Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis

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Permalink Reply by Rich Stanbery on February 9, 2009 at 9:45pm

Bob Jones, founder of Bob Jones University, had met C. S Lewis. For those of you who do not know, Bob Jones was extremely conservative. No drinking, smoking or chewing. Conservative dress, etc. To this day, the university still adheres to a strict concervative code. When Bob met C. S., he observed the nicotine stains on the teeth and around the mouth, and how the author made his patronage to the local pub. Dr. Jones had to put away any preconceived ideas on how anyone one held on to such vices and could still be a Christian. After the two conversed and devoloped a friendship, Dr, Jones said of Lewis, "I think the guy is a Christian."

C. S. Lewis thrived on mythology (which is obvious in his writings). Often he would tell his stories through his own parabolic style. As with most human beings, we mentally use tangable examples from our own lives to help us understand who God is.

Lewis often conversed with J.R.R. Tolkien during the writing of the Chronicles of Narnia at the pub, with pints in their fists & pipes in their mouths. J.R.R. thought C.S.'s approach on the use of mythical creatures disorderly & said the book(s) would never sell. Lewis used mythology from Greek, Roman, and other catagoies and poured them into one story. J.R.R. thought it sacreligious.

After World War I, C.S. Lewis seldom travelled away from home, usually not more than five miles. From outward appearances, he seemed rather dull. When he married Joy Gresham, her son, John was disappointed that the author of such writings of valor would appear looking and acting so boring. Yet inside the mind of the author, obviously great wisdom and creativity was at work.

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Permalink Reply by Teri Purcell on February 10, 2009 at 9:56am

I think Mere Christianity is a fabulous book. It shows how CS Lewis went from atheism to Christianity--all in a very logical fashion. If you read this and other writings of CS Lewis it is easy to see both the depth of his faith and the insight he had into sin and the human mind (see especially The Screwtape Letters). He understood the battle for souls raging on the earth. He understood human frailties. And he saw how we could triumph with the help of God. He also had a deep and passionate longing for heaven and the presence of God. Although this latter theme isn't openly discussed in many of his writings, the careful reader will often find it as a leitmotif.

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