Mere Christianity Journal

by C.S. Lewis

Book Overview

"C.S. Lewis is the ideal persuader for the half-convinced, for the good man who would like to be a Christian but finds his intellect getting in the way." -- Anthony Burgess, New York Times Book... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Diary
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060727659
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

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It came promptly and in great shape, just as the seller had said. Thanks.

A way to think through Christianity and talk back to Lewis

Any "directed" journal can be a useful tool. In this case anyone exploring Christianity - whether ot not a Christian personally - will find a means to think through and express their own ideas, particularly when confronted by the views of C.S. Lewis. A stimulating exercise.

Timeless words

It feels almost embarrassing to jot your thoughts down alongside those of this great author. But Lewis' writing is nothing if not "inspirational," in the very best sense of the word.

A merely wonderful companion

C.S. Lewis was a rare individual. One of the few non-clerics to be recognised as a theologian by the Anglican church, he put forth the case for Christianity in general in ways that many Christians beyond the Anglican world can accept, and a clear description for non-Christians of what Christian faith and practice should be. Indeed, Lewis says in his introduction that this text (or indeed, hardly any other he produced) will help in deciding between Christian denominations. While he describes himself as a 'very ordinary layman' in the Church of England, he looks to the broader picture of Christianity, particularly for those who have little or no background. The discussion of division points rarely wins a convert, Lewis observed, and so he leaves the issues of ecclesiology and high theology differences to 'experts'. Lewis is of course selling himself short in this regard, but it helps to reinforce his point. The book at the heart of this journal, 'Mere Christianity', looks at beliefs, both from a 'natural' standpoint as well as a scripture/tradition/reason standpoint. Lewis looks both at belief and unbelief - for example, he states that Christians do not have to see other religions of the world as thoroughly wrong; on the other hand, to be an atheist requires (in Lewis' estimation) that one view religions, all religions, as founded on a mistake. Lewis probably surprised his listeners by starting a statement, 'When I was an atheist...' Lewis is a late-comer to Christianity (most Anglicans in England were cradle-Anglicans). Thus Lewis can speak with the authority of one having deliberately chosen and found Christianity, rather than one who by accident of birth never knew any other (although the case can be made that Lewis was certainly raised in a culture dominated by Christendom). Lewis also looks at practice - here we are not talking about liturgical niceties or even general church-y practices, but rather the broad strokes of Christian practice - issues of morality, forgiveness, charity, hope and faith. Faith actually has two chapters - one in the more common use of system of belief, but the other in a more subtle, spiritual way. Lewis states in the second chapter that should readers get lost, they should just skip the chapter - while many parts of Christianity will be accessible and intelligible to non-Christians, some things cannot be understood from the outside. This is the 'leave it to God' sense of faith, that is in many ways more of a gift or grace from God than a skill to be developed. Finally, Lewis looks at personality, not just in the sense of our individual personality, but our status as persons and of God's own personality. Lewis' conclusion that there is no true personality apart from God's is somewhat disquieting; Lewis contrasts Christianity with itself in saying that it is both easy and hard at the same time. Lewis looks for the `new man' to be a creature in complete submission and abandonment to God. This is a turn both easy a

Great prompts for thought and discussion

"Mere Christianity" happens to be one of my favorite books, and I've been looking for something to use in my "quiet time," so I was thrilled to find this journal. For what it is (writing prompts, quotes, and blank pages), it does seem a bit pricey, BUT the binding on the one I bought (leather) is gorgeous.I plan to use this personally for my devotional time, and may also use the discussion guides for a future study group. If you'd like to interact with "Mere Christianity" on a level that personalizes and applies its message to your life, this is a good place to start.