Mere Christianity
by C. S. Lewis · first published 1943
56% recommend29% neutral15% critical
Why HN recommends it
Short, clearly written case for Christian belief that begins with observations about human nature and moral sense, then weighs worldviews by logic. Suits skeptics and believers wanting an intellectual footing for faith.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
First broadcast as informal radio "talks" and later published as three separate books, The Case for Christianity, Christian Behaviour, and Beyond Personality are presented together in Mere Christianity. In his remarkably direct and accessible style, the renowned Christian apologist shows how the power of Christianity manifests itself -- not in any single denomination but as "mere" Christianity, a total force. For Lewis sets out to prove only that "in the center of each there is something, or a Someone, who against all divergencies of belief, all differences of temperament, all memories of mutu
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2016–2024More Than a Carpenter
Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
2014–2024The Reason for God
Timothy J. Keller
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 65 recommend · 6 mention5 recommend · 65 recommend
2013–2024Total freedom
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 44 recommend · 4 mention4 recommend · 44 recommend
2014–2023The evolution of God
Wright, Robert
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 32 recommend · 3 mention2 recommend · 32 recommend
2020–2023Islam
Karen Armstrong
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
2007–2024The Problem of Pain
C. S. Lewis, James Simmons
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 55 recommend · 5 mention5 recommend · 55 recommend
Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis. Any of his nonfiction works have a style of writing that I seldom find. He has a dedication to reason and a step-by-step approach. The Elements of Style, by William Strunk and E. B.…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗If you want really good theology I would recommend Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: http://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652... I'm a Christian myself and have been one for nearly two two years. I came from a more or less non-religious background growing…
on “The Challenge of Making Friends as an Adult” ↗…conclude that Christ didn't come to instill fear (or condemn) the world, but to save the world (John 3:17). If you're really curious, check out "Classic Christianity" by Bob George or the latter parts of "Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis. Both books do away with the needless junk that is the basis for many sects of Christianity and get to the core of what Christianity and the Bible really means.
on “Richard P. Feynman - The Relation of Science and Religion” ↗Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. As a teenager it gave me an intellectual basis for my faith and helped me see it could be defensible. Darwin's Doubt by Stephen Meyer. If God exists methodological naturalism can't be completely…
on “Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?” ↗…in this respect. Although I doubt I can change your mind on this, I hope you'd reconsider at least learning about what it is that you're criticizing here. A very good book on the topic is C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity". It is quite short, extremely well written and therefore can be read quite fast. It does a wonderful job of explaining -- with no denominational bias that I can detect -- what it is that Christians believe…
on “How To Do A Startup On The Side And Not Lose Your Family” ↗…While some might choose to be more loving and compassionate, and other might choose not to -- the sense of one being good, and other being bad is crosses cultural and historic boundaries. For more see Mere Christianity: http://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652... Regarding the book: you can use Amazon's "Look Inside" feature to read the first chapter (The Law of Human Nature), which covers the question…
on “Syria’s largest city just dropped off the Internet” ↗…For instance, I don't believe science is the realm for meta physics, even if it can help inform it. If you are curious as to my thinking and reasoning on it, two good books, relatively short reads, are Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. Tim Keller also gave a good Google Talk [0] on the book if you prefer that :) [0] https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxup3OS5ZhQ
on “Western science catching up to Indigenous Traditional Knowledge” ↗…There's a lot of prophecies and typologies you can read about from the Old Testament that finds its fulfillment in Jesus and the New Testament (such as the suffering Messiah). I'd suggest C.S. Lewis' book "Mere Christianity" (who was good friends and influenced to convert by J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton) to get a clearer picture of Christianity without the sugar coating we commonly get from the media today. Lewis brings…
on “How Stoicism can help us” ↗Most books are wordy. But then again so are most articles, podcasts, and videos. Good books, however, are some of my favorite things: The Language Instinct by Stephen Pinker, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, On Writing Well by William Zinsser. One advantage of a book by someone who is both (a) an expert in the field, and (b) an expert at expression, is a coherent, thorough treatment of a…
on “Ask HN: Are books worth it?” ↗C.S.Lewis has had some clever things to say on the topic. There's this brilliant paragraph in Mere Christianity that goes: "… so many people cannot be brought to realise that when B is better than C, A may be even better than B. They like thinking in terms of good and bad, not of good, better, and best, or bad,…
on “Stephen Fry on binary choices” ↗…http://www.amazon.com/dp/0142000280 * Simply Christian - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061920622 * Surprised by Hope - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061551821 * The Great Divorce - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060652950 * Mere Christianity - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060652926 * The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius - http://www.amazon.com/dp/048629823X * Tao Te Ching - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060812451 Books from the Bible that I like:…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books? I'm bored” ↗…troubled neighborhoods in Atlanta. The Permanent Portfolio by Rowland and Lawson preaches Harry Browne's Permanent Portfolio but fills in all the implementation gaps left in Harry's rather thin original. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This classic on what Christians believe cuts as deep today as it did in Lewis's day.
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2014?” ↗One book I've given is Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis. It is deeply philosophical, beginning with astute observations about human nature, continuing with an evaluation of possible worldviews and their consistency with logic and evidence, and…
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗On Writing Well by Zinsser Traction by Weinberg & Mares Predictable Revenue by Ross Choose Yourself by Altucher Learn Python the Hard Way by Shaw Mere Christianity by Lewis
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗…honest and powerful book that tells a story about many of the world's conflict zones from the perspective of someone who may get shot themselves. Refreshing and beautifully upsetting all at once. (7/10) Mere Christianity: C.S. Lewis - A broad spectrum of thoughts about meaning and purpose that have obviously been considered for many years and then condensed in a very succinct way (8/10) Business Adventures: John Brooks…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗