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Saturday, September 28, 2013

Illustrated Summary of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis


Christianity is all about Christ. That was the message C.S. Lewis gave to a nation that was facing death daily, but had lost touch with or didn't know what the Bible teaches and why they should believe it. What began as World War 2 radio addresses became Mere Christianity, one classic book (comprised of 4 small books) that still stands the test of time. It was the first Christian book I purchased and read (not counting the Bible) so as a tribute, it was the first book I summarized (with lively illustrations, direct quotations, and simplified spelling and punctuation), mostly by 1 post per chapter. In this post I give you the big picture by listing Mere Christianity's contents on the left with links to my individual posts on the right. My titles, whenever they differ from Lewis's titles, are attempts to add clarity so you can read about what most interests you.
Mere Christianity

Preface. Serving Where the Line Is ThinnestAt Her Center Where Her Truest Children DwellKeeping the Term "Christian" Truly Useful, Where There Are Fires and Chairs and Meals! (Not until Book 2 do I develop my usual style of selecting a relevant, edifying image to illuminate not only each blog post, but also each paragraph of text.)

Book 1. Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe
  1.  The Law of Human Nature - Right and Wrong as Clues  
  2.  Some Objections - Is "Decent Behavior" Basically Instinct? 
  3.  The Reality of the Law - The Reality of the Law 
  4.  What Lies Behind the Law - What Lies Behind the Law 
  5.  We Have Cause to Be Uneasy - We Have Cause to Be Uneasy
    Book 2. What Christians Believe
    1. The Rival Conceptions of God - The Rival Conceptions of God 
    2. The Invasion - What's Behind a Universe at War? 
    3. The Shocking Alternative - Some People Say the Silliest Things About Jesus
    4. The Perfect Penitent - Why on Earth Did Christ HAVE to Die? 
    5. The Practical Conclusion - What to Do Before the King Returns?
    Book 3. Christian Behavior
    1. The Three Parts of Morality - A Positive Way of Looking at Morality 
    2. The Cardinal Virtues - The Four Pivotal Virtues 
    3. Social Morality - Social Morality 
    4. Morality and Psychoanalysis - Morality and Psychoanalysis
    5. Sexual Morality - Sexual Morality
    6. Christian Marriage - Marriage  
    7. Forgiveness - Forgiveness
    8. The Great Sin - Pride: The Great Sin
    9. Charity - Love 
    10. Hope - Hope  
    11. Faith - Faith as Belief 
    12. Faith - Faith as Trust 
    Book 4. Beyond Personality: Or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity
    1. Making and Begetting - First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity
    2. The Three-Personal God - The Three-Personal God 
    3. Time and Beyond Time - Time and Beyond Time 
    4. Good Infection - Good Infection
    5. The Obstinate Toy Soldiers - The Obstinate Toy Soldiers 
    6. Two Notes - Neither Individualism Nor Totalitarianism
    7. Let's Pretend - Let's Pretend 
    8. Is Christianity Hard or Easy? - Is Christianity Hard or Easy? 
    9. Counting the Cost - Counting the Cost
    10. Nice People or New Men - Nice People or New Men?
    11. The New Men - The New Men 
    Enjoy Reading the Whole Book for Yourself!
     

    2 comments:

    1. This is one of my favorites by C.S. Lewis. It puts it out there plain and clear and makes more sense than most scholars today.
      If you have a chance, read On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius.

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      1. I wholeheartedly agree and also share your appreciation for St. Athanasius's wisdom. Thanks to the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, I was able to read On the Incarnation a few months ago. :)

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