Welcome to Tumnus’s Book Shelf where we review any and all books related to the Chronicles of Narnia and CS Lewis. Today’s Review is of Laura Miller’s The Magician’s Book
Welcome to Tumnus’s Book Shelf where we review any and all books related to Narnia and CS Lewis! For this weeks review, we will be looking at Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
Title: Mere Christianity.
Author: CS Lewis
Publisher: Touchstone Books; 1st Touchstone Ed edition (June 1996
ISBN-10: 0684823780
ISBN-13: 978-0684823782
Summary of the book:
What is a Christian? Who is Jesus? What do Christians believe? What is faith? What is the trinity? These are questions that have baffled theologians and philosophers alike for centuries, and in Mere Christianity, CS Lewis explores these very topics.
Originally radio addresses done for the BBC, this collection of simple, clear and straightforward essays looks at such things as the deity of Jesus, the existence of evil, forgiveness, pride, faith, charity, hope, the Trinity and becoming a new person in Christ. These essays will challenge a readers way of looking at Christianity and the world around them and make them ask their own questions.
Review.
Few people through out the centuries have been able to explain what Christianity is with out making it to complicated and using language that no one can really relate too. CS Lewis is one exception. In everything he writes, whether it’s children’s books or essays, is that he keeps things simple and easy to understand for people who don’t believe much like he once did.
The point of Mere Christianity is not to get into all the differences between the denominations, but to establish what all Christians believe. Namely that Jesus is the son of God and who Jesus is. It is also in this book that Lewis first uses the “Lord, Liar or Lunatic” reasoning to prove Jesus’ deity, an argument which as used by George McDonald in Everlasting Man, and more currently by Josh McDowell.
Lewis presents these essays not as an expert theologian, but as an Atheist who came to Christ. Lewis is a layperson in terms of theology, and he makes no apologies for it. He doesn’t lay on heavy terms or jargon used by Christians, but uses simple and easy to understand words. We do not see the four spiritual laws, or the bridge illustration that we see in tracts. We see raw, “mere” Christianity.
The writing style is very simple and conversational. The essays in mere Christianity were originally radio addresses for the BBC and the conversational style helps them flow along easier. To often theological addresses come off as heavy and dry reading. Mere Christianity feels more like a trusted friend sitting down to talk to you in an English pub about something and less of a preacher at a pulpit trying to hammer you with a sermon on Sunday Morning.
A flaw that some people may find in it is that mere Christianity much like all of Lewis’s works, is largely non-denominational. He is not nor was not writing strictly or an Anglican audience. He was not even writing for a Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist or a Presbyterian audience. Despite his place in Evangelical circles he wasn’t even writing for them. He was trying to write for all people at all times and places, specifically those like him at one point who were not Christians.
In this attempt to make it not only understandable, and non denominational, he also pursues it logically. Christians are often seen as following the faith blindly, but Lewis shows how important it is to honestly think about what you believe, not just to make it relevant but to make it your own. This shows the importance of not only loving God with all your heart , strength and soul, but with your mind. It is this last part that we often forget in the 21st century and need to remember.
Mere Christianity also breaks down all the barriers that exist between Christians and boils it all down to what Christianity is all about. If ever we needed a book like this, now would be the time. Thankfully, Lewis had already been used to supply it for us.
For once, you will not be bored reading about some of the Christian doctrines in Mere Christianity. Chances are you will actually want to read the next chapter. This book is sure to change not only your life but your outlook, and hopefully the way you relate Christianity to others.
Five out of Five Shields
Buy the book on Amazon.com
I would just like to extend a warm welcome to all visitors to NarniaFans.com. Take a look around. I hope that you enjoy the wealth of information that you find here. We’ve got no shortage of Narnia and C.S. Lewis information, and we’re proud to offer it all to you.
If you’re looking for a place to talk about the amazing Walden Media production of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, look no further than The Dancing Lawn. It is also available at www.tdlforums.com.
We’ve also recently launched a place for you, the fan, to make your voice heard about the latest film. We’ve worked long and hard to make sure this was THE place to review the film. People from Disney and Walden Media have been welcomed to read the reviews and monitor the scores left by our members and other fans, and they have told me that they are watching them and spreading the word about them to many within the company.
The whole family is encouraged to submit a review. When your review is posted, you can link to it from your journal or website and are welcomed to encourage others to do the same. The more the merrier. You’ll be asked to rate things such as the music, and direction, and even have an option to rate each major sequence in the film, such as Lucy meeting Mr. Tumnus, the Stone Table, and how each actor did playing their respective roles.
You can also learn about the music that was so beautifully composed or inspired by the story and the film. There are resources to help you and your family get the most out of Narnia, and also a merchandise area where you can find a gift for your family, friends or even that special someone. This website has been around for two years, and we’re constantly growing, adding more and more for you, and by you, and we couldn’t do this without you.
How our cups runneth over this Christmas! After a decidedly lacklustre summer its been a veritable smorgasbord of an autumn/winter with quality adult fare like The Constant Gardener and fun family movies including Wallace and Gromit, The Brothers Grimm, Harry Potter, Nanny McPhee and now the first of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. Awkward title, but indicative of the intention to film all seven of the Narnia books, a feat not without its problems (the biggest one being the increasingly obviously religiosity of the books, until the point in The Last Battle where the subtext is simply text). But in the first of the franchise, director Andrew Adamson has succeeded marvellously in bringing Narnia to life.
[Read the rest at FutureMovies.co.uk]
If they held Sunday school at Hogwarts, that’s where you might find the Narnia kids. They are no strangers to magic and sorcery, but in contrast to the Rowling brood, they are small potatoes in a universal scrap between deities, and the stakes are more desperately felt. The terms of the fight are also dirtier. The creator of Narnia, C.S. Lewis, had no modernist qualms about exposing the very young to danger in his writings – the code of Narnia is a Crusader’s code, and any son of Adam or daughter of Eve who is old enough to heft a blade can join the fight, and become fair game.
[Read the rest at Cinematical]
What The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe really is, is a spectacular adaptation of a fairly nice fantasy tale. It doesn’t just live up to its source material, it surpasses it by finding nuances in the story that C.S. Lewis didn’t. That’s not to say there’s been anything added. Director Andrew Adamson follows a path that for the most part, sticks almost slavishly to the details of the book. But in between those details he finds emotional depth and resonance that isn’t obviously there in the short, rather simplistic children’s novel written by Lewis.
[Read the rest at Cinema Blend]
I loved every minute of this. From it’s dark opening amid the bombing of the Blitzkrieg to its sappy, but wonderful ending. Every moment. This is a film that is really, really good – but just short of being truly great (something I attribute more to my preference of source material than to the film making itself.) Every aspect of the filmmaking is truly inspired. Andrew Adamson, in his first live action effort, really went to town on this. The visual effects are stunning and seamless. Everything from the look and movement of the Fawn legs (which were just mesmerizing), to the way the animals look and feel like real characters (in the very same way Gollum did in LotR – only imagine 20 different characters done with that amount of attention) all the way down to the freaking minotaurs. Minotaurs! Holy crap! This movie has minotaurs! Lots of them! And they look awesome!
[Read the rest at Aint It Cool News (Warning, some language)]
Ebert and Roper give it Two Thumbs Up!
[Read Ebert's review here on Friday]
[Listen to them talk about it]
Remember to read and review it yourself, here at NarniaFans!
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