Christianity: Either Nothing or Everything

Where do I even start when it comes to C.S. Lewis? I find all of his various writings to be so eloquently written, but this observation is not what I find to be the most impressive thing about him. The fact that he was a devout atheist with a scientifically-wired mind that found enough truth and fact within the religion of Christianity to devote his life to Christ is. I think that his unique background is most credible and prominent in this book among his many others. It really and truly breaks down the fundamental beliefs and theology of Christianity. It doesn't shy away from warning its readers against pride and laziness or attempting to explain the relationship of the Trinity and how we as insignificant humans can become "little Christs." No -- this book tackles these topics head on, allowing room for debate as well as revealing the simplest parts of some of the most complex questions that Christians have been wrestling with for generations. As someone who grew up in a Christian home and dedicated her life to Christ when she was seven-years-old, reading this book was a mixture of "Oh yeah, I kind of have a formulated belief surrounding this," and "Wow, I am glad he is able to explain this so well, because this is something I uncomfortably question all of the time!" That is the best part about this book -- it is timeless. All of humanity will be pondering over Christianity until the end of time, and I have a feeling that Lewis' words will still be floating around when that time comes. It also allows any sort of person from any sort of religious background (or lack thereof) to open its pages and take Lewis' invitation to delve into the mysteries of a religion with him as a faithful guide. I honestly haven't done this book justice with my descriptions simply because Lewis covers so much ground, and the ground is complex and thought-provoking. It is a reading experience that one has to have for oneself to be able to fully grasp. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone.


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Just a few (because there are so many) of my favorite quotes from Mere Christianity:

"... the great religious struggle is not fought on a spectacular battleground, but within the ordinary human heart, when every morning we awake and feel the pressures of the day crowding in on us, and we must decide what sort of immortals we wish to be."

"... a Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again after each stumble..."

"Virtue -- even attempted virtue -- brings light; indulgence brings fog."

"Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing."

"Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense."

"He wants you to know Him: wants to give you Himself."

"This world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumour going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to life."

"You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being He had ever created."

"Naturally God knows how to describe Himself much better than we know how to describe Him."

"Once a man is united to God, how could he not live forever? Once a man is separated from God, what can he do but wither and die?"

"Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else."

"The real Son of God is at your side. He is beginning to turn you into the same kind of thing as Himself."

"Men are mirrors, or 'carriers' of Christ to other men."

"Each time you fall He will pick you up again."

"You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."

"Out of our selves, into Christ, we must go."

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