Oct 27: Mere Christianity: Preface
On Sunday, Oct. 27, we will have a progression of topics, as listed here:
1) We'll begin by sharing our responses to Joel Heck's Sept. 24 lecture "The Most Important Concept in the Writings of C. S. Lewis" and his Oct. 8 lecture "Mere Christianity: The Core Beliefs of All Christians and Why It Matters." Having viewed these lectures independently and prior to our meeting, we can share our comments, feedback, and questions with Joel at the Oct. 27 meeting. This discussion will lead us into Mere Christianity, our book for the next few months.
2) Mere Christianity (1952) has sold millions of copies and continues to be one of Lewis's best selling books. On Oct. 27, we will discuss the Preface. Here's an excerpt from the preface: Ever since I became a Christian I have thought that the best, perhaps the only, service I could do for my unbelieving neighbours was to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times.
Mere Christianity includes a preface and four books, each of which has several chapters. At our next meeting, we will discuss the item in boldface:
Preface
BOOK I: RIGHT AND WRONG AS A CLUE TO THE MEANING OF THE UNIVERSE
1. The Law of Human Nature
2. Some Objections
3. The Reality of the Law
4. What Lies Behind the Law
5. We Have Cause to Be Uneasy
BOOK II: WHAT CHRISTIANS BELIEVE
1. The Rival Conceptions of God
2. The Invasion
3. The Shocking Alternative
4. The Perfect Penitent
5. The Practical Conclusion
BOOK III: CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOUR
1. The Three Parts of Morality
2. The "Cardinal Virtues"
3. Social Morality
4. Morality and Psychoanalysis
5. Sexual Morality
6. Christian Marriage
7. Forgiveness
8. The Great Sin
9. Charity
10. Hope
11. Faith
12. Faith
BOOK IV: BEYOND PERSONALITY: OR FIRST STEPS IN THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
1. Making and Begetting
2. The Three-Personal God
3. Time and Beyond Time
4. Good Infection
5. The Obstinate Toy Soldiers
6. Two Notes
7. Let's Pretend
8. Is Christianity Hard or Easy?
9. Counting the Cost
10. Nice People or New Men
11. The New Men
Joel Heck's resource page has his Mere Christianity: Uncommon Truth in Common Language ppt available as a download. The ppt is an excellent introduction to the study of Mere Christianity, explaining its title, influence, and characteristics.
Pints With Jack has a Mere Christianity resource page with links to quotation graphics, commentary, podcasts, and videos, including a C. S. Lewis Institute lecture series with Chris Mitchell.
Central Texas C. S. Lewis is a reading group that meets in Austin, Texas.
For meeting details, please send a request through our Contact Form. Thank you.