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CS Lewis
Lewis presents his personal views on the origins, evolution, and meaning of the Christian religion in Mere Christianity. His arguments are logical, sound, and refreshing. Because Lewis avoids preaching and in fact urges a personal approach to God, the book has a universal appeal. Mere Christianity is a treatise about a Christianity that can and should be accessible to all people.
One of the issues Lewis addresses in Mere Christianity is the origins of the religion. Tracing the origins of the religion demands a thorough understanding of the words "Christian," and "Christianity." The author's analysis of key words proves his desire to investigate the absolute essence of Christianity and not simply to expound on theological arguments. Lewis also avoids rehashing Sunday school lessons or Biblical anecdotes, which makes Mere Christianity highly readable. I appreciate Lewis' personal insight. Moreover, I value his advice to appreciate Christianity not as a religion of sects, but as a unified whole. One of Lewis' main points is that Christianity did not start as a divided faith. Factions between the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Church, or between Protestants and Catholics, evolved later and as the result of human bickering.
C.S. Lewis' ideas about moral law are also worthwhile. According to Lewis, moral law is not necessarily tied to any religion, including Christianity. Religion is a vehicle for the dissemination of moral law but ultimately even non-religious people can understand the difference between right and wrong. His views show that Lewis accepts all faiths and even atheism as being acceptable and I respect that point-of-view. Morality is not necessarily related to religion.
Finally, I like that Lewis discusses free will with regards to moral law. Moral laws are immutable, but can nevertheless be broken by willful human beings. Lewis is careful to show that free will does not negate the absolute nature of moral law. Rather, the author argues that human beings must continually strive to transcend their egos toward a more spiritual way of life. In that sense, mere Christianity is for everyone.
Reference
Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity.
Belief comes easily for Lewis: "Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him. The conclusion I dread is not: 'So there's no God after all,' but 'So this is what God's really like. Deceive yourself no longer.'...Of course it's easy enough to say that God seems absent at our
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Christian? The author C.S. Lewis once wrote that, "We are told that Christ was killed for us, that His death has washed out our sins and that by dying He has disabled death itself. That is the formula. That is Christianity." Though I agree with the truth of this statement, on reflection I believe that each Christian must establish their own reasons for their faith. The most important principles in
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Natural Law In Apology Crito, Plato presents Socrates a staunch defender law, sense respect legal orders polity a basic obligation citizenship. What important reasons Socrates position defense Athenian law? If accept Lewis' critique emotional subjectivism (Gaius Titus' position) Abolition Man sound, interpret Socrates' actions result subjective feelings. Plato's "Apology" and "Crito" and C.S. Lewis' concept of Natural Law: Where both pagan and Christian philosophies meet in agreement One of the most striking actions in
Lewis Relativist said, 'The world does not exist, England does not exist, Oxford does not exist and I am confident that I do not Exist!' When Lewis was asked to reply, he stood up and said, 'How am I to talk to a man who's not there?'" (Schultz, 1998) Lewis: A Biography This quote shows how, in truly CS Lewis style, the writer took the everyday questions about religion and faith, tacking them