Mere Christianity

The classic Christian apologetic. It starts very broadly and gets very specific. I have many copies of this book because I'm always lending it or leaving it somewhere and I tend to panic without the reference. I recommended this book to a friend who was struggling with her dad not being a believer and after reading it she said she really felt better about talking to him. If I could make sure everyone in the world read one book, this would be it.

Although he betrays in a few places that this was written by a British man in the 1940s (the language is a bit stuffy, a he makes a few side comments that lean on gender stereotypes), overall this is as good as any modern definition of the Christian faith, a sort of Nicene Creed for today's world.

Coming to Lewis a bit later than most of the people in my theological circles, I think as strictly speaking “apologetics,” I'd still be more likely to hand someone Screwtape Letters if they didn't know anything about Christianity since it takes a more creative route. But the straightforward logic in Mere Christianity is great stuff for conveying the intellectual tradition of the faith in accessible language for laypeople. His approach to all people having a conscience, science as a source of knowledge, and the shortcomings of society's definition of “progress” are very sound. I was also a bit surprised by his heavy emphasis on sanctification, the process of leaning into virtues that reinforce each other and make us more holy over time. Lewis has become an evangelical saint, and evangelical traditions don't always lean into sanctification language, so I really appreciated its presence here. Reminds me of the Hebrew word timshel, which appears in Steinbeck's East of Eden and a Mumford and Sons song: “And you have your choices / and these are what make man great / his ladder to the stars.”

I particularly appreciated his ecumenical spirit, which is both always generous and particularly suited for today's world, when denominational affiliation means less than it used to. He also uses lots of practical metaphors, and he comes across as authentically humble.

A good read for someone with major doubts (either within the church or outside it), or someone who just wants to have a better understanding of the intellectual foundations of the Christian faith.