Now that I am a Christian I do not have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable: but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable. (Mere Christianity)
Reality, in fact, is usually something you could not have guessed. That is one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It is a religion you could not have guessed. If it offered us just the kind of universe we had always expected, I should feel we were making it up. But, in fact, it is not the sort of thing anyone would have made up. It has just that queer twist about it that real things have. So let us leave behind all these boys’ philosophies–these over simple answers. The problem is not simple and the answer is not going to be simple either. (The Case for Christianity)
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. (Mere Christianity)
The great difficulty is to get modern audiences to realize that you are preaching Christianity solely and simply because you happen to think it true; they always suppose you are preaching it because you like it or think it good for society or something of that sort. Now a clearly maintained distinction between what the Faith actually says and what you would like it to have said or what you understand or what you personally find helpful or think probable, forces your audience to realize that you are tied to your data just as the scientist is tied by the results of the experiments; that you are not just saying what you like. This immediately helps them realize that what is being discussed is a question about objective fact — not gas about ideals and points of view. (Mere Christianity)
All that we call human history–money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery–[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy. (Mere Christianity)
If you are a Christian you do not have to believe that all the other religions are simply wrong all through. If you are an atheist you do have to believe that the main point in all the religions of the whole world is simply one huge mistake. (Mere Christianity)
Something I enjoy about C.S. Lewis is his ability to write about his religious views in a way that is interesting to read. Have you read the Chronicles of Narnia? There are many Christian themes presented throughout the seven books. You have a glimpse into his religious theories. I also enjoyed reading The Great Divorce, as it is somewhat autobiographical and represents his transition from atheism to Christianity. If you’re interested in either of these, I have the whole volume of the Narnia series as well as The Great Divorce that you can borrow.
I’ve read The Great Divorce and Mere Christianity. I’ve not read the Chronicles of Narnia — I just waited for the movie. Thanks for the offer of the book loans.
Hi Lewis, I really enjoy this post on Religion. Thanks for the compilation.