Essay on C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity

Questions taken from “CHAPTER ONE” of “Living Out the Mind of Christ” by Dr. Gutierrez

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is a book of thirty –one letters in which a retired, senior demon named Screwtape coaches his newly educated nephew, Wormwood. Wormwood is quite troubled when it comes to tempting his “patient.” Nevertheless, he need not fear because faithful uncle Screwtape has offered his services. A unique character featured in the letters is, “The Enemy.” This character refers to God, the natural enemy of Satan. Of course Satan is referred to as “Our Lord.” In the letters, and Wormwood and Screwtape try their very best to please Satan and bring him glory. Although the book is written from the demons’ perspective, Lewis naturally uses it to highlight important truths of the Christian faith.

Christianity is a Theism worldview that focuses on the belief in one personal and relational God that created all that exists (Hiles, & Smith, 2015). God created man in his likeness to care for all that has been created, to know and worship God, and to love and obey God (Diffey, 2015). Man is to rule and have dominion over the earth, be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth (Genesis 1:28). Christians rely on the support of the Holy Bible to guide them in the word of God. The Bible consist of four basic acts, the Creation, the Fall of Humanity, Redemption, and Restoration (Diffey, 2015). Christians believe that God sent his only Son to die on the cross for their salvation. In this paper will be a focus on the Christian worldview discussing God, humanity, Jesus,

Whether people choose to be a believer in God or an unbeliever, their original worldviews tend to stem from the views of their family members. These worldviews are typically developed throughout early childhood and are based on the premise of wanting to be accepted by someone (typically family), this is classified as having extrinsic faith . However, as children grow up, they often begin to express their individuality and question their worldviews. This is a demonstration of intrinsic faith, which Sigmund Freud and C.S Lewis exemplify. Sigmund Freud and C.S Lewis are famous theologians who’s writings share a common parallelism, but did not share the same ideas for the existence of God. Lewis stands behind the spiritual worldview and claims that one will only be truly happy once they have developed a relationship with God. On the other hand, Freud believes in the materialistic worldview, that the world is made up of what can be seen and that religion was only created to give people wishful thinking. However, Lewis ultimately makes the strongest argument for his worldview and effectively shows his audience the profound relationship that is made between humans and God.

Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis, is written as set of guidelines of Christian belief. Lewis does not say there is any particular way to believe but he does make a point that the topic of religion itself is serious. As you consider whether you want to believe or not, you have to recognize how much thought it requires, and how thought provoking a process this decision is. Lewis covers Christianity in four different books within his book. In book one, Lewis discusses the Law of Nature and makes note of a tendency in humans of appealing to a standard of absolute truth in quarrels and arguments. He calls this standard the Law of Nature or the Moral Law. The Law isn't the same as the law of gravity

Everyone has turning points during his or her life, some of them change our mind, and some others change our life. In this essay I will be writing about an African American named John Lewis, he was born and raised in the State of Alabama and had several turning points during his life, some of them happened during his childhood and others as an adult. Many turning points are remarkable and well known by the society who has read about him, but some others are hidden somewhere and not too many people talk about them and how it influenced him, nevertheless all of them helped him to create his character and becoming the person who he wanted to become. For example, since almost killing one of his precious chickens trying to baptize it (because he

One night at eight o’clock, Charles Colson visited a friend named Tom Phillipse. Before his acceptance of Christ, Tom lived much as Colson did; he was a ruthless businessman who ventured any measure upon which to win his way. Amidst witnessing Tom’s change briefly himself, Colson decided to make this additional visit. During this visit, Tom explained further to Colson his transformation and offered him a book called “Mere Christianity” by C. S. Lewis.

Lewis’ Screwtape Letters is an amusing and profound story of the world 's temptation and a Christian 's victory over it. In a collection of letters, an old demon, Screwtape, gives advice and guidance to his young and naive nephew, Wormwood, on how to lure his "patient" to Hell. Amateurishly attempting to tempt his patient to commit some great, extravagant sin, Wormwood lets his hand off the wheel and his patient becomes a Christian. Even in a seemingly hopeless situation, Screwtape kept his cool and advised Wormwood "to prevent his doing anything. As long as he does not convert it into action...Let him do anything but act. No amount of piety in his imagination and affections will harm us if we can keep it out of his will. As one of the humans has said, active habits are strengthened by repetition but passive ones are weakened."(pg.66-67) Screwtape and Wormwood work to work to keep the patients ' faith in a passive, lukewarm state and put out his fire for the Lord. They try to distract him with the ways of the world, but they are unable to put out his burning fire for the Lord. In an unexpected bombing, the patient slipped through Wormwood 's hands and into the open arms of his Heavenly Father. Some ways Wormwood is instructed to tempt his patient is by keeping him either stuck in the past or hag-ridden with the future, creating doubt during the low or struggling times and distracted during the good times, and with love.

C.S. Lewis is one of the greatest authors in history. His books are still widely available and sold to many interested readers. In Lewis’ childhood, he experienced a tragedy that affected his belief in god; in his middle life, he mainly focused on college and his studies, but his father’s death played a role in Lewis later becoming a Christian. In Lewis’ later life, he married one of his own fans. Clive’s passion for writing began when he was a small child, and it continued to grow as he furthered his education to become a college professor at Oxford University. Lewis is still remembered today for his great works, such as The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia, which is a popular series among children.

Theology: Audience and Purpose C.S. Lewis, a world-renowned author and theologian, wrote many highly acclaimed essays and books, and is frequently admired for his profound theological impact on the Christian scene. Also recognized for his fictional books, his work demands respect beyond the Christian community as well. One of his books, Mere Christianity, has a section titled “Theology,” which displays his writing skill and theological knowledge. “Theology” intelligently discusses the relationship between emotional and theological aspects of Christianity while properly addressing the intended audience. Throughout this piece, Lewis precisely explains the necessity of theology as well as the emotional connection to God and Christianity.

Lewis continued his relationship with Paddy Moore's mother and sister. Much so, that the two women ended up moving in with Lewis. The mother was Mrs. Janie King Moore and her daughter Maureen. The two woman were devout Christians and were also very patient and kind to Lewis. After time, it wore off on the rough and argumentative man. Slowly, Lewis' eyes opened up to the possibility of Christ. However, he didn't surrender that easily. After living with the two woman for a while, Mrs. Moore's brother (who was an ex-veteran of the British army) came to visit the three friends. The man was shortly dubbed "Doc" by Lewis and they became very close friends. While "Doc" stayed with Lewis and the women, Lewis learned that "Doc" was undergoing mental torture of past war experiences. Lewis saw that "Doc" was living in a mental hell and had a small spiritual awakening open up in himself. Sorrowfully,

During this time of his life, Lewis’ disbelief became strengthened, and he began to pose questions attacking the faith and morals of Christianity (Downing 49). David C. Downing comments, “He concluded that all the world’s religions, including Christianity, could be explained not as claims to truth, but as expressions of psychological needs and cultural values” (50). Effectively, he was an atheist at this

Can we use gender-neutral terms or inclusive names for God or are we required to use masculine? This is a question many have asked but C.S Lewis addressed this in his book, God in the Dock. C. S. Lewis stated “Goddesses have, of course, been worshipped: many religions have had priestesses. But they are religions quite different in character from Christianity.... Since God is in fact not a biological being and has no sex, what can it matter whether we say He or She, Father or Mother, Son or Daughter?

Lewis, successful in standards of earth and mind, (Appositive) activates his paper by stating that [1] no matter what happens after you pray for something; you cannot prove that it was in account of your prayers. [2] He states that people can always use the argument that it could have happened even if you would not have prayed for it. [3] (#5) When you pray for something, even if a miraculous event happens after you do it, you cannot prove that it happened because of your petitions. Lewis, acting like then states the argument in these words; (Quotation) “The thing we pray for may happen, but how can you ever know it was not going to happen anyway.” [4] Lewis then goes on the rebuff that anti-Christian argument by stating that you believe in

C. S Lewis recalls his spiritual journey as an atheist to a full on believer in Christ through his book Surprised by Joy. Lewis grew up in Belfest Ireland where he first found his love for writing and reading. He would listen to stories from his older brother of the boarding schools in England where he would soon be attending and where he finds his first taste of Atheism and rationalism. Lewis soon grows up and is thrown into the horrors of WWI on his 19th birthday. After the war C.S. Lewis attends Oxford and often moves around. It was not until later in life and at the end of the book that Lewis became a Christian. “I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed”.