Across more than six decades, lewis is talking to me and anyone else who will listen about his christian faith. Lewis and the search for rational religion by john beversluis. Loftus case against christianity is the same old, tired responses offered up by many who have not bothered to do some of the work in uncovering i what christians actually believe and ii what the philosophical, scientific, and. I am not asking anyone to accept christianity if his best reasoning tells him that the weight of the evidence is against it mere christianity p. Lewis and the case of the missing l debunking christianity. It defends science as something worth pursuing but. Lewiss works of nonfiction, with several million copies sold worldwide. Mere christianity is a revised and expanded version of three radio talks lewis gave. Many of the debunking arguments make as much sense as an evangelical.
Lewis 1952 book mere christianity with great sadness, respect and hope. Mere christianity is a superb if slightly dated book, and remains essential reading for anyone exploring the basics of christianity. My problem with mere christianity, if i have one, is that, in the second half of the book, he makes christianity seem too hard or too unappealing. The case for christianity broadcast talks in the uk 1942, christian. Lewis argues for the logical validity of christianity, defends the religion from its critics, and looks in detail at what the life of a christian is like in the first part of the book, lewis discusses the law of human nature. This book is a great instrument to use to help you make the very important and real. Subtitled reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of english in the upper forms of schools, it uses that as a starting point for a defense of objective value and natural law as well as a warning of the consequences of doing away with or debunking those things. Mere christianity is a revised and expanded version of three radio talks lewis gave, and was written, as lewis explains in the preface, to present the mere essence of christianity. As lewis clearly demonstrates, christianity is not a religion of flitting angels and blind faith, but of free will, an innate sense of justice and the grace of god. Indeed, as lewis reiterates throughout this book, christianity is not just about actions but motivations. Mere christianity was the overarching title for the bbc radio talks, which had already been published in three books. But make sure to buy a properly produced book rather than this shameful product of the computer age. Learn mere christianity with free interactive flashcards.
When studying human history, he claims, one is struck by how similar different societies moral codes are, at least at a fundamental. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. I appreciate the effort that vetter has made, however geoffrey howard reads mere christianity so utterly perfectly, anyone else must come second. He takes the reader through a wonderful journey of science, history, mythand even theology. About the second of these two, people are often worried. Dismantling dawkins case against god by scott hahn and benjamin wiker emmaus road, 2008 god and the new atheism.
Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Expanded into book form, mere christianity never flinches as it sets out a rational basis for christianity and builds an edifice of compassionate morality atop this foundation. Mere christianity study guide 2 book i1 david grice 852011 book i. It is not the same as the laws of physics or chemistry. Notably, christianity features the instruction to love. Lewiss influential work of apologetics, mere christianity, in the format of my previous series examining the case for christ.
The case for christianity, published in england under the title broadcast talks 1943, christian behavior 1943, and beyond personality 1945. The work began as a series of radio addresses lewis delivered during wwii. In this book jeffrey mark meticulously breaks down christianity and debunks it, showing in detail why its a complete fraud, offering help for atheists in dealing with christians, and while offering help and guidance for people who are struggling, trying to break free from their religion. Book description in christian no more jeffrey mark dismantles christianity, showing how it is a fraud founded on myths that have no basis in reality, built on a theology of threats, including hell, that cannot be real. Right and wrong as a clue to the meaning of the universe. In that way it may possibly be of some help in silencing the view. Once you have heard howard read it, you begin to feel that lewis is sitting there speaking to you. One would expect this, since the book is edited by evangelicals. Today, lewiss book has its own biographywritten by george marsdenas one volume in a series on influential christian books.
What, in your opinion, is lewis offering us in mere christianity. Book 1 1 there has been a great deal of soft soap talked about god for the last hundred years. Choose from 418 different sets of mere christianity flashcards on quizlet. Forgiveness is a key christian tenet, though it can seem to be a case of easier said than done. Mere christianity by c s lewis complete audio book read by geoffrey howard. Bringing together lewis legendary broadcast talks during world war two from his three previous books the case for christianity, christian behavior, and beyond personality, mere christianity provides an unequaled. Beversluis thoroughly examined that hypothesis and found the evidence lewis presents should. A former preacher rejects christianity 2008, and founder of bunkingchristianity jason long, ph. Just as when christianity tells me that i must not deny my religion even to save myself from death by torture, i wonder very much what i should do when it came to the point.
Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including mere christianity. The essentials of christianity are presented in an enlightening, easytograsp narrative. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of christian faith stand together. C s lewis, mere christianity, first edition abebooks. Rejecting the boundaries that divide christianitys many denominations, mere christianity is lewiss term for the essential christian message the theological. There is no such thing, as there is no such thing as theism or mere christianity either. Often, one person accuses another of not meeting a certain standard. This book brings together lewiss legendary radio broadcast talks in which he set out simply to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all christians at all times.
Heard first as radio addresses and then published as three separate booksthe case for christianity, christian behavior, and beyond personalitythis book brings together lewiss legendary broadcast talks of the war years, talks in which he set out simply to explain and. Lewis, and in particular, his trilemma, as presented in the book mere christianity. Whether they admit it or not, all men recognize it, and even appeal to it. Lewis, adapted from a series of bbc radio talks made between 1942 and 1944, while lewis was at oxford during the second world war. A refutation of richard dawkins by thomas crean, o. Lewiss forceful and accessible doctrine of christian belief. Mere christianity flashcards and study sets quizlet. I feel guilty giving such a book only three stars, but that is for the.
The book i was given contained many beautiful ideas, and many of those ideas resonated with me, but there were also many other ideas that struck a sour note, and the entire spiritual narrative made little sense to me. In this first book, beversluis took as his point of departure lewiss challenge where he said. We recommend using the odd numbered chapters at the ends of books 2, 3, and 4 as time to wrap up and talk about all the things c. Lewis met with rejection early in his career before going on to sell 200 million copies of his books. Lewis book mere christianity is a good book for an unbeliever to read to establish a rational basis for belief in christianity. Considered a classic of christian apologetics, the transcripts of the broadcasts originally appeared in print as three separate pamphlets.
Though the preface is only a leadin to the rest of the book, it contains a very. Lewis believes that we can learn something valuable by the kinds of phrases people use when they quarrel. First heard as informal radio broadcasts and then published as three separate books the case for. These evangelicals are coopting the term christian theism for themselves. It is meant to be used to study mere christianity at the rate of about 2 chapters per week.
The fool had been told that lewis is an example of a great scholar and intellectual who was at one time an atheist andor agnostic who later. His books still top the charts in christian bookstores. Bringing together lewis legendary broadcast talks during world war two from his three previous books the case for christianity, christian. I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish. I am not trying to tell you in this book what i could doi can do precious littlei am telling you what christianity is. Both christian and nonchristians benefit from reading this book. Challenging atheist myths by david robertson christian focus, 2007 god is no delusion. It is sad to see any modern apologists cite this book as a sound argument for theism, much less christianity. I like lewis in general and some of chestertons apologetics, but mc, for me, is. Mark details his own journey, first as a devout christian in a mainstream church. Mere christianity is a strange book to become a modern christian classic, partly because it wasnt intended to be a book in the first place. Lewis criticizes modern attempts to debunk natural values, such as those that would deny objective value to the waterfall, on rational grounds. Christians will gain new insights as to why they believe nonchristians will find a brilliant exposition. What did you learn from reading the book mere christianity.