Saturday, November 22, 2008

Mere Christianity: Preface and Foreward

Most intriguing quote from the Preface:

"It is at her centre, where her truest children dwell, that each communion is really closest to everyother in spirit, if not in doctrine. And this suggests that at the centre of each there is a something, or a Someone, who against all divergencies of belief, all differences of temperament, all memories of mutual persecution, speaks with the same voice" (Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, 1952, p. XII).

Any thoughts on this? Agree or disagree? I've met deeply devoted, passionate Christians who quite easily isolate others who don't agree with their theology, but flip that coin, I've also experienced communion with others who have radically different views as me. He's saying that it is that unity of authentic Christians that testifies to the existance of the the Holy Spirit? What about all of the disunity? Is that caused by all of the "unauthentic" Christians in the church?

I also really enjoyed the part where he explained how "Christian" could (and quite possibly has become) a useless word. I agree.

The Foreward was very useful to me because I doubt I would have looked all that stuff up otherwise.

1 comment:

l said...

I think it is trying to say that despite our different doctrines, practices and methods of worship, despite whether we pray to the Virgin Mary, to Jesus, to the Lord, (to Allah, multiples gods, even), undeniably, if the truth be known here the same still small voice. And that fact is evidence of one truth, we can give it all the names we want. Okay, that's my take anyways.

I think Mere Christianity may have been the most profoundly life-changing book I've read. I am also a Christian mother, formerly a stay at home mom to three boys, now a part-time work away from home mom, I guess. I just randomly came across your blog while sitting on the "recently posted" section. Glad to find something interesting to read about.