Atheists, what do you think about C.S. Lewis?

Do you think that he`s one of the leading Chrisitian apologists? Have you ever read his book "Mere Christianity?"


I was thinking about checking him out, but I really don`t want to waste my money. Is it worth it? I highly doubt that he`s going to change my mind, what I`m looking for is a good read in defense of Christianity. It`s always good to hear what the other side (as ridiculous as it might be) has to say.





Are his books worth the time and money?

Atheists, what do you think about C.S. Lewis?
He is a famous apologist because he's very accessible, especially to children; not because his arguments are philosophically sound.





In Mere Christianity, he does the same old song and dance you've already probably seen in explaining Christianity -- that humans have free will, that sin is a real thing, and that it is somehow atoned by the brutal execution of God (or, God's son -- whatever). Where Lewis is weakest -- and perhaps where the Christian religion is weakest in general -- is in explaining substitutionary atonement. Lewis seems to admit that it doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's just how it is -- some things are beyond human comprehension. He takes a few stabs at speculating why God might demand a brutal execution to atone for everyone's sins, but even Lewis can't quite fathom it.





As for reading material. Christianity is not where it was a half-century ago, and Lewis's brand of simple apologetics is more common. I can see why he was interesting in his time, when theologians didn't write books suitable for lay-people, but now we live in the era of Rick Warren. Down-to-earth apologists are a dime a dozen.





I recommend you just read the cliff notes -- Lewis's work is culturally relevant, but not very insightful.





EDIT: By the way, Lewis isn't really writing to atheists in Mere Christianity, he's writing to liberal Christians. The book is a call to conservatism.
Reply:as a christian, he will do everything within his power to reaffirm faith. as always, there is a heavy reliance on getting you emotionally involved and then simplifying the logic so it is effective, though not aa accurate representation of the truth.





if you doubt christianity, you will see the book for all it's transparencies. if you are not, you will love it, simply because it affirms that you have been right all along.





flattery will get you anywhere





EDIT





Death down there: newton was not a christian. he was an alchemist who lived as a christian because he would face execution for heresy had they known what he was up to.





http://www.alchemylab.com/isaac_newton.h...
Reply:I've read it. I've also read his book "The Problem of Pain"





Nothing he does is convincing. And most of it has been refuted time and time again.
Reply:He's average at best, but it's good to have read him when someone tries the appeal to authority using Lewis.
Reply:His space trilogy was very good, as was the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Screwtape letter was also a good read, I haven't read Mere Christianity.





Oh, and I am a Christian (telling me to not answer a question because of my faith means I have to answer it), I read all of those books except for the Screwtape Letters when I was an atheist.
Reply:The arguments he came up with that I've heard were all rather weak and easy to refute so it probably isn't worth the time (don't worry about money, that's what libraries are for).
Reply:cs lewis began an atheist, but a close friend (jrr tolkien) was a devout roman catholic, and attempted to argue him round.





cs lewis was touched by jrr tolkien's faith, but lacked the strength of character to make the full commitment. he stopped in the half-way house of high anglicanism.





rather than 'mere christianity' i would suggest you read 'the screwtape letters': it does a much finer job of showing he arrogance and downright muddle-headedness of protestant theologies.





'mere christianity' is a shoddy piece of apologetics which could never convince anyone who had not already closed their minds.





if you want a credible book of protestant apologetics from the post-war period i would suggest instead john robinson's 'honest to god'.





....





[edit]





i notice a little higher up this thread that the protestants are telling lies again.





malcolm muggeridge as a young man was a notorious drunk, philanderer, communist fellow-traveler, and failed academic who - as his health deteriorated - became increasingly annoyed by the freedoms of young people. (he particularly opposed the recreational use of drugs other than alcohol and tobacco, and access to birth control).





finding himself increasingly in sympathy with the anti-liberal views of the church he published a series of works defending christian orthodoxy (which he had attacked while he was still alive) and finally converted to roman catholicism at the age of 79 (forcing his wife to do so also).





malcolm muggeridge is mainly remembered in the uk for spearheading the campaign to publicly burn monty python's 'the life of brian' as a piece of blasphemy against the established church.





he also challenged the film's makers to a public debate on tv, which john cleese and terry jones finally accepted.





tapes of the confrontation still exist, and are essential viewing for anyone who imagines mainstream christian beliefs have any role in a civilised nation.





john cleese later said: 'i went there with a whole stack of arguments which i knew i could lay malcolm muggeridge low with. but i found that ten minutes into the interview it was all i could do to pull terry off the dead old bone."





john cleese was always a fundamentally decent chap - even when he should not have been.
Reply:I'd rather read Augustine.
Reply:The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe was a good read, the rest of his stuff ranged from average to pure garbage.
Reply:I have read it, I mean it's ok. Nothing none of us haven't heard before. I don't think he is one of the leading Apologists for Christianity. His arguments have been refuted.
Reply:Sorry, haven't read it. Personally I can't imagine any arguement for Christianity changing my mind, but as you say, it's good at least to be informed (sort of like reading the bible, you know...if nothing else you've got ammunition).





Good luck, whatever you decide.