Comments on: Simply or Merely? Comparing Mere Christianity and Simply Christian http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:47:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Wonders For Oyarsa http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian/comment-page-1#comment-11891 Wonders For Oyarsa Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:02:23 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian#comment-11891 I daresay, though C. S. Lewis has been a great help to me, I think N. T. Wright the far better theologian. I agree with Wright where he disagrees with Lewis. I agree that Lewis' book, by ignoring Israel and the Resurrection, is horribly insufficient as a summary of the faith. That said, I really don't think <i>Simply Christian</i> holds a candle to <i>Mere Christianity</i> in style or content. The book has page after page of brilliant insights - and the section on morality is absolutely classic. <i>Simply Christian</i>, on the other hand, is little more than an attempt to rehash the work Wright has done in simpler language. It is good in that it makes his great work available to more people, but I really don't think it is going to communicate well to those who aren't already simply Christian. C. S. Lewis knew how to think and reason like an unbeliever. He spoke that language, and did it well. Many atheists and agnostics read <i>Mere Christianity</i> and are challenged and shaken. I'm not convinced that someday N. T. Wright won't be able to do the same. I just don't think he's there yet. I daresay, though C. S. Lewis has been a great help to me, I think N. T. Wright the far better theologian. I agree with Wright where he disagrees with Lewis. I agree that Lewis’ book, by ignoring Israel and the Resurrection, is horribly insufficient as a summary of the faith.

That said, I really don’t think Simply Christian holds a candle to Mere Christianity in style or content. The book has page after page of brilliant insights – and the section on morality is absolutely classic. Simply Christian, on the other hand, is little more than an attempt to rehash the work Wright has done in simpler language. It is good in that it makes his great work available to more people, but I really don’t think it is going to communicate well to those who aren’t already simply Christian.

C. S. Lewis knew how to think and reason like an unbeliever. He spoke that language, and did it well. Many atheists and agnostics read Mere Christianity and are challenged and shaken. I’m not convinced that someday N. T. Wright won’t be able to do the same. I just don’t think he’s there yet.

]]> By: actionsub http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian/comment-page-1#comment-11642 actionsub Thu, 25 Jan 2007 05:13:35 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian#comment-11642 WHAT??!?? No Francis Schaeffer???!?!?!? WHAT??!?? No Francis Schaeffer???!?!?!?

]]> By: Togenberg http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian/comment-page-1#comment-11616 Togenberg Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:54:02 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian#comment-11616 One of the reasons I became a Christian (or, more accurately, returned to the church) was CS Lewis, especially his Mere Christianity. I think overall I might be more influenced by Wright in content. Good discussion. Thanks for your blog, seriously. Why the category "Most Theologically Conservative"? An arbitrary way to start thinkiong about the men, or something else? I am not a long-time reader of your blog, but you don't seem to identify 'conservative' with 'good' or 'right' necessarily (in fact you seem to avoid labels and camps), yet this category seems to imply that. Troy One of the reasons I became a Christian (or, more accurately, returned to the church) was CS Lewis, especially his Mere Christianity. I think overall I might be more influenced by Wright in content.

Good discussion. Thanks for your blog, seriously.

Why the category “Most Theologically Conservative”? An arbitrary way to start thinkiong about the men, or something else? I am not a long-time reader of your blog, but you don’t seem to identify ‘conservative’ with ‘good’ or ‘right’ necessarily (in fact you seem to avoid labels and camps), yet this category seems to imply that.

Troy

]]> By: John H http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian/comment-page-1#comment-11476 John H Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:51:25 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian#comment-11476 My pastor gave my wife and I "Simply Christian" as a present recently to mark some occasion that now escapes me (though promise you won't tell what Thomas describes as "the Magisterium on the Missouri" that a Lutheran pastor has been handing out heterodox books by a notorious troubler of Israel...). I must get round to reading it soon. My pastor gave my wife and I “Simply Christian” as a present recently to mark some occasion that now escapes me (though promise you won’t tell what Thomas describes as “the Magisterium on the Missouri” that a Lutheran pastor has been handing out heterodox books by a notorious troubler of Israel…). I must get round to reading it soon.

]]> By: Paul Dubuc http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian/comment-page-1#comment-11450 Paul Dubuc Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:09:41 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian#comment-11450 I owe quite a bit to Lewis and <i>Mere Christianity</i>. I haven't looked at Wright much since seeing his very good "Challenge of Jesus" video series years ago. <i>Simply Christian</i> seems like it might be a good "Christian Theology 101" text as you suggest. Thanks for the review and for your interesting blog. BTW, I thought that Lewis' Socratic Club debates with Anscombe had more to do with the material in <i>Miracles</i> than in <i>Mere Christianity</i>. Or were you referring to some other opponent in the 6th paragraph? I owe quite a bit to Lewis and Mere Christianity. I haven’t looked at Wright much since seeing his very good “Challenge of Jesus” video series years ago. Simply Christian seems like it might be a good “Christian Theology 101″ text as you suggest. Thanks for the review and for your interesting blog.

BTW, I thought that Lewis’ Socratic Club debates with Anscombe had more to do with the material in Miracles than in Mere Christianity. Or were you referring to some other opponent in the 6th paragraph?

]]> By: sacred vapor http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian/comment-page-1#comment-11415 sacred vapor Sun, 21 Jan 2007 04:01:46 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian#comment-11415 I kind of see these books as a one-two punch (lol). kidding aside.. I found that I couldn't make a comparison here as Mere Christianity laid the foundation for my Christian Journey (many moons ago), and Simply Christian is a great stop along the way. Two giants playing a different role in my walk. Nevertheless, good observations. vapor I kind of see these books as a one-two punch (lol).

kidding aside.. I found that I couldn’t make a comparison here as Mere Christianity laid the foundation for my Christian Journey (many moons ago), and Simply Christian is a great stop along the way. Two giants playing a different role in my walk.

Nevertheless, good observations.

vapor

]]> By: tlahwright http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian/comment-page-1#comment-11405 tlahwright Sat, 20 Jan 2007 21:52:52 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian#comment-11405 Hi, Mere Christianity helped me see Jesus for who He said he was. Simply Christian is articulate and winsome and I could imagine my brother reading it and asking questions. But to me NT Wright leaves out the Cross of Jesus and following Jesus. His position on the imputed righteousness of Christ is false and misleading. He can keep his badge of entrance to the community. I'll take the blood of Jesus. He also talks about Islam in a positive tone. Ask anyone who was a MBB-Muslim Background Believer especially if they were brought up in the Middle East and they have nothing good to say about Isalm. Great Blog. Tim Hi,

Mere Christianity helped me see Jesus for who He said he was.

Simply Christian is articulate and winsome and I could imagine my brother reading it and asking questions. But to me NT Wright leaves out the Cross of Jesus and following Jesus. His position on the imputed righteousness of Christ is false and misleading. He can keep his badge of entrance to the community. I’ll take the blood of Jesus.

He also talks about Islam in a positive tone. Ask anyone who was a MBB-Muslim Background Believer especially if they were brought up in the Middle East and they have nothing good to say about Isalm.

Great Blog.

Tim

]]> By: BigCreekBill http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian/comment-page-1#comment-11367 BigCreekBill Sat, 20 Jan 2007 02:12:52 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/simply-or-merely-comparing-mere-christianity-and-simply-christian#comment-11367 Thanks for this thoughtful comparison. I am such a big fan of Simply Christian - and I thought your review and comments were even handed. Thanks for this thoughtful comparison. I am such a big fan of Simply Christian – and I thought your review and comments were even handed.

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