What C. S. Lewis thinks about religion

@c-s-lewis · 18 positions · 0 changes of mind

British writer and literary scholar (1898 to 1963) who taught at Oxford and Cambridge, author of the Chronicles of Narnia and of Christian apologetics including Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters.

Everything they publish, on ppll ↗

C. S. Lewis did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

9 dated positions, c. 1942–1952 to c. 1952, in their own words. Our reading of what C. S. Lewis has said — not written or endorsed by them.

1. c. 1952

   Our readingAmong the things Christians disagree about is how important their disagreements are

   Their wordsOne of the things Christians are disagreed about is the importance of their disagreements.

   ↗Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book

3. c. 1952

   Our readingThe writer's best, perhaps only, service to unbelieving neighbours is explaining and defending belief common to nearly all Christians

   Their wordsEver 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 (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book

5. c. 1941–1952

   Our readingThe moral law tells us which tune to play; our instincts are merely the keys

   Their wordsThe Moral Law tells us the tune we have to play: our instincts are merely the keys.

   ↗Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book

7. c. 1941–1952

   Our readingChristianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness

   Their wordsChristianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness.

   ↗Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book

9. c. 1942–1952

   Our readingChristianity is a fighting religion

   Their wordsFor Christianity is a fighting religion.

   ↗Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book

11. c. 1942–1952

    Our readingA faith with a good God but without sin, hell, the devil or redemption is a boys' philosophy

    Their wordsIt is the view I call Christianity-and-water, the view which simply says there is a good God in Heaven and everything is all right—leaving out all the difficult and terrible doctrines about sin and hell and the devil, and the redemption. Both these are boys' philosophies.

    ↗Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book

13. c. 1942–1952

    Our readingOne must choose: the man who claimed divinity was the Son of God, or a madman or worse

    Their wordsYou must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.

    ↗Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book

15. c. 1942–1952

    Our readingCalling the man who claimed divinity merely a great human teacher is patronising nonsense; he left no such option

    Their wordsBut let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

    ↗Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book

17. c. 1942–1952

    Our readingNow is the chance to choose the right side, and that chance will not last for ever

    Their wordsNow, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it.

    ↗Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2012 edition, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics)books.google.com All 18 from this book