As lewis notes, it is always the smallness of our love for god, not the greatness of our love for man, that constitutes the inordinacy. With mere christianity, lewis is not looking to promote religion, or faith, but rather gently point out the many ways in which civilisation, emotion and human decency and its counterpart are so fascinatingly intertwined, so no one should avoid this book fearing it to be a chestthumping propaganda piece for the authors own religious views. Lewis, adapted from a series of bbc radio talks made between 1941 and 1944, while lewis was at oxford during the second world war. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Chapter 2 the three personal god c s lewis mere christianity. I love lewis and by that i mean ive read everything the man wrote, have read different biographies about him, and listen to one of his books on audiobook basically any time im driving. He says the real christian meaning is love is god, as love is an. May 22, 2017 i was long overdue, but recently, i finally sat down and read the classic, mere christianity, by c. What most people dont realize is that it was first created as a series of radio broadcasts that came about due to the conflict and adversity faced by britain during world war ii. As lewis says, if god was a single person, then before the world was made, he was not love. We have provided a fairly fluid array of questions for each chapter of the book, and. We have cause to be uneasy book ii what christians believe 1. Lewis was invited to give a series of radio lectures addressing the central issues of.
I especially liked his direct, simplistic and clear manner of writing. Or first steps in the doctrine of the trinity chapter 1 summary. He can, however, understand why people who have felt god do not see the need for. Lewiss mere christianity, book 4 chapter 4 summary. Chapter 1 making and begetting c s lewis mere christianity book 4. That is not the same thing as the love that exists in god. Lewis s legendary broadcast talks of the war years, talks in which he set out simply to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all christians at all times. Lewis on being in love there are so many deep insights from c. He gave them free will because a world of mere automata could never love and therefore never know infinite happiness. The four loves summarizes four kinds of human love affection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of god. Making and begetting readers want practical religion rather than theology, but lewis believes that readers are intelligent enough to deal with the latter. In 1941 england, when all hope was threatened by the inhumanity of war, c. Lewis 1952 book mere christianity with great sadness, respect and hope across more than six decades, lewis is talking to me and anyone else who will listen about his christian faith. Books 3 and 4 furnished more material for discussion because they were almost twice as long.
Nov 03, 2015 the topic is, after all, cs lewis description of the trinity in mere christianity. Mere christianity discussion questions joel hecks lewis site. Apr 21, 2015 with mere christianity, lewis is not looking to promote religion, or faith, but rather gently point out the many ways in which civilisation, emotion and human decency and its counterpart are so fascinatingly intertwined, so no one should avoid this book fearing it to be a chestthumping propaganda piece for the authors own religious views. As much as i want to quote most of them, ill refrain from doing so since im planning to write a series of blogs about my musings on the book. Mere christianity you would not have called to me unless i had been calling to you, said the lion. Apr 19, 2018 15 cs lewis quotes that will work a little magic all their own on a day when you may need them.
C s lewis audio book mere christianity book 4 beyond personalty chapter 7 lets pretend. Those who put themselves in his hands will become perfect, as he is perfectperfect in love, wisdom, joy, beauty, and immortality. What, in your opinion, is lewis offering us in mere christianity. The materialist view what is has always existed or came into being by random chance 2. Lewis is widely considered one of the greatest christian books of the twentieth century. The case for christianity broadcast talks in the uk 1942, christian. On the whole, gods love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for him. Once i opened the book, and read the first chapter, i questioned what took me so long to get to this masterpiece, centered on mans reaction to moral concepts and what it truly means to be christian. A human father exists before his son, but there is no before or after in the other realm.
Ken symes serves up a daily jolt of java from jack a. Find a summary of this and each chapter of mere christianity. Lewis 1952 book mere christianity with great sadness, respect and hope. A journalists personal investigation of the evidence for. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of christian faith stand together. One of the most popular introductions to christian faith ever written, mere christianity has sold millions of copies worldwide. Cs lewis the most beloved heretic the reluctant skeptic. The very phrase, god is love, can only be true if there are at least two persons involved. Masterful without being magisterial, this book s wise, gentle, candid reflections on the virtues and dangers of love draw on sources from jane austen to st. At the end of the first chapter in mere christianity, lewis lays out the scope of his. This third talk became chapter 4 of lewis book mere christianity and was originally called materialism or religion. Lewis s mere christianity, book 4 chapter 4 summary. The law of human nature what are the two basic concepts of chapter one. Lewis maintains that the trinity was a source of love and personhood.
I think the whole idea of a mere christianity as its been understood as some sort of trans. Lewisthe great british writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, christian apologist, and bestselling author of mere christianity, the screwtape letters, the great divorce, the chronicles of narnia, and many other beloved classicsbrilliantly reimagines the story of cupid and psyche. From the revered teacher and bestselling author of such classic christian works as mere christianity and the screwtape letters comes a collection that gathers the best of c. Lewis covers many topics in his fourth book contained in mere christianity titled beyond personality. C s lewis audio book mere christianity book 4 beyond personalty chapter 2 the three personal god. Lewis, however, cautions against misunderstanding such language. Lewis at war is a powerful and entertaining radio theatrestyle audio drama on cd that.
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. The topic is, after all, cs lewis description of the trinity in mere christianity. Mere christianity discussion questions joel hecks lewis. Lewiss forceful and accessible doctrine of christian belief. The book was based on a set of radio talks from 1958 which had been criticised in the u. Lewis here offers wisdom and lessons that illuminate. Lewis which explores the nature of love from a christian and philosophical perspective through thought experiments. When studying human history, he claims, one is struck by how similar different societies moral codes are, at least at a fundamental. Mere christianity book 4 chapter 4 summary course hero. S lewis, the author more wellknown for the chronicles of narnia which became a blockbuster movie. Right and wrong as a clue to the meaning of the universe 1. This became chapter 1 of book 4 in the book called mere christianity. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and.
Good infection we usually imagine that results follow causes, and some of the language used in christianity follows this path e. Oct 08, 2011 ken symes serves up a daily jolt of java from jack a. Get daily inspiration from the author of narnia and mere christianity. Some objections is the moral law social convention or instinct.
Mere christianity book 4 chapter 1 summary course hero. Across more than six decades, lewis is talking to me and anyone else who will listen about his christian faith. The chapter on charity love of god may be the best thing lewis ever wrote about christianity. I think mere christianity is his worst book by far. They say that christ is the son of god whatever that means. Book cover front back scan edit notes preface book i. The four loves summarizes four kinds of human loveaffection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of god.
Mere christianity discussion questions preface where does the title come from. Buy a cheap copy of mere christianity journal book by c. Mere christianity study guide 5 book i4 david grice 852011 4. Christian love, either towards god or towards man, is an affair of the will. The religious view there is some mind behind the universe with purpose and will 3. Mere christianity is possibly lewis most frequently read work, and was originally given as a. In book i, lewis explores the notion of right and wrong, which he argues is, at its core, an inherently human characteristic that is not, as some would argue, merely a social construct. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. The revered teacher and bestselling author of such classic christian works as mere christianity and the screwtape letters, c.
One of the most popular and beloved introductions to the concept of faith ever written, mere christianity has sold millions of copies worldwide. No commercial benefit is received from the operation of this chan. This is the first book i picked up and read from c. Masterful without being magisterial, this books wise, gentle, candid reflections on the virtues and dangers of love draw on sources from jane austen to st. Lewis and mere christianity, i discussed lewis take on the concept of eternity. Lewisthe great british writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, christian apologist, and bestselling author of mere christianity, the screwtape letters, the great divorce, the chronicles of narnia, and many other beloved classicsbrilliantly reimagines the story of. I was long overdue, but recently, i finally sat down and read the classic, mere christianity, by c. First heard as informal radio broadcasts and then published as three separate books the case for christianity, christian behavior, and beyond personality mere christianity brings together what lewis saw as the fundamental truths of the religion. Chapter 7 lets pretend c s lewis mere christianity book 4 beyond. Considered a classic of christian apologetics, the transcripts of the broadcasts originally appeared in print as three separate pamphlets.
Mere christianity summary from litcharts the creators of. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Chapter 1 making and begetting c s lewis mere christianity book 4 beyond personalty. Moreover, the way lewis describes the trinity gives us insight into finding true happiness and joy. If you tell everyone reading this blog that lewis explanation, indeed the very concept of the dt, is illogical, you might expect a little bit of pushback from some of us like me who dont agree with you. Right and wrong as a clue to the meaning of the universe chapter 1. Lewis argues for the existence of god, and then proceeds to outline what he believes are the fundamental tenants of christianity. Once i opened the book, and read the first chapter, i questioned what took me so long to get to this masterpiece, centered on mans reaction to moral concepts and what it. 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. Lewis doodle bbc talk 21, mere christianity, bk 4, chapter 1.
Lewis s forceful and accessible doctrine of christian belief. Suggestions a study of the four loves divides very easily into a twopart discussion, or even a fourpart. Book 1 1 there has been a great deal of soft soap talked about god for the last hundred years. At the end of the first chapter in mere christianity, lewis lays out the scope of his argument.
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