C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis covers many topics in his fourth book contained in Mere Christianity titled BEYOND PERSONALITY: OR FIRST STEPS IN THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. He addresses such topics as theology, what it means to be the Son of God, the three personal God, the relationship of God and time, the cost of being a Christian, how God works to turn us into image of Christ, why Christian growth is both hard and easy, and also what he thinks about our old personalities before becoming Christians. These are all relative topics that apply to us and our daily lives. Learning and understanding this book can help a Christian tremendously in forming a deeper relationship with God.
Chapter One is a discussion about life and how it relates to God. Theology is the science of God. Lewis compares theology to a map. A map is formed from accumulated experience, not just one view. Christian doctrines are based on the accumulated experience of hundreds of people who were in touch with God. He then discusses what it means that God has brought us into existence and loves us and in that way is like a father. Lewis then goes on to describe the difference between begetting and creation. Begetting is to be the father of and to create is to make. According to Lewis, “What God begets is God; just as what man begets is man. What God creates is not God; just as what man creates is not man.” In Chapter Two C.S. Lewis makes the point that Christians are the only ones to believe that God is something that is super-personal. Others believe in God, but not in a personal God. They think there is a mysterious something behind all things. They make this “something” impersonal or less than personal. Lewis points out that some people believe that when you die the soul is absorbed by God. They explain this using the analogy that the soul is like a drop of water dropped into the ocean. But this really means that by being absorbed you do not exist. Christians believe that they are taken into God and still remain unique. They become, in fact, more that they were before. Lewis compares the relationship with God to the three dimensions of space. The dimensions involve complexity and understanding. He explains the relationship with God this way; “as a being who is three persons while remaining one Being.” Christians believe in God, they also want to be close to God and they k...
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...st will give you a real personality.
I consider this book the best of the four. It provided a lot of practical information and explanation of Christian beliefs. It addressed some difficult and complex issues that each Christian must face. It is definitely a book that makes you think. The chapter on the concept of time and God really meant a lot to me. The fact that God is always in the present and can hear our prayers individually and attend to them individually is comforting. The example of God being the page that a time line is drawn on and is in the past, present and future at the same time is a good illustration. That helped me understand the concept better. This book provides a lot of good information that has helped better understand God and our relationship with Him. This information will give me more confidence and will enable me to better defend my faith and to share that faith with others.
This is a book that I recommend that all Christians read. It is a book that will really make you think. For me it was kind of tough to read and understand at times, but it is worth the effort and time. This book will arm the believer with answers to complex and difficult issues.
I believe the most important concept that I gained from reading the book was to remain faithful, in good times and in bad. Walking blindly can be very terrifying, but God always has a plan for each and every one of us. At times, the plan remains unseen, and that should not deter or slow me on the path that my heart is yearning
...e better and make more sense for me because it describes from beginning to Jesus. I like the way Robert Krieg talked about Christianity, the story of God’s creation and the modern examples around our real life that makes more interesting and easier to read. Although my religion is not Christianity, it is good to learn the new thing and know what Christianity is. I believe every religion that wants people do the good things and have good moral and ethical to make a peace and safe world, only the doctrines and the gods are different. No matter what your religion is and what you believe, people should live in this life, to do the good things and make yourself happy. You do not know what happen after death, are there a heaven and a hell? The important thing is now, this life. You cannot control everything happened outside, but you certain can control your own action.
The book Studies in Galatians was a very fine read. The book written by Tom Wacaster was very well put together. I felt like he did a fine job gathering good help to really bring home some of the main points out of this book. Well-organized verse by verse is bought to the attention of the reader in a simple format. I really like the fact that he shared the ideas of others and did not hesitate to let the reader know that who was saying what. From the very beginning, Mr. Waycaster let you know in the introduction a very pinpointed direction and sent you on your way. The introduction seem to be a bit long but after I looked at it upon completion of reading I appreciated it more so than when I read it. When you take second look, it made me understand the reading better.
C.S. Lewis is commonly regarded as one of the most influential Christian apologists during his time. While many recognize him as the writer of “The Chronicles of Narnia,” he was also an out-spoken Christian. He commonly wrote pieces of work that challenged Christians in their faith as well as in their lives. He wrote many non-fiction novels that dealt with this sort of behavior, including “Mere Christianity,” “Miracles,” and “The Problem of Pain.” Even in some of his fictional novels, his writing had many Christian themes as well. Despite being well-known for his novels, he also wrote many poems as well. His poetry dealt with many different subject matters, including morals, war, science fiction, and Christianity. Almost all of his poetry
Overall I value this book, and I am glad that I read it. I now know more about the Buddhist religion, and I want to change certain aspects of my life. I like how this religion is so forgiving and laid back. I really wish other things in my life were so forgiving. The idea of oneness with your self sounds very peaceful and understanding. I am going to try to have more oneness with myself. I can now see people from a different standpoint. We are all created equal, and we should all help each other.
Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis, is written as set of guidelines of Christian belief. Lewis does not say there is any particular way to believe but he does make a point that the topic of religion itself is serious. As you consider whether you want to believe or not, you have to recognize how much thought it requires, and how thought provoking a process this decision is. Lewis covers Christianity in four different books within his book. In book one, Lewis discusses the Law of Nature and makes note of a tendency in humans of appealing to a standard of absolute truth in quarrels and arguments. He calls this standard the Law of Nature or the Moral Law. The Law isn't the same as the law of gravity because in the latter case, we have no choice but to obey physical laws. The Law that governs human conduct is distinct, then, from the "way the universe works." Lewis concludes that the moral law is alive and active in human lives. According to Lewis, science cannot be used to discover the mind behind the creation of the universe. In book two Lewis simply states what Christians believe. He talks about the major divisions within belief in God, and discusses what he calls Christianity-and-water. Lewis speaks on free will, Satan, and the nature of Christ. Book three contains The Three Parts of Morality. He discusses what he calls the cardinal virtues. According to old writers, there are seven virtues. Four are called cardinal and the other three are theological. Lewis argues for morality between man and man, and what a society would be like if it were completely Christian. He also discusses chastity, marriage, forgiveness, the great - sin pride and self-conceit, and gives another look at the theological...
“Reality never presents us with an absolutely unavoidable ‘either-or’; that, granted skill and patience and (above all) time enough, some way of embracing both alternatives can always be found” (Preface:VII). Lewis suggests here that time if spent right can bring us to self-realization of our journey, and in effect influence our choices. These choices are dependent on time. As wrong choices are made only in time, no truly rational choices can be made will out of the realm of time. Time is the evil that surrounds us. It is the letting go of this time when we truly feel void of problems. Only by letting go of our problems we will be able to communicate with God, while in the essence of being one with ourselves and finding our true inner self.
Salvation is an important part of the Catholic religion. As a non-religious student, I have had to rely heavily on the definition of Salvation from the teachings in my class. With the aid of The Bible, C.S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity, St. Athanasius’ writing on Incarnation, and the “Class Notes on Salvation, I have been able to grasp an understanding of what Salvation is. At first, I believed that Salvation was a simple definition. I thought that Salvation was accepting Jesus Christ so that all of one’s sins are washed away. However, Salvation is much more than that. After multiple classes, I have learned that Salvation is essentially God’s plan to save humans by cleansing humans from Original Sin by using mechanical techniques such as becoming a finite being and dying for humans to live an indisputably whole life. After looking at the Fall, Lewis argues that sin affects the character of the fallen individual. Because of Original Sin, it can be said that human beings are corrupted in the mind which can be seen as a punishment in itself. With the understanding of Salvation, Catholics view Salvation by understanding the two sides of Salvation, Justification and Sanctification.
Over 2000 years ago, there purportedly was a man born of a virgin, who made outrageous claims. This man was Jesus of Nazareth and He professed to be the Son of God. Without question, Jesus is one of the most influential people that ever walked the earth, but was he the Son of God? Many suggest that he was not Lord, just a great moral teacher, which is a legitimate answer if one does not consider the bold statements that he proclaimed to the world. Lewis suggests that if Jesus was not God, but claimed to be God, then these opponents have lost their argument because he was clearly not a moral teacher but an outright liar or a crazy lunatic. On the other hand, scholars argue Jesus never professed to be God and followers of Christ distort the
As we have looked in to the Christian worldview of God, our humanity, the Son of God, and the restoration of our lives back into God’s purpose. Now we have a better understanding of what it means to be a member of the Christian community. God wants believers to dwell in union and in community having the same mind that is in Jesus Christ (Phil 2:1-11). This paper showed how God and Jesus Christ are at the fundamental core of all Christian beliefs regardless of the countless differences many Christians may
This was a great book, but took me a lot longer to finish then most, simply because of how upsetting some of the things talked about are. If you’re look for a book that will make you think, and bring tears to you’re eyes, and teach you a thing or two a highly recommend this book, and might actually read it again myself. Hopeful my eyes can stay dry this time.
Have you ever wanted to free yourself from the terrors and troublesome times of modern society and escape to a magical place? Clive Staples Lewis, or C.S. Lewis as he is better known, created such a place, in his extremely popular children’s series The Chronicles of Narnia. In these books, Lewis has an underlying message about Christianity. He represents four key aspects of Christianity in this series: Christ and God, evil in the world, and faith.
I would very much so recommend this book. It is a great story about how everyone has a purpose to be here, and it makes you think of heaven as not just the streets of gold, but as a place where we will find out all the answers about our lives. It is a great concept. I would absolutely recommend The Five People You Meet in Heaven.
...er reading the book it made me more conferrable with this side of Jesus. I loved the character of Andreas and I seek to become more and more like that Galilean from Nazareth that he was searching for Jesus. I loved his passion and constant anxiety to need to learn more about Jesus that something I aspire to have.
Jeffers, I would most likely recommend this book. I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys history, believer on non-believer. It gives a good amount of information into life of the Greeks, Romans, Jews and Christians in earlier times. I would also suggest this book to people that are struggling with the historical accuracy of Christian faith. I have heard atheist say that they do not believe in a man named Jesus, however they believe Julius Caesar existed. So I think that it could help those people to see that there is historical evidence to prove the people of the Bible did exist. Lastly, I would suggest Christians to read this book so that they can get a deeper appreciation of the New Testament. The Bible is a good enough resource in itself for Christians, but I think seeing the Bible from another perspective can give Christians a new thankfulness of the New Testament and the Bible as a