What do you think?
Rate this book
Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians: Finding Authentic Faith in a Forgotten Age with C. S. Lewis
Most evangelical accounts of church history tend to leave out the medieval period. Tapping into current evangelical ancient-future interests, church historian Chris Armstrong introduces the riches of the medieval church, helping contemporary Christians discover authentic faith and renewal in a forgotten era. Armstrong explores key ideas, figures, and movements from the Middle Ages in conversation with C. S. Lewis and other thinkers, making medieval wisdom accessible and edifying for today's church.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2016
25 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 30, 2017
I heard the author, Chris Armstrong, interviewed by Ken Myers on a recent issue of the Mars Hill Audio Journal, and, being quite intrigued, listened to the book on Audible. This was a very interesting read, which brings a much-needed perspective to the limiting stereotypes of the Middle Ages that most of us have probably heard over the years (a dark time of corruption, superstition, idolatry and torture, etc.)
While both C. S. Lewis, a self-described "medievalist" and his writings are a key theme throughout the chapters, Armstrong also provides rich details about Medieval Christianity that are not well known or appreciated, along with insights from several other writers, theologians, and philosophers. He covers the richness of the Medieval believers' views on the Creation, and man's stewardship of it, their pioneering work of ministry in hospitals and caring for the sick, the spiritual and cultural benefits of monasticism, their sacramental views, and much more.
One of the C. S. Lewis quotes included by Armstrong (from a sermon Lewis gave called "Learning in Wartime"), speaks to an essential reason that this book is worth reading:
"Most of all, perhaps, we need intimate knowledge of the past, because we need something to set against the present, to remind us that the basic assumptions have been quite different in different periods. A man who has lived in many places is not likely to be deceived by the local errors of his native village. The scholar has lived in many times and is therefore, in some degree, immune from the great cataract of nonsense that pours from the press, and the microphone, of his own age"
Anyone who would like to learn more about the history of Christianity and the Church, or has an interest in theology, or C. S. Lewis, will enjoy reading Armstrong's well-written book.
While both C. S. Lewis, a self-described "medievalist" and his writings are a key theme throughout the chapters, Armstrong also provides rich details about Medieval Christianity that are not well known or appreciated, along with insights from several other writers, theologians, and philosophers. He covers the richness of the Medieval believers' views on the Creation, and man's stewardship of it, their pioneering work of ministry in hospitals and caring for the sick, the spiritual and cultural benefits of monasticism, their sacramental views, and much more.
One of the C. S. Lewis quotes included by Armstrong (from a sermon Lewis gave called "Learning in Wartime"), speaks to an essential reason that this book is worth reading:
"Most of all, perhaps, we need intimate knowledge of the past, because we need something to set against the present, to remind us that the basic assumptions have been quite different in different periods. A man who has lived in many places is not likely to be deceived by the local errors of his native village. The scholar has lived in many times and is therefore, in some degree, immune from the great cataract of nonsense that pours from the press, and the microphone, of his own age"
Anyone who would like to learn more about the history of Christianity and the Church, or has an interest in theology, or C. S. Lewis, will enjoy reading Armstrong's well-written book.
June 27, 2016
As a Medievalist with a strong academic interest in Medieval Philosophy this book appealed to me. I did have reservations about the subtitle and subject as a Protestant (I know a strange mixture- Protestant and Medievalist), but I strive for a better understanding of my period, so I requested this book from Netgalley and then acquired the Audio edition for listening to 'on the go'.
In some ways, I did now know what to expect. Perhaps a misguided 'Emergent Church' pastor gushing over prayer Labyrinths and meditation whilst just hijacking some quotes from Lewis to back up some seriously dodgy theology and dubious practices.
Instead, I was for the most part quite pleasantly surprised. The book provides a comprehensive overview of Medieval Intellectual and religious tradition, covering everything from the growth of the Universities, to the medieval notion of charity which went hand in hand with the establishment of Hospitals and institutional medical care.
On the way it challenges many deeply held myths and misconceptions about the period. The notion that Medieval people were backwards and ignorant, that science and learning were in terminal decline, that the Middle Ages were all about violence and torture- and even the notion that they believed in a 'works based gospel'.
Personally, I really go in for anything that challenges such ideas, as I firmly believe the Middle Ages has been vilified and badly misrepresented. Some of the usual suspects responsible for a lot of the misinformation today were Humanist scholars and writers of the Enlightenment era- as well as sadly some Protestant theologians.
C.S.Lewis is set up as our guide for the exploration of the time- for not only his works, but his whole worldview and mind-set was steeped in the Medieval. Lewis described himself as a 'Dinosaur' who spoke the language of classical and Medieval Learning. Well if he was a 'dinosaur' then he was a frightfully good and useful one, in the opinion of this Medievalist.
I particularly appreciated the quotations from Lewis and his fellows such as G.K.Chesterton about needing an 'intimate knowledge of the past- so set against the present' and as a foil to Chronological snobbery- to assuming that everything 'current' and 'modern' is good, and everything 'old' or 'Medieval' is bad.
More importantly, these men believed that a person could not be a proper scholar of the Middle- Ages until they thoroughly immersed themselves and 'imaginatively indwells the mind-set of the period, complete with its thoughts, feelings, circumstances and characters'. To not only be a scholar but also an 'experiencer' and ’re-enactor' of the age.
I found myself not only agreeing with, but also being inspired by such insights. I believe such an approach is vitally important to study of the Medieval (or any) time period. I am always saying 'Don't judge the past by modern standards, or expect it to measure up to it', but Lewis said it first and better.
I confess I had the person who condemned me for this approach and tried to force me to judge historical figures according to her values and modern modes of behaviour in mind.
The only points that I did not agree with were some of the author's ideas about how to implement medieval traditions and ideas today.
After setting out the intellectual, rational and moral basis of these traditions it seemed strange for a person to favour the modern approach to select a few practices such as lighting candles and centred prayer as 'worship aids', or the worst extremes of the Charismatic movement with its flair for all things ecstatic and frankly weird.
I am very suspicious of such practices as Lectio Devina being incorporated into church practice today. I can understand medieval monks repeating passages from scripture to commit them to memory when they did not have their own copies- but we should not seek after mystical experiences, and particularly those which involve altered states of consciousness.
Nor did I agree that the 'Charismatic movements' of America in the twentieth century represented some kind of Golden Age, or point of reference that we should use medieval mystical practices to return to.
I don't think rolling around in laughing hysterics or imitating animals as we see television videos of people doing at places like the notorious Toronto Airport Church is doing the church any good.
I'm all for not dismissing anything Medieval as bad and unchristian, but I would be mindful about incorporating everything the author recommends into Christian life. Let us instead follow the advice of the Medieval, and use our reason and discernment rather than leaving our brains at the proverbial church door.
I would recommend for anyone who is a fan of C.S.Lewis, and interested in the Intellectual Milieu of the middle Ages. I would also recommend to anyone interested Medieval History who does not understand it, and still believes some of the misconceptions and Hollywood version. It will totally change your thinking.
I received an E-book version of this book from Brazos Press via Netgalley for the purposes of review, and purchased the audiobook of my own volition. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
In some ways, I did now know what to expect. Perhaps a misguided 'Emergent Church' pastor gushing over prayer Labyrinths and meditation whilst just hijacking some quotes from Lewis to back up some seriously dodgy theology and dubious practices.
Instead, I was for the most part quite pleasantly surprised. The book provides a comprehensive overview of Medieval Intellectual and religious tradition, covering everything from the growth of the Universities, to the medieval notion of charity which went hand in hand with the establishment of Hospitals and institutional medical care.
On the way it challenges many deeply held myths and misconceptions about the period. The notion that Medieval people were backwards and ignorant, that science and learning were in terminal decline, that the Middle Ages were all about violence and torture- and even the notion that they believed in a 'works based gospel'.
Personally, I really go in for anything that challenges such ideas, as I firmly believe the Middle Ages has been vilified and badly misrepresented. Some of the usual suspects responsible for a lot of the misinformation today were Humanist scholars and writers of the Enlightenment era- as well as sadly some Protestant theologians.
C.S.Lewis is set up as our guide for the exploration of the time- for not only his works, but his whole worldview and mind-set was steeped in the Medieval. Lewis described himself as a 'Dinosaur' who spoke the language of classical and Medieval Learning. Well if he was a 'dinosaur' then he was a frightfully good and useful one, in the opinion of this Medievalist.
I particularly appreciated the quotations from Lewis and his fellows such as G.K.Chesterton about needing an 'intimate knowledge of the past- so set against the present' and as a foil to Chronological snobbery- to assuming that everything 'current' and 'modern' is good, and everything 'old' or 'Medieval' is bad.
More importantly, these men believed that a person could not be a proper scholar of the Middle- Ages until they thoroughly immersed themselves and 'imaginatively indwells the mind-set of the period, complete with its thoughts, feelings, circumstances and characters'. To not only be a scholar but also an 'experiencer' and ’re-enactor' of the age.
I found myself not only agreeing with, but also being inspired by such insights. I believe such an approach is vitally important to study of the Medieval (or any) time period. I am always saying 'Don't judge the past by modern standards, or expect it to measure up to it', but Lewis said it first and better.
I confess I had the person who condemned me for this approach and tried to force me to judge historical figures according to her values and modern modes of behaviour in mind.
The only points that I did not agree with were some of the author's ideas about how to implement medieval traditions and ideas today.
After setting out the intellectual, rational and moral basis of these traditions it seemed strange for a person to favour the modern approach to select a few practices such as lighting candles and centred prayer as 'worship aids', or the worst extremes of the Charismatic movement with its flair for all things ecstatic and frankly weird.
I am very suspicious of such practices as Lectio Devina being incorporated into church practice today. I can understand medieval monks repeating passages from scripture to commit them to memory when they did not have their own copies- but we should not seek after mystical experiences, and particularly those which involve altered states of consciousness.
Nor did I agree that the 'Charismatic movements' of America in the twentieth century represented some kind of Golden Age, or point of reference that we should use medieval mystical practices to return to.
I don't think rolling around in laughing hysterics or imitating animals as we see television videos of people doing at places like the notorious Toronto Airport Church is doing the church any good.
I'm all for not dismissing anything Medieval as bad and unchristian, but I would be mindful about incorporating everything the author recommends into Christian life. Let us instead follow the advice of the Medieval, and use our reason and discernment rather than leaving our brains at the proverbial church door.
I would recommend for anyone who is a fan of C.S.Lewis, and interested in the Intellectual Milieu of the middle Ages. I would also recommend to anyone interested Medieval History who does not understand it, and still believes some of the misconceptions and Hollywood version. It will totally change your thinking.
I received an E-book version of this book from Brazos Press via Netgalley for the purposes of review, and purchased the audiobook of my own volition. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
July 30, 2017
Deep insights into the value of medieval thinking for our lives today. It breaks negative stereotypes and praises medievalism and C. S. Lewis. What more could you want?
I didn't get as much out of this in audiobook form, so I will definitely need to go through this again in hardcopy someday.
I didn't get as much out of this in audiobook form, so I will definitely need to go through this again in hardcopy someday.
January 8, 2019
Like many evangelicals, I was introduced to C.S. Lewis through his Narnian Chronicles as a child, and it was this trust in Lewis that led me to choose his Mere Christianity as my first foray into apologetics. I later explored my faith through his Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce, and eventually enjoyed many of his lesser known works.
Chris Armstrong is right to assume that many Christians will consider Lewis a trusted guide to follow just about anywhere. In Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians, Armstrong presents an engaging overview of what the medieval church got right, using Lewis’ enthusiasm for medievalism to help us see the relevance of this era so underappreciated by evangelicals.
The most inviting kinds of history books offer a cogent synopsis of the features of our era and introduce what we can learn from the historical era being studied. In his first chapter, Armstrong diagnoses modern American evangelicalism with a case of “immediatism” which includes three distinct features: first, a kind of “chronological snobbery” (to use a Lewis term) that prioritizes novelty; second, a “pressurized pragmatism” which prioritizes quick fixes; third, a resistance to all “mediating traditions and interpretations.” To these, Armstrong adds a fourth definition which is the evangelical belief that we can “go straight to the throne of God and receive both a direct and emotion-inflected sense of God’s presence and clear, divine answers to our questions and problems.” Reading his introductory chapter, I felt like I was understanding my evangelical era for the first time. He examines the forces that shaped my expectations for faith with a penetrating honesty.
The second chapter captures Lewis’ influence on the modern era and explains how he was influenced by the medieval era. Armstrong is a masterful writer. His sentences are precise and even playful, never burdened by the weight of his copious research. Studying a historical period through the perspective of an intermediary writer doesn’t sound like a straightforward task, but Armstrong’s writing makes it seem as if it were. The highest praise I can give for a book is that it has a steady, strong momentum that draws readers forward. Armstrong lays out a strong argument for why we need to listen to medieval tradition, and his writing invites readers forward into a time period that can cause some trepidation for post-reformation believers. With chapters with titles like “Getting Earthy” and “Getting Passionate,” Armstrong brings the medieval time period to life with Lewis’ enthusiasm and his own. I was captivated.
Of many reasons to celebrate our medieval ancestors, one that stood out to me was that the medieval time period gave us the foundation of our modern hospital system. Although we may not see much mercy in the complex billing system we’ve developed, hospitals were originally an act of mercy that grew out of the hearts of monks who wanted a way to organize their generosity and to demonstrate that they valued both the physical and spiritual dimensions of illness. I was moved by the detailed description of bedside vigils surrounding dying patients with prayer and singing. The medieval era may have had its own shortcomings, like any era, but Armstrong makes a compelling case that their strengths can help supplement our own era’s shortcomings.
Case in point, our era seems more consumed by curing cancer than we are with comforting cancer patients. Armstrong quotes Lewis who accused the people of his time of “assuming that the great permanent miseries of human life must be curable if only we can find the right cure.” Instead, Lewis borrows wisdom from the medievals who recognized that “the best results are obtained by people who work quietly away at limited objectives” like showing mercy to the sick and the dying.
Perhaps people who read history more frequently than I do recognize this experience, but this book offered me a contrast by which to better understand my own era. I could see sharp lines between the sacramental, symbolic medieval understanding of the world and the individualist, rationalist modern understanding of the world. Lewis was delighted to discover a “coherent world with a coherent worldview” in the medieval tradition, and Armstrong conveys that delight to his readers through this book.
**From another review of this book: "Armstrong’s project—to diagnose American Protestantism’s ailments and to prescribe a program of convalescence informed by a thousand-year-old tradition, itself mediated to the modern patient through a mid-twentieth century Oxford don—might be an impossible one even for the brightest and wisest among us. Armstrong carries out this project with careful historical and theological analysis, vulnerable autobiographical detail, and piercing criticisms that are attended by grace and compassion, along with a light-heartedness and humor that never fail to elicit a smile or even a laugh in the midst of reading. The book is a delight to the mind, heart, and spirit, with appeal across the denominational spectrum."
https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/20...
Chris Armstrong is right to assume that many Christians will consider Lewis a trusted guide to follow just about anywhere. In Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians, Armstrong presents an engaging overview of what the medieval church got right, using Lewis’ enthusiasm for medievalism to help us see the relevance of this era so underappreciated by evangelicals.
The most inviting kinds of history books offer a cogent synopsis of the features of our era and introduce what we can learn from the historical era being studied. In his first chapter, Armstrong diagnoses modern American evangelicalism with a case of “immediatism” which includes three distinct features: first, a kind of “chronological snobbery” (to use a Lewis term) that prioritizes novelty; second, a “pressurized pragmatism” which prioritizes quick fixes; third, a resistance to all “mediating traditions and interpretations.” To these, Armstrong adds a fourth definition which is the evangelical belief that we can “go straight to the throne of God and receive both a direct and emotion-inflected sense of God’s presence and clear, divine answers to our questions and problems.” Reading his introductory chapter, I felt like I was understanding my evangelical era for the first time. He examines the forces that shaped my expectations for faith with a penetrating honesty.
The second chapter captures Lewis’ influence on the modern era and explains how he was influenced by the medieval era. Armstrong is a masterful writer. His sentences are precise and even playful, never burdened by the weight of his copious research. Studying a historical period through the perspective of an intermediary writer doesn’t sound like a straightforward task, but Armstrong’s writing makes it seem as if it were. The highest praise I can give for a book is that it has a steady, strong momentum that draws readers forward. Armstrong lays out a strong argument for why we need to listen to medieval tradition, and his writing invites readers forward into a time period that can cause some trepidation for post-reformation believers. With chapters with titles like “Getting Earthy” and “Getting Passionate,” Armstrong brings the medieval time period to life with Lewis’ enthusiasm and his own. I was captivated.
Of many reasons to celebrate our medieval ancestors, one that stood out to me was that the medieval time period gave us the foundation of our modern hospital system. Although we may not see much mercy in the complex billing system we’ve developed, hospitals were originally an act of mercy that grew out of the hearts of monks who wanted a way to organize their generosity and to demonstrate that they valued both the physical and spiritual dimensions of illness. I was moved by the detailed description of bedside vigils surrounding dying patients with prayer and singing. The medieval era may have had its own shortcomings, like any era, but Armstrong makes a compelling case that their strengths can help supplement our own era’s shortcomings.
Case in point, our era seems more consumed by curing cancer than we are with comforting cancer patients. Armstrong quotes Lewis who accused the people of his time of “assuming that the great permanent miseries of human life must be curable if only we can find the right cure.” Instead, Lewis borrows wisdom from the medievals who recognized that “the best results are obtained by people who work quietly away at limited objectives” like showing mercy to the sick and the dying.
Perhaps people who read history more frequently than I do recognize this experience, but this book offered me a contrast by which to better understand my own era. I could see sharp lines between the sacramental, symbolic medieval understanding of the world and the individualist, rationalist modern understanding of the world. Lewis was delighted to discover a “coherent world with a coherent worldview” in the medieval tradition, and Armstrong conveys that delight to his readers through this book.
**From another review of this book: "Armstrong’s project—to diagnose American Protestantism’s ailments and to prescribe a program of convalescence informed by a thousand-year-old tradition, itself mediated to the modern patient through a mid-twentieth century Oxford don—might be an impossible one even for the brightest and wisest among us. Armstrong carries out this project with careful historical and theological analysis, vulnerable autobiographical detail, and piercing criticisms that are attended by grace and compassion, along with a light-heartedness and humor that never fail to elicit a smile or even a laugh in the midst of reading. The book is a delight to the mind, heart, and spirit, with appeal across the denominational spectrum."
https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/20...
August 18, 2020
4.5 stars. I probably wouldn’t have made it through this book if I hadn’t been reading it on audio since it is very academic and my mind is just not prepared for that right now. But the audio was superb. Such a great topic. I love CS Lewis and I’m fascinated with medieval culture, the various worldviews throughout time (ancient, medieval, modern, postmodern), and how they can help us find balance in our own time period. I also love that he is speaking to modern evangelicals. This is a much needed message for this group (of which I am a part).
I will absolutely be revisiting this book when my mind is better prepared to digest the material! Highly recommended if this is a subject you are at all interested in!
I will absolutely be revisiting this book when my mind is better prepared to digest the material! Highly recommended if this is a subject you are at all interested in!
Want to read
June 19, 2016Trailer here.
March 31, 2017
I'll admit that I was skeptical about the concept that Medieval theological wisdom could be translated to any sort of practical application for Christians today. I actually first encountered this topic and author at a lecture given earlier this week, again one that I went to skeptically and expecting a very heady, abstract discussion. I was impressed by the manner in which Chris was able to speak fluently and comfortably about the truths that he had mined from his study of Medieval thought, and by how well he used Lewis (who was also a thorough Medievalist) to bridge the foreignness of these ideas and reveal how we may already be influenced by some of them. Impressed enough that I bought his book and started it that night.
This is a well-written survey of Medieval theological thought, often presented through the lens of Lewis' own experiences with it but also with many primary and direct sources, and each section is imbued with practical application. The bent of the whole is clearly positive, skimming over much of the negative or harmful aspects that developed within Medieval Christian practice, but Armstrong notes that clearly - and he appropriately assesses that we are so far on the other side of the pendulum that it is more helpful in his mind to highlight the good from the time period we think of as the "Dark Ages" rather than contribute to the already plentiful denigration of the time.
There is a pervasive exhortation for us to embrace the earthiness and physicality of Christianity and culminating in the incarnation: tradition, visual art, liturgy, even incense. Armstrong argues that when we understand the humanity of Christ and the corresponding awareness of the goodness of creation, despite its fallenness, we are better able to experience a full, coherent relationship with God in and through the world we live in. Among other topics, he discusses the benefits found in asceticism, integration of science and faith, tradition, charity, and a fuller morality.
As a result of the lecture & book, I've added multiple new books to my shelf, including The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, The Consolation of Philosophy, and The Divine Comedy. I'm looking forward to turning directly to the sources that Armstrong references and hoping to glean some true wisdom from them for today.
This is a well-written survey of Medieval theological thought, often presented through the lens of Lewis' own experiences with it but also with many primary and direct sources, and each section is imbued with practical application. The bent of the whole is clearly positive, skimming over much of the negative or harmful aspects that developed within Medieval Christian practice, but Armstrong notes that clearly - and he appropriately assesses that we are so far on the other side of the pendulum that it is more helpful in his mind to highlight the good from the time period we think of as the "Dark Ages" rather than contribute to the already plentiful denigration of the time.
There is a pervasive exhortation for us to embrace the earthiness and physicality of Christianity and culminating in the incarnation: tradition, visual art, liturgy, even incense. Armstrong argues that when we understand the humanity of Christ and the corresponding awareness of the goodness of creation, despite its fallenness, we are better able to experience a full, coherent relationship with God in and through the world we live in. Among other topics, he discusses the benefits found in asceticism, integration of science and faith, tradition, charity, and a fuller morality.
As a result of the lecture & book, I've added multiple new books to my shelf, including The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, The Consolation of Philosophy, and The Divine Comedy. I'm looking forward to turning directly to the sources that Armstrong references and hoping to glean some true wisdom from them for today.
June 1, 2022
A great introduction to the reasons why modern evangelical Christians should take the Middle Ages more seriously, using C. S. Lewis as a guide to modern appropriation of medieval thought and piety. Chris and I are old friends from grad school and share a love of medieval Christianity and a desire to help modern Christians appreciate the era. However, I took my love of medieval Catholicism further, inasmuch as I actually became Catholic five years ago. As a Catholic, I would go further than Chris in some ways while also ironically finding his picture of medieval Christianity a bit too rosy at times. Speaking as a Protestant to Protestants, he assumes a knowledge of the darker side of medieval Christianity and emphasizes the positive elements, which is entirely appropriate. As a Catholic, I have to wrestle with all of it.
February 24, 2020
Enjoyed the book. Lots to appropriate from Lewis and his appropriation of medieval believers, as well as directly from medieval Christians. Helpfully dispels some myths about medievals and shows how we can learn from and benefit from our brothers and sisters who walked with Christ centuries ago. I found myself less enthusiastic than the author about adopting some medieval practices, but it’s not necessary to agree with all of the author’s conclusions in order to benefit from the book. I’m sure I will be returning to this book in the future.
November 23, 2025
One of the more thought provoking books I have read in some time.
December 12, 2025
Very good. As a reformed believer, disagreed with a couple of the solutions. Overall, very good and thought provoking book.
August 12, 2016
This was a long read with a lot to plow through--Armstrong seems to have bitten off more than he could chew in one volume, scattering his focus. Still, this book was extremely fascinating and gave me a lot to think about in stretching my own faith.
Like other reviewers, I didn't agree with everything Armstrong says. Particularly, the way he used C.S. Lewis to prove his points. He never quoted scripture to illustrate how modern or medieval practices are harmful or beneficial, he only quoted Lewis, as if to say "if Lewis says it it's the truth." I'm as much a fan of Lewis as anyone, but he isn't my ultimate authority and should be questioned just like everyone else. Armstrong seems to love Medieval theology so much he isn't open to blind spots. For example, he celebrates that they were so influenced by Greek philosophers, like Aristotle and Socrates. I wouldn't necessarily see this as a good thing, since the church still holds onto undercurrents of asceticism and the separation of the soul from the body handed down from these philosophies. I agree that we can learn a lot from secular philosophies, but we should also be cautious of how they shape us without realizing it.
The beneficial mindsets Armstrong illustrates from Medieval perspectives are not weird, and actually movements I see the modern church being drawn to already. Things like seeing ourselves as part of the historical and global church rather than focusing on our individual christianity. Like living out the fruits of faith by caring for the physical needs of people, knowing that through meeting needs we also touch souls. Things like recognizing the spiritual implications of every day activities, rather than only Bible reading and prayer. Recognizing that we can worship God with all of our being, with things like art and poetry.
I think a lot of us might say we are medievalists without realizing it. I don't think you have to agree with everything in a book to make it beneficial reading, so this is definitely a book I would read again to get a fresh perspective on faith from.
Visit TheWillowNook.com for more book reviews!
*Digital ARC via Netgalley*
Like other reviewers, I didn't agree with everything Armstrong says. Particularly, the way he used C.S. Lewis to prove his points. He never quoted scripture to illustrate how modern or medieval practices are harmful or beneficial, he only quoted Lewis, as if to say "if Lewis says it it's the truth." I'm as much a fan of Lewis as anyone, but he isn't my ultimate authority and should be questioned just like everyone else. Armstrong seems to love Medieval theology so much he isn't open to blind spots. For example, he celebrates that they were so influenced by Greek philosophers, like Aristotle and Socrates. I wouldn't necessarily see this as a good thing, since the church still holds onto undercurrents of asceticism and the separation of the soul from the body handed down from these philosophies. I agree that we can learn a lot from secular philosophies, but we should also be cautious of how they shape us without realizing it.
The beneficial mindsets Armstrong illustrates from Medieval perspectives are not weird, and actually movements I see the modern church being drawn to already. Things like seeing ourselves as part of the historical and global church rather than focusing on our individual christianity. Like living out the fruits of faith by caring for the physical needs of people, knowing that through meeting needs we also touch souls. Things like recognizing the spiritual implications of every day activities, rather than only Bible reading and prayer. Recognizing that we can worship God with all of our being, with things like art and poetry.
I think a lot of us might say we are medievalists without realizing it. I don't think you have to agree with everything in a book to make it beneficial reading, so this is definitely a book I would read again to get a fresh perspective on faith from.
Visit TheWillowNook.com for more book reviews!
*Digital ARC via Netgalley*
December 17, 2020
This was bought to me, and the title looks very interesting. I think the medieval period generally is fascinating and rich in so many ways, and well worth study. I even think that Christians should be much more familiar with the riches of the Church in that period than we are (Calvin quotes many great medieval writers, especially Bernard), and not just critical of it (Luther overstated things when he talked about the Babylonian captivity of the church--and perhaps our interpretation of what he said took it even further, suggesting there was virtually no Church for a 1000 years).
But. And there is a but. Just from the first 20 pages I can see that the author is very critical of the Puritans, and even of the Reformers. He seems to want to attack not just caricatures of Protestantism in much of the modern evangelical movement, but some of the very foundation principles of Protestantism itself. So, while I plan to read the rest of this book, and glean many useful insights and inspirations from it, I do not see myself agreeing with the central agendas of the book and its author.
Update: There are continued attacks on Protestantism, most of which are not very accurate. Interestingly, some of what he prescribes in the morality chapter can be found in Puritanism.
Yep, he ends with arguments for devotion to Mary, the use of images of Christ to stimulate us, sensory-rich and creative worship instead of the RPW, and lots of encouragement towards asceticism. Seems like he wants to be in Rome and wants to see others go there.
Some great sections, but too marred by the agenda.
But. And there is a but. Just from the first 20 pages I can see that the author is very critical of the Puritans, and even of the Reformers. He seems to want to attack not just caricatures of Protestantism in much of the modern evangelical movement, but some of the very foundation principles of Protestantism itself. So, while I plan to read the rest of this book, and glean many useful insights and inspirations from it, I do not see myself agreeing with the central agendas of the book and its author.
Update: There are continued attacks on Protestantism, most of which are not very accurate. Interestingly, some of what he prescribes in the morality chapter can be found in Puritanism.
Yep, he ends with arguments for devotion to Mary, the use of images of Christ to stimulate us, sensory-rich and creative worship instead of the RPW, and lots of encouragement towards asceticism. Seems like he wants to be in Rome and wants to see others go there.
Some great sections, but too marred by the agenda.
June 6, 2017
This is an excellent book drawing on the strengths of medieval Christianity, but through the lens of CSLewis as a medievalist. The themes are: tradition, theological knowledge, ethics, mercy, the natural world, passion and the human. Written by a Protestant this book is challenging to protestants in applying the strengths of the medievals to the ills of our times.
September 17, 2020
While the title implies an in-depth, systematic analysis of Lewis' works as representative of Medieval thought, I was pleasantly surprised by the focus on Medieval Christian theology and wisdom, with the regular head nod to Lewis' utilization of those ideas. And while there are Lewis quotes aplenty, you'll find they're evenly matched (numerically) with primary source quotes from the likes of Anselm, Augustin, Kempe, and Abelard.
As an overview of the way Medieval Christians- for, despite the modern Protestant tendency to dismiss the entirety of the Middle Ages as beholden to superstition and fancy, the Medieval period is part of the historic treasury of the Christian inheritance- looked at the world, this book does a marvelous job of showing how the modern tendencies to focus on the individual as the locus of Christian knowledge and scriptural interpretation is just that: modern. Instead, the historian will see in the Medieval Church a reliance upon the wisdom of those who have gone before to inform one's faith, doctrine, and practice.
Of particular note is his articulation of the Medeivals' Universe-encompassing sacramental worldview: that the entire universe contains God in an immanent way such that everything you meet is in some sense an encounter with our Divine Ruler. This very idea of a "Universe" is what led to the creation of the University (a Christian idea) and the focus on ministries of temporal mercy is what led to the founding of hospitals throughout Christendom.
Where I fear I must deduct a star is in some of Armstrong's conclusions on doctrinal matters, such as the suitability of images of God in our daily reverence and reflection. This is a mar on his otherwise helpful and perspective-widening explanation of the heritage that many Protestants often, to our detriment, seem all too eager to leave behind.
As an overview of the way Medieval Christians- for, despite the modern Protestant tendency to dismiss the entirety of the Middle Ages as beholden to superstition and fancy, the Medieval period is part of the historic treasury of the Christian inheritance- looked at the world, this book does a marvelous job of showing how the modern tendencies to focus on the individual as the locus of Christian knowledge and scriptural interpretation is just that: modern. Instead, the historian will see in the Medieval Church a reliance upon the wisdom of those who have gone before to inform one's faith, doctrine, and practice.
Of particular note is his articulation of the Medeivals' Universe-encompassing sacramental worldview: that the entire universe contains God in an immanent way such that everything you meet is in some sense an encounter with our Divine Ruler. This very idea of a "Universe" is what led to the creation of the University (a Christian idea) and the focus on ministries of temporal mercy is what led to the founding of hospitals throughout Christendom.
Where I fear I must deduct a star is in some of Armstrong's conclusions on doctrinal matters, such as the suitability of images of God in our daily reverence and reflection. This is a mar on his otherwise helpful and perspective-widening explanation of the heritage that many Protestants often, to our detriment, seem all too eager to leave behind.
February 4, 2022
If you're looking for a dive into CS Lewis' medieval literary interests, this is your book. Still, I was disappointed with the book as a whole. The chapters are less cohesive than I had hoped, and the use of CS Lewis' voice as an appeal to authority ("look, Lewis was interested in this, so all modern Christians ought to be too") is uneven in it's success. In the first chapter, Armstrong critiques the "immediatism" of modern evangelicalism. The combination of Armstrong's harsh tone and the superfluous amount of -isms make the chapter difficult to work through. I think he sabotages his very purpose, alienating the very people he is addressing. That being said, many of the other chapters are quite compelling and convey the beauty of the "medieval wisdom" Armstrong values so deeply. His cry that the time period we moderns need to study most is the Middle Ages resonates deeply with me, and at the end of the work, I think he has demonstrated it with varying success.
June 8, 2017
Armstrong, an Evangelical Christian, thinks that the modern Evangelical movement is sterile and that it has much to learn from the Medieval church. He takes exception to the bad rap the MidIdle Ages have gotten as an ignorant, benighted era, and with self-confessed "Medievalist" C,S. Lewis as our guide, he takes us on a tour. Among other things he addresses how Medievalists dealt with the tension between Gnosticism (only the spirit matters) and Materialism (only the earthly/material). He shows among other things how Medieval scholasticism led to the birth of the university and how appreciation for the Incarnation led to the birth of hospitals. He thinks the Reformation made the mistake of throwing the baby out with the bath (as it were) when it denigrated all things Roman Catholic. This was a very rich book and far more enjoyable to read than I expected. I learned a lot and plan to reread it in the future.
August 28, 2018
This book serves as a fantastic call to the church today to find value in the church of the middle ages. Armstrong sets out a very clear outline for each chapter. Following the first two chapters in which he makes his case for a renewed spirituality based on the approach of the medieval church and then offers up C. S. Lewis as our guide into this renewal, Armstrong challenges the church to pursue God in light of various medieval methodologies. Each chapter lays out a challenge, offers an example from Lewis' writings and then explores various medieval theologians and their approach to the particular practice being discussed. Overall, this is a great text that offers the disciple of Christ much to consider.
November 12, 2017
I also I heard the author interviewed by Ken Myers on the Mars Hill Audio Journal, I was intrigued enough to purchase the book. There is much to appreciate in Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians, but I found myself thinking that maybe his stereotype of evangelical Christianity might be skewed. I appreciated his anti-gnostic stance but does that mean everything is sacramental (holy)? I am not pleased in the degradation of the created; the loss of the notion that human nature is a constant metaphysical reality is a tragedy but that does not mean oner needs to view all of reality as sacred, holy.
January 3, 2018
In this book, Armsteong explores a number of triths that Medieval Christians understood, but which have been forgotten by contemporary christians. Truths related to the different subjects such as the importance of studying theology and tradition, the goodness of the material world and pur physical bodies, the importance of ascetism and of community in spiritual discipline towards holy living, and so on. This was a great and challenging read. On a number of occasions I found myself thinking: "wow, we think so much alike, we must be kindred spirits! He thinks the same thing as me." This was a refreshing read. I highly recommend it.
November 29, 2022
The opening was a bit dense but once the book got started discussing Lewis and Medieval philosophy and theology it was pretty engaging.
The more one knows about C.S. Lewis the more one will get out of this book. I certainly wouldn't recommend it for someone unfamiliar with Lewis. More of a meat vs milk type book with some in-depth discussion of theological matters.
The more one knows about C.S. Lewis the more one will get out of this book. I certainly wouldn't recommend it for someone unfamiliar with Lewis. More of a meat vs milk type book with some in-depth discussion of theological matters.
June 10, 2024
Really great book that enabled me to appreciate many things about medieval spirituality, and much much more. There is plenty to think about. For example, the way medieval thought views habit and discipline is very convicting. I most definitely want to read again to keep mining the truths and challenges in this book.
April 24, 2019
This book aims to explain and defend medieval spiritual practices for modern American evangelicals, with reference to the writings of CS Lewis. He brings up some good points, but the book seems to jump from topic and topic and doesn't have a clear focus.
October 4, 2017
*3.5 stars*
December 11, 2017
Lots of interesting information ultimately falsified by a starry-eyed attempt at name-dropping to contraband Christopagan religiosity as a surrogate to ðe Gospel.
July 31, 2018
Great book. Listened to it on audible. Popular level history, and lit. wish it went deeper, but that wasn’t the point of the book. Reignited my interest in the Middle Ages.
June 29, 2020
This book has me thinking about the physical nuter of Christ. From a medieval vantage.
November 30, 2020
Armstrong helps us rediscover the wisdom of medieval scholars, who were so admired by C.S. Lewis.
A perfect book to read before Christmas or Easter.
A perfect book to read before Christmas or Easter.
Read
March 7, 2023How to be Catholic without being Catholic.
July 10, 2023
Well-organized and thought-provoking.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews