Mere Christianity

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. *disclaimer; I don’t always have time to sit and read physical books, but I do quite a bit of my reading through audiobooks these days.*

This month I’d like to talk about Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Actually, this is not a new read for me – but I picked it up again a few months ago and it is such a fantastic resource I thought I’d review it for you all here. Back during World War II, C.S.Lewis (who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia series) was asked to put on a series of Radio Talks about the existence of God. Trying to hold on to hope and remember what is good in the world during a terrible war was challenging, and C.S. Lewis gave a VERY well reviewed radio talk.

In fact, it was so well received, that they took the transcript and turned it into a book – what we call Mere Christianity. With all the simplicity and pomp of a classic British writer, Lewis spells out the basics of belief in God and the framework for Christianity in one of the most accessible ways. C.S. Lewis was very famously an ardent atheist before he became a Christian. He had been rigorously trained by some of the foremost intellectual minds of his day – and as such, when he became a person of faith. He put that rational, calculating mind to work defending Christianity. He became one of the most famous apologists and Christian thinkers of the 20th century. Mere Christianity is a demonstration of that intellectual prowess.

But what I really appreciate is how Lewis is able to take complicated or tricky subjects and explain them with such simplicity. He makes the topic of a higher power, divine authority, and morality so accessible. I cannot recommend highly enough this wonderful book. I have come back to it again and again over the years.