Mere Christianity
by C. S. Lewis
Britain, the Second World War. Bombs fall at night, and the BBC asks an Oxford don named C. S. Lewis to explain Christianity over the airwaves. The talks became three short books, later bound as one. Lewis was an Anglican, and he set out to describe only what Christians across traditions hold in common: “mere” Christianity.
He starts with something everyone does. We quarrel about right and wrong as though there were a real standard to appeal to. From that small door Lewis walks you step by step toward God, the problem of evil, Christ, the moral life and the Trinity. Along the way come his images: the house with many rooms, the toy soldier brought to life, and his argument that Jesus left us no room to call him merely a great moral teacher. The prose is plain, witty and disarming.
It suits seekers starting from scratch, skeptics who want a reasonable case, and anyone who loves clear thinking. Catholics will notice what's missing, the Church and the sacraments, so treat it as a first step rather than the last word.
Key Takeaways
- The moral law as a clue to God.
- Why Jesus can't be just a good teacher.
- Lewis's memorable images for faith and the moral life.
- The common core all Christians share.
It isn't a Catholic book, but it lays out the core of Christian belief with unusual clarity.
