Review of 'The C. S. Lewis Signature Classics: An Anthology of 8 C. S. Lewis Titles: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, Miracles, The Great Divorce, The ... The Abolition of Man, and The Four Loves' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I listened to this audiobook as spiritual reading for Advent this year. I had read The Screwtape Letters years ago but was not a fan of the author's Narnia or Perelandra novels much. I had seen the biopic Shadowlands a long time back which was about his marriage affected his thoughts about faith, but these events post-date the writing of this book.
This book is a collection of radio broadcasts which Lewis gave starting in the middle of World War II and at times show a distinctly apocalyptic tone. He comes to the job with a background as a former atheist and has a good sense for which arguments ring hollow for unbelievers, which core beliefs are likely to elicit the greatest resistance in them. He takes pains not to align his views with the dogma of any particular Church but it is all mainline teaching that would not be …
I listened to this audiobook as spiritual reading for Advent this year. I had read The Screwtape Letters years ago but was not a fan of the author's Narnia or Perelandra novels much. I had seen the biopic Shadowlands a long time back which was about his marriage affected his thoughts about faith, but these events post-date the writing of this book.
This book is a collection of radio broadcasts which Lewis gave starting in the middle of World War II and at times show a distinctly apocalyptic tone. He comes to the job with a background as a former atheist and has a good sense for which arguments ring hollow for unbelievers, which core beliefs are likely to elicit the greatest resistance in them. He takes pains not to align his views with the dogma of any particular Church but it is all mainline teaching that would not be far out of place for many congregations of today. Absent was any debate of filioque vs. no filioque, transubstantiation vs. consubstantiation. What I liked is how he did not assume any set of opinions for his audience, but used only the common experience of all people. He uses unusual metaphors to explain the concepts surrounding the mysterious spiritual realm. I don't know how persuasive a non-believer might find his description of Christian doctrines these days, but I think that for people who already think of themselves as Christian they could stir up a reappraisal of what it all means fundamentally. For me, this was exactly the kind of thing I am looking for in my twice yearly dip into religious writing.
