Friday, September 25, 2009

C. S. Lewis



What a gem this book is: C.S. Lewis's CASE FOR CHRIST: Insights from Reason, Imagination and Faith. The many things I struggled about religion since I was twelve years old are the same that C.S. Lewis struggled with. How I wish I could've met the man. He used his literary background and reason to accept Jesus and grow in his faith.
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Art Lindsley has compiled the essence of many of Lewis' arguments in perfectly digestible bits. Questions like these are answered:
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1. How can I believe in God when there is so much evil, pain and suffering in the world?
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2. Isn't Christianity one myth among many?
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3. Isn't belief in God just a crutch for needy people?
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And so many more.
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I especially loved the last chapter which answered the question: Isn't Jesus just another good, moral teacher? If you read the Bible you know that Jesus claimed to be one with God, be God. He called himself the bread of life, the true vine, the light of the world. If an ordinary person would say that, and got people to believe it, he'd be the world's biggest trickster. If Jesus believed it but it were untrue, he'd be crazy. But what if it were true? Then He is who He claims to be. He is the Lord.
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You decide.
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I'm looking forward to reading MERE CHRISTIANITY by Lewis next.
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6 comments:

Mary Witzl said...

I read Lewis' 'Surprised by Joy' -- an account of his choosing to embrace Christianity. (I'm pretty sure that was the title.) I remember liking it a lot. Wasn't he good friends with Tolkien? LOTR has always seemed very Christian to me: one person bearing such an important, difficult burden for the rest of humanity.

Vijaya said...

Oh, yes, Tolkein was instrumental in helping Lewis understand the different mythologies and the similarities between them.

OH, to have the time to sit around and smoke cigars and have your tea brought to you while you discuss the meaning of stories and life!

Anonymous said...

Lewis is one of those folks I would have loved to sit down with and pick his brain! :) I love the Narnia series, but his essays and books for adults are the ones that grab me and make me want to dig deeper in my walk with the Lord.

Have you ever read "The Screwtape letters"?

Vijaya said...

Ditto, Donna. I loved his apologetics even more than Narnia. I'll have to check out the Screwtape Letters. Thanks for the recommendation.

Unknown said...

I haven't read these books but I did enjoy Lewis's science fiction trilogy--Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength.

Vijaya said...

Thanks for the recommendations, Wonky. My son is an avid reader who loved Narnia, and these would be fun to read together as well.