Thoughts on "Mere Christianity"

"The problem is not simple and the answer is not going to be simple either." - C.S. Lewis

I had always heard, bouncing around the vast halls of church buildings, people talking about this  book called "Mere Christianity," written by none other than the author of "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" among other pieces of literature.  The author was C.S. Lewis.

Usually the overheard conversations were something along the lines of, "Well, if you are a christian, or have interest in christian beliefs, you should certainly read this book - it's very helpful."  So for years that had echoed around in my head and I finally got around to it! 

As I've only read this book once, and do not know much of the context and state of religious affairs of the twentieth century, I have a feeling some of my interpretations and notes could potentially be inaccurate, only partially correct, or perhaps even untrue altogether.  Regardless for these purposes of my notes here I attempt to recollect as true as I can to what I gleaned from "Mere Christianity."

From what I understand of the context surrounding the book is that it was actually a series of talks given by C.S. Lewis and broadcasted by the BBC during World War II (early 1940's.)  The BBC actually commissioned Lewis to sum up "what Christians believe."  What resulted a group of lessons provided by Lewis, a former atheist, which he then joined together under the title, "Mere Christianity."  The word "mere" is not a word we use often today and from what I understand the phrase "mere christianity" is meant to convey the simple truths of the Christian identity.  In other words, who we really are.    Sometimes, crowded and lost within the veins of hundreds of denominations claiming different things, it can certainly be seen why Christianity would be a confusing topic.

I also have a feeling that this book was a watershed for Christian teachings in the 20th century because perhaps there was a lack of material like itself.  Perhaps all of the denominations had reached a fever pitch and were not working together as they should be.  They are all on the same team... correct? As a side note I also know C.S. Lewis was contemporaries with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, though at the time I don't think they knew of each other.  Their ideas are remarkably similar and I most certainly know their allegiances to Christianity trumped their allegiances to Britain and Germany.  Irony.

As for the actual book.  It's dense.  It's readable, but difficult.  I found some parts I could soar through, understand and agreeing, and some other parts - more philosophical ones - more of a trudging and grinding process to get through.  Maybe someday when I am older or more enlightened I can return to them.  I feel like probably half of the book was like this to me.

I did enjoy the refreshing directness that today rarely exists.  References to other world religions are respectful but clearly acknowledge the errors within them.

I liked his analogy on Free Will.  Some folks have a hard time agreeing that we have Free Will.  And why would God create a world to set us up to fail.  And if God exists, and knows the future, do we really have this Free Will?  Lewis' simple analogy on this subject is:  Imagine a mother who tells their child she expects him to clean up his room every night.  She says she wont do it for them, they have to do it themselves.  Well, a few nights later she finds the room to be a mess. The mother wants it one way, and entrusts the child to act that way.  Whether or not the child does it or not is his decision - his choice - his free will.  If he does, he pleases his mother, and if not, then he doesn't.

The first few chapters build Lewis' defense of Christianity right from the ground up.  Lots of philosophy in the beginning, but it's understandable - talks about morals, right and wrong, the values of good and evil, etc, and why we seem to have this innate understanding when we are born.

I think the most convicting thing for me in this book was an illustration rather early on in the text. He's reasoned thus far that there is a God of the universe. And we are man, since our creation we have driven our own selves away from God, by knowingly committing acts contrary to God.  Whe we come to realize this, we could be fraught with worry or despair, or care less, or ask for forgiveness.  The forgiveness is know in the Christian realm as "repentance."

But though repentance might leave us penintent, humble, and acknowedging of our wayward ways, it doesn't bring us whole again.  We're still the same people.  That changed though, and that change gave all credence and authenticity to the movement we call Christianity, when God himself became a human, who went by the earthly name, Jesus.

God's intention was to send himself as a sacrifice to make up for our mistakes.  So, after he died, he was the "ultimate" sacrifice, which covers all our our misgivings.  That, combined with an accepting and repentant heart, is the key to return back to God.

I guess I had never really envisioned the whole "God coming to Earth" thing - I mean, I had heard the teachings before and could recite them to you, but I never had grasped the meaning or at least the fullness of the meaning before.  I've heard some people say that they're delighted when they find new levels of meaning in their studies.  On the surface Christianity can be easily and understood and fully viable - but then you accidentally go "x" number of layers down and find even more richness and meaning.  That is what it was like for me.

I'm glad I read it.  I don't know if it was exactly what I was looking for, but I do believe it is a vital read if you are in a position and of a mindset to do so.  Maybe I am too attention-deficit to sit and wax philosophic for too long at a time.  Or maybe it's been way too long since I just relaxed and read an entertaining fiction book.  Some of this content hurts my brain!  However, I think it is still relevant and certainly a classic and important book to read for anyone.

"Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side.  God is holding back to give us that chance.  It will not last forever.  We must take it or leave it." C.S. Lewis

Faith & Atheism

If you don't believe in anything, do you believe in nothing?

Is that paradoxical?  Does that still require "belief"?

Belief, faith, such interesting words they are.  They're also antiquated and, I think, lost a lot of the weight they used to carry in today's society.  Believing in things, having faith in things are two concepts that are becoming signs of weakness or ineptitude in those that choose to make them public.  Could the common public person actually give a real definition of what "faith" is supposed to mean?  But this topic we shall save for another day.

We're all born into the world and when we finally come of age and begin learning, we find there is a choice to make.  For the majority of us, it's a tough, difficult decision.  Even the most stoic of us can find it heartwrenching.

Why am I here?  Is there really a God or are we here by chance? If there is... well, which one of these lunatics am I supposed to listen to to find God?  That is, if I really care enough to find out?

Such is the foundation of atheism, or at least some of the questions atheists have answered to the above in the "negative."  Before I continue I want to clarify that the term atheist is not meant in any means in a pejorative sense.  If you're from a religious background, atheist is a term that has the most dark undertones.  You may have the perception atheism equates to evil.  You may want to reconsider.  It's a viewpoint, not a truth.  Allow me to explain.

Atheism is the view that there is no God.  Atheism holds this view, among many I'm sure, that Theists (those who believe in God - my definition for the sake of my notes) have constructed God through millenia of rites, ceremonies, society, and a general sense of needing an explanation of the question, "Why?"  If you have a high school level education that had one paragraph on world history and traditions, you would come to know that it is very true that humankind did invent their own gods & traditions on the origin of everything and anything.  On this point, those who believe and those who don't believe agree.  (If you do believe, I am referring to the paganism mentioned ad infinitum in the OT & NT.)

For the purposes of this particular note I only want to emphasize that atheists have faith in their decision to not believe, just as we who do believe put faith in our God.  Why.

21st century Atheists have their evidences: evolution, fossil record, science, lack of physical evidence suggesting existence of supernatural beings, flying spaghetti monsters, etc.

21st century Believers have theirs: well for one, the Bible.  Faith groups all have their respective "book."  As to why the Bible is the be all end all, that is also another blog for another day.  The Bible is an all inclusive history, comprised of chronologies and raw evidential letters and first hand accounts.  It's a theology of teachings and traditions.  It's an explanation (and depending on your faith in the Bible, it's divinely accurate.)  We also have the modern day history of the existence of particular characters in the Bible (e.g. David, Solomon, and yes, Jesus) as well as the cultures & civilization that produced it's content.

So, both sides have their evidences.  And today, If I were of the atheistic persuasion and asked to verify the non-existence of God, well, I could only present my evidences.  I'd have to put faith in the fact that I can't explain why the Big Bang occurred, and why it defied our laws of science.  I could certainly guess or hypothesize, but I couldn't be sure myself.  All I know is that it happened.  I'd have to put faith in the fact that evolution was a chance, albeit a wild and highly unlikely chance, that resulted in my existence and my supposed higher intelligence.

I'd have to put faith in the conclusion that God doesn't exist.  I've heard Christians say faith is believing what you don't see.  Under the Christian context, this is true.  And under the Atheist concept well... I would say they can accept that statement as well, right?  They believe that they don't see anything, so that's that.

Atheists can believe, and have faith, that God is a manifestation of humans, and is therefore not real.  Atheism isn't a lack of faith.  It's just a lack of faith in the things we believe in.  If you want to make a difference to Atheism or it's adherents, don't demonize or lecture because they don't believe in what you do.  Recognize your differences and speak to them.