mere christianity . by csLewis


I still wonder about the differences between writing something that is meant to be spoken, and writing that is meant just to be read.  In this piece of work, Lewis certainly knew his audience, as he was one of them.  He used reference to war, as he and his audience was in the midst of war, so they very much related to that in his writing, as well as the war references relate well with Christianity.  The thing is, we still have war, and so most people can still relate to those references in some way, just as in the days that the bible was written.  It would be nice to hear someone talk of these things on the radio these days.


In February, Lewis first read George MacDonald’s, Phantastes, which powerfully “baptized his imagination” and impressed him with a deep sense of the holy. He made his first trip to Oxford in December to take a scholarship examination.


From April 26 until September, Lewis was a student at University College, Oxford. Upon the outbreak of WWI, he enlisted in the British army and was billeted in Keble College, Oxford, for officer’s training. His roommate was Edward Courtnay Francis “Paddy” Moore (1898-1918). Jack was commissioned an officer in the 3rd Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry, on September 25 and reached the front line in the Somme Valley in France on his 19th birthday.


On April 15 Lewis was wounded on Mount Berenchon during the Battle of Arras. He recuperated and was returned to duty in October, being assigned to Ludgerhall, Andover, England. He was discharged in December 1919. His former roommate and friend, Paddy Moore, was killed in battle and buried in the field just south of Peronne, France.

the above info. is from this site.


The chapter that i read this week goes into the four cardinal (chief, pivotal)
virtues (power, character, imprint on the soul, defining quality).

Prudence – common sense, thinking things through.
Temperance – going to the right length and no further.
Justice – fairness, honesty, give and take, truthfulness, keeping promises, etc.
Fortitude – facing danger, and sticking it under pain.

Not simply obedience to rules.

Where does this power begin within us, this imprint on the soul?
Can we recognize what the source is?

Who came up with the four cardinal virtues?
Have they anything to do with following the Spirit?
Do these things have anything to do with Christianity?
Can one do these things remain humble?
Can any person do these things on their own?
Can a person do these things for the right reasons?

Jason Stasyszen is our book club host for this week.

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