C. S. Lewis's Case for Christ: Insights from Reason, Imagination and Faith

by Art Lindsley

There can be many obstacles to faith. As Art Lindsley says, "Lewis knew what it was like not to believe. He struggled with many doubts along the way to faith. Since he was an ardent atheist until age thirty-one, Lewis's experience and education prepared him to understand firsthand the most common arguments against Christianity." As a scholar and teacher of literature at Oxford, Lewis confronted many This book provides a readable introduction to Lewis's reflections on these and other objections to belief in Jesus Christ and the compelling reasons why Lewis came to affirm the truth of Christianity. Art Lindsley is a helpful and reliable guide to the voluminous and sometimes challenging writings of Lewis for both seekers and those who want to grasp their own faith more deeply.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Religion, Christianity

204 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2005

About the author

Rev. Dr. Art Lindsley is the Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE), where he oversees the development of a theology that integrates faith, work, and economics. Most recently, he had served as President and Senior Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute since 1987. Prior to that, he was Director of Educational Ministries at the Ligonier Valley Study Center and Staff Specialist with the Coalition for Christian Outreach in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He is the author of C.S. Lewis’s Case for Christ, True Truth, Love: The Ultimate Apologetic. He is co-author with R.C. Sproul and John Gerstner of Classical Apologetics, and he often writes articles on theology, apologetics, C.S. Lewis, and the lives of many other authors and teachers.

Rev. Dr. Lindsley earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Seattle Pacific University, Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this and learning more about CS Lewis and his thoughts. I love the straight up questions and the way this author welcomed honest questions and reflections from his group. It gives an a current believer just more “ooomph” in my faith and I love his perspectives!

[Jennifer Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for anyone who is curious or struggling. It doesn't go as deep as I would like for it to go, but this book gave me plenty to think about.

People tout Mere Christianity as the book to read if you're struggling with your faith, but that book didn't do much for me, yet. I'm still struggling to read on. But this book, this book touched up on many different subjects and I really enjoyed the philosophical discussions. This book made me want to go back and read Mere Christianity and all the other books mentioned in this book.

I'm going to buy my own copy (I borrowed it from my church library).

I would recommend it to Christians or anyone who is curious about religion.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a teenager, one of the favorite ways that the adults in charge of our teen Bible studies had of trying to be hip and relevant with the young folks was to create imaginary dialogues that proved the point that they wanted to get across.  Even at the time, being no mean writer of dramatic material even then, I did not find this particular approach to be all that appealing.  Of course, nowadays, I am aware that books themselves are part of a great conversation already and I have a strong degree of aversion to those who seek to create fake dialogues to prove their point rather than simply using their books as a whole to prove their point.  This book has a lot going for it--any book that seeks to approach apologetics using the insights of C.S. Lewis is doing something right at least--but ultimately the author's use of an ideologically diverse but phony-sounding apologetics group to demonstrate the appeal of C.S. Lewis' case for Christ keeps this book from being as good as it could easily have been.  Here's hoping that people can take what is worthwhile about this book even if they find the fake dialogue to be as off-putting as I do.

This book is about 200 pages long and is divided into fourteen chapters.  After acknowledgements, the first two chapters explore why it is worth studying Lewis' case for Christ (I), discussing why his arguments are worth considering (1) and what some of the obstacles were to Lewis' own belief (2) when he was a young atheist.  The next six chapters detail some of the obstacles to faith (II), such as contemporary chronological snobbery (3), the problem of evil and suffering (4), the question of Christianity being one myth among many (5), the argument from a rationalism and denial that people need faith (6), the claim that faith is imaginary (7), and skepticism about biblical miracles (8).  After that the author discusses to questions of coherence in Christianity (III), such as the matter of wish fulfillment (9), the postmodernist skepticism that what was true for C.S. Lewis is true for everyone (10), the belief that morals are relative (11), the question as to whether one religion among many can be said to be right (12), the question of death and the afterlife (13), and the argument that Christ is just another good moral teacher (14).  After that the book ends with recommended reading as well as notes and an index.

There is a lot to like about C.S. Lewis' case for Christ, and if one has a habit of reading apologetics literature as I do [1], then there are at least a few aspects to Lewis' case for Christ that are well worth remembering.  It is common today to hear people claim that Jesus was a good teacher as a way of denying the claims that he made about himself, but one has to remember that Jesus Christ in the Bible explicitly made statements that prevented one from merely viewing him as a good teacher.  Indeed, Christ's own approach to evangelism, and one that has been copied since then by His followers, has always been to remove the middle ground of tepid fond feelings and to replace it with either intense hostility or intense support.  Cold water and hot water are praised, but the Bible has no fondness for that which is lukewarm.  That is something we would do well to remember, as the Bible's approach to evangelism tears down false ideas and attempts to avoid making a decision between right and wrong even as it builds bridges between God and man and between people and each other.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2019...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2019...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2019...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...

[Nicholas Maulucci · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 starts. There were some interesting parts.

[Julia Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think I’m smart enough for this book but still super interesting and I learned a lot I didn’t expect to learn

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book follows a small group of adults as they explore C.S Lewis's case for Christ. Each has a different view and they are stereotyped pretty typically here. I just didn't like the set up of the book and felt the "discussion" of the group was always set in a formula - each had their role to play and arguement to make. In the end, the format of the book didn't really add anything and didn't give much insight into the Lewis case. Check out Mere Christianity and get it straight from Lewis if you are interested.

[Paul Jeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful intro to Lewis, summarizing many of Lewis' main points in his writings while aiding those who have struggles/issues with the faith. Reads somewhat like an older version of Keller's "Reason for God." Also contains an annotated bibliography for those interested in doing further exploration in Lewis.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most interesting thing I read in this book was against the argument that religion/God is just "wishful thinking". He brings up the point that if that is true, why don't people "wish away" the unpleasant parts of religion; sin, hell, etc.

[Ashish Jaituni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. For those who want to know about Lewis's writings and have found his writings difficult to follow, this little books explains in brief about Lewis's beliefs and Philosophy. I found the book worth reading. The author is indeed knowledgeable about C. S. Lewis.

[Robert Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a firm base for Christian apologetics while introducing the reader to the life and writings of C.S. Lewis.

[Becki Cronin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good insight into CS Lewis thinking from another authors' lens.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Short, interesting, CS Lewis. I love that man.

[Teric Darken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A master-author provides natural logic and reasoning, proofs and evidences, for placing one's confidence in The Master-Author.

[Todd Cartmell]

Excellent book. Nice summary of Lewis' thinking.

[Jeff Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summary of Lewis' journey towards finding God. Written in a very readable way. I have read the Narnia Chronicles and will now move into his deeper writings.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

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