Mere Christianity Uncommon Truth in Common Language Joel D. Heck

Lewis’s Top Three The Screwtape Letters The Screwtape Letters The Chronicles of Narnia The Chronicles of Narnia Mere Christianity Mere Christianity

The Wade Center

The Term “Mere Christianity” “Mere Christianity” –17th-century Christian writer, Richard Baxter ( ) –“the essential Christian message as espoused historically by Catholics and Protestants alike” –“the theological core on which different Christian traditions can agree” –“the common doctrines of Christianity” –“the basic form and beliefs of Christianity that all traditions and denominations accept”

Influence 1993 Christianity Today poll 1993 Christianity Today poll Fiftieth anniversary in 2002 Fiftieth anniversary in ,000,000+ sold 11,000,000+ sold Translated into at least 6 languages Translated into at least 6 languages John Stott, Basic Christianity John Stott, Basic Christianity “Books that Made Me Catholic,” Deal W. Hudson “Books that Made Me Catholic,” Deal W. Hudson Indelible Ink, Scott Larsen, general editor Indelible Ink, Scott Larsen, general editor Chuck Colson and Thomas Monaghan Chuck Colson and Thomas Monaghan

Characteristics Apologetics (i.e. defense) Apologetics (i.e. defense) A reflection of Lewis’s personality (rational, ordered, and imaginative) A reflection of Lewis’s personality (rational, ordered, and imaginative) Autobiographical, i.e. a reflection of Lewis’s life Autobiographical, i.e. a reflection of Lewis’s life Second most well known voice in England during World War Two Second most well known voice in England during World War Two Battlefield language (more later) Battlefield language (more later) Radio Radio

Not Covered Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (the Sacraments) Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (the Sacraments) The Virgin Mary The Virgin Mary Pope as the vicar of Christ or not Pope as the vicar of Christ or not Military service vs. pacifism Military service vs. pacifism The Bible as understood by certain traditions The Bible as understood by certain traditions

Not Covered Eschatology Eschatology Remarriage after divorce or not Remarriage after divorce or not Genesis and science on origins Genesis and science on origins Those who never heard of Christ— lost or capable of salvation Those who never heard of Christ— lost or capable of salvation

Not Covered Baptism in the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts Baptism in the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts Seven Ecumenical Councils as authoritative or not Seven Ecumenical Councils as authoritative or not Spiritual authority of the local congregation or higher ecclesiastical jurisdictions Spiritual authority of the local congregation or higher ecclesiastical jurisdictions Worship and music Worship and music

Words from the Battlefield More than one per page (247) More than one per page (247) Battle, invasion/invade, force (20x), Allies, march, Gestapo, army, blow to bits, soldier (16x), war (80x), ration (21x), battle/battlefield, enemy (22x), fight (16x), struggle, German/Germany, Nazi, infantry, sabotage, rebel/rebellion (9x), surrender (8x), arms (7x), conquest, conquer, Jews, smuggle, and military Battle, invasion/invade, force (20x), Allies, march, Gestapo, army, blow to bits, soldier (16x), war (80x), ration (21x), battle/battlefield, enemy (22x), fight (16x), struggle, German/Germany, Nazi, infantry, sabotage, rebel/rebellion (9x), surrender (8x), arms (7x), conquest, conquer, Jews, smuggle, and military Written during World War Two by a veteran of World War One Written during World War Two by a veteran of World War One

Series One Dr. James W. Welch Dr. James W. Welch The Problem of Pain The Problem of Pain Lewis detested the radio Lewis detested the radio Five talks Five talks August 6 through September 6, 1941 August 6 through September 6, 1941 “Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe” (pre-evangelism) “Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe” (pre-evangelism)

Mr. W. R. Childe “If I tell Mr. Lewis that’s ‘feeling the presence of God in flowers and music’ is Eternal Life,....” “If I tell Mr. Lewis that’s ‘feeling the presence of God in flowers and music’ is Eternal Life,....” Lewis challenged his accuser. Lewis challenged his accuser. Mr. Childe neglected to specify his favorite charity. Mr. Childe neglected to specify his favorite charity.

Series Two Five talks Five talks January 11 through February 15, 1942 January 11 through February 15, 1942 “What Christians Believe” “What Christians Believe”

Four Clergymen One Church of England theologian One Church of England theologian One Roman Catholic One Roman Catholic One Presbyterian One Presbyterian One Methodist One Methodist No Lutherans! No Lutherans!

Four Clergymen Probably Austin Farrer, Chaplain, Trinity College, Oxford Probably Austin Farrer, Chaplain, Trinity College, Oxford Dom Bede Griffiths, Roman Catholic friend and adult convert to Christianity Dom Bede Griffiths, Roman Catholic friend and adult convert to Christianity Definitely Rev. Joseph Dowell, RAF Padre, Methodist Definitely Rev. Joseph Dowell, RAF Padre, Methodist Rev. Eric Fenn, Presbyterian, BBC Rev. Eric Fenn, Presbyterian, BBC

Series Three Eight Talks Eight Talks September 20 through November 8, 1942 September 20 through November 8, 1942

Series Four “Stone” = 14 pounds; “ell” = a mile “Stone” = 14 pounds; “ell” = a mile Seven Talks Seven Talks February 22 through April 4, 1944 February 22 through April 4, 1944 “… any reliable firm of assassins, nose- slitters, garrotters and poisoners …” “… any reliable firm of assassins, nose- slitters, garrotters and poisoners …” Eric Fenn: “They love, or hate.” Eric Fenn: “They love, or hate.”

Publication Schedule Broadcast Talks, the first and second series of broadcasts, 1942 (US: The Case for Christianity) Broadcast Talks, the first and second series of broadcasts, 1942 (US: The Case for Christianity) Christian Behavior, the third series, 1943 Christian Behavior, the third series, 1943 Beyond Personality, the fourth series, 1944 Beyond Personality, the fourth series, 1944 Mere Christianity, 1952 Mere Christianity, 1952

Reviews “We have never read arguments better marshaled and handled so that they can be remembered, or any book more useful to the Christian…who finds himself called upon to argue briefly from first premises, to say why morality is not herd-instinct, why there is a special and unique character attached to the sense of obligation, why the conviction that there is a law of right and wrong and a transcendent morality is only intelligible if there is a God.” (The Tablet, July 18, 1942) “We have never read arguments better marshaled and handled so that they can be remembered, or any book more useful to the Christian…who finds himself called upon to argue briefly from first premises, to say why morality is not herd-instinct, why there is a special and unique character attached to the sense of obligation, why the conviction that there is a law of right and wrong and a transcendent morality is only intelligible if there is a God.” (The Tablet, July 18, 1942)

Reviews “No writer of popular apologetics today is more effective than Mr. C. S. Lewis.” (The Times Literary Supplement, Sept. 19, 1942) “No writer of popular apologetics today is more effective than Mr. C. S. Lewis.” (The Times Literary Supplement, Sept. 19, 1942)

Reviews “The author shows himself a master in the rare art of conveying profound truths in simple and compelling language.” (G. D. Smith in The Clergy Review, December 1942) Uncommon Truth in Common Language!

The BBC in “Shadowlands” “Christian Marriage” on October 11, 1942 during the third series of BBC talks “Christian Marriage” on October 11, 1942 during the third series of BBC talks A video segment A video segment

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