wonder what he would say about the marriage question today...

Part four, Beyond Personality, which focuses on the initial teachings about the triune God, was published many years after the first three parts. At first glance, it may seem somewhat unrelated. However, as he contends, the doctrine of the Trinity has significant personal and practical implications. If God is deeply concerned with inner morality, and we desire to know more about this being who demands so much from us, theology is one of the ways to embark on that journey. I really liked his analogy of a map (Lewis has a talent for analogies), so I'm going to include the entire passage here: ”In a way I quite understand why some people are put off by Theology. I remember once when I had been giving a talk to the R.A.F., an old, hard-bitten officer got up and said, `I've no use for all that stuff. But, mind you, I'm a religious man too. I know there's a God. I've felt Him out alone in the desert at night: the tremendous mystery. And that's just why I don't believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas about Him. To anyone who's met the real thing they all seem so petty and pedantic and unreal !'

Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man. I think he had probably had a real experience of God in the desert. And when he turned from that experience to the Christian creeds, I think he really was turning from something real to something less real. In the same way, if a man has once looked at the Atlantic from the beach, and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic, he also will be turning from something real to something less real: turning from real waves to a bit of coloured paper. But here comes the point. The map is admittedly only coloured paper, but there are two things you have to remember about it. In the first place, it is based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real as the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach, your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map. But the map is going to be more use than walks on the beach if you want to get to America.

Now, Theology is like the map. Merely learning and thinking about the Christian doctrines, if you stop there, is less real and less exciting than the sort of thing my friend got in the desert. Doctrines are not God: they are only a kind of map. But that map is based on the experience of hundreds of people who really were in touch with God - experiences compared with which any thrills or pious feelings you and I are likely to get on our own are very elementary and very confused. And secondly, if you want to get any further, you must use the map. You see, what happened to that man in the desert may have been real, and was certainly exciting, but nothing comes of it. It leads nowhere. There is nothing to do about it. In fact, that is just why a vague religion - all about feeling God in nature, and so on - is so attractive. It is all thrills and no work; like watching the waves from the beach. But you will not get to Newfoundland by studying the Atlantic that way, and you will not get eternal life by simply feeling the presence of God in flowers or music. Neither will you get anywhere by looking at maps without going to sea. Nor will you be very safe if you go to sea without a map.”

All in all, I believe this is a good read if you are curious about the basic tenets of Christianity. And if you are a Christian, there is much encouragement and wisdom to be gained.

I participated in a Bible study session today and it was truly an amazing experience.

As I delved into the scriptures and engaged in discussions with others, I felt a deep sense of connection and enlightenment.

The words of the Bible seemed to come alive, offering profound insights and guidance for my life.

The group was very supportive and we were able to share our thoughts and interpretations openly.

It was a time of growth and learning, and I left the study feeling inspired and uplifted.

I look forward to future Bible study sessions and continuing to explore the wisdom and teachings of the Bible.

Overall, it was an awesome opportunity to deepen my faith and gain a greater understanding of God's word.

I am grateful for this experience and will cherish the lessons I have learned.

This book quite literally changed my life.

It presents a dramatic and vivid account of a former atheist's journey to the realization that God is real and that one can have a personal relationship with Him.

Reading this book with an open mind is truly beneficial in understanding Lewis' perspective.

Originally given as a radio address, it has the advantage of being relatively easy to follow.

However, the language used is a bit archaic, which means that some of the chapters may require several re-readings before one can finally grasp the content.

Nonetheless, it is completely worth the effort.

The profound insights and the powerful message within these pages have the potential to transform one's understanding of faith and spirituality.

It challenges readers to question their own beliefs and to consider the possibility of a higher power.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the nature of God and the meaning of life.

Read it, even for the last chapter alone!

Most people lack a clear understanding of what Christianity truly is. This is precisely why CS Lewis' book holds such significance.

If you're seeking a book that will coerce you into taking the leap of faith and becoming a Christian, like some of the 1-star reviewers who claimed they remained unconvinced, then you're better off not wasting your time. No single book can force such a decision upon you. However, if you're in pursuit of the genuine facts about Christianity, not as a mere religion but as a profound relationship, then Lewis' work is an excellent choice. Although his writing style is rather formal, which is evident from his British background, those seeking spiritual truth will likely overlook this aspect. It's like looking beyond the shell to get to the egg.

As a personal aside, I didn't become a Christian solely because of'scientific facts.' Nevertheless, I did ensure that I wasn't making an intellectually suicidal choice. I used to have a great fondness for evolution. If you desire the same kind of validation, you can either engage in a conversation with a Christian who is well-versed in the facts, as I did, or read something similar to what Lewis has presented. It's that simple.

If everyone were to read this book, I can envision several possible outcomes. Firstly, most people in Western culture would cease to call themselves Christians and would instead either embrace Christianity wholeheartedly or become true atheists. At the very least, they would be taking a stand for something rather than simply going along with anything. Secondly, other cultures would stop making ignorant remarks such as \\"America (or wherever) is a Christian nation.\\" The facts presented in Lewis' work refute this claim. They would also stop alleging that they are engaged in a holy war against these so-called Christians who, in reality, are not true Christians at all. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, some people might come to realize the inheritance and gift that awaits them and actually choose to explore God by taking an Alpha course or reading that \\"Bible\\" thing.

If you're a fan of reading novels, you might find this book somewhat dry until you reach the last chapter. However, don't let this deter you from reading it. Even if you only read the last chapter, which is about the next evolution of humanity, you'll gain a significant and inspiring perspective on real Christianity. When you do, you might just be tempted to go back and read the entire book to understand what all the fuss is about and how Lewis could make such an outrageous statement.

Well, that was a rather long and ranty piece. But I truly love you all, and I hope you'll give this book a chance.
Check out my Listmania for some suggestions on other crucial books like Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Feel free to get in touch with me.

Cheers,
Danny

I recently re-read C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. It was originally published in 1952 and before that, it was a BBC radio broadcast during WWII. Re-reading it brought back so many great memories of when I first read it about 12 years ago. At that time, I was still an agnostic. This book led to my gradual conversion to Christianity. I had a lot of questions and wasn't going to believe in a worldview just because I was raised in the Church. I was very inquisitive, wanted to know for myself, and was sincerely searching for truth and meaning.

The way Lewis combined history, reason, imagination, faith, and one's own personal experience was quite unique to me. The Irish literary scholar and lay theologian's writings not only saved my sanity but also changed my life. It led me to many other writers, gave me a passion for writing, literature, and art. It helped me understand and appreciate people of different worldviews. Through his influence, I have an amazing community and life-changing experiences that I marvel at.

I thank God for giving the world this incredible writer and thinker. I also thank Mr. Grant Hudson for giving me the opportunity to write about how this man's writings changed my life in Surprised by Agape. As C.S. Lewis said, "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or to be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that country and to help others to do the same.”