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Beyond Personality: The Christian Idea of God
"Improvement is not redemption, though redemption always improves". Based on a series of 12 short radio talks given by CS Lewis in 1944, this little book is a goldmine of wisdom and understanding, bringing to the surface extraordinary insights into several challenging issues on the nature of God and Christian belief.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1944
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516 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,032 books48k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 29, 2015
The following is another verbally pugilistic work of an anti-religious-apologetics crusader. Piss and moan, or ignore, accordingly:
I accidentally read this last book of Mere Christianity again because I wanted to squeeze in a quick read and this slim volume was tainting my unread and loosely labeled non-fiction section alongside Jared Diamond and Carl Sagan. It just didn’t belong. In a sense I saved it. It was getting picked on and it deserved more appropriate company like those books that claimed the world was going to end in 1985 (or any other year).
So, I peel the spoiled meat from the otherwise salvageable sandwich of edible substances, and those remaining on the shelf seemed to call out: “Excuse me; there is some residual apologetics rust on our covers. Would you mind wiping it off, and while you’re at it, perhaps giving us a read, eh? We’re not as slender, but we’re much more worthy of your time. We promise.” I did not doubt this, but I went along with my remedial course in the Great Christian Intellect Stroke-a-thon, yet nowhere in the sixty-eight pages did it occur to me that I had read this all before. I mean, I knew I had read this all before!, but I hadn’t realized that I had literally read every single word of this tripe a couple years back.
For reasons unknown to me, Lewis is the darling bloke of intellectual support for religious (Christian, specifically) faith. The most Praise I’ve been able to muster for anything he’s purported has been ‘hmm, cute metaphor.’ But, can we actually apply any of this legerdemain to our truth-pursuit? Is there a logical pathway from what he says to a ‘rational’ belief in God, and Jesus Christ? If Theology is “the science of God” and if “…any man who wants to think about God at all would like to have the clearest and most accurate ideas about Him which are available”, what exactly is this creature we’re speaking about and how (please, please, once and for all) can we become aware of “the clearest and most accurate ideas” about Him? Surely these ideas are to be found in Scripture. Yes, Scripture, of course. But, some incredulous folks don’t know how to properly interpret scripture and expound upon its themes and ideas. Jesus had some trouble getting through to people, but it would only take an additional 2,000 years for a man to come along who would provide for humanity the most comprehensive framework for intellectually satisfying faith. Hilariously ironic is the sort of religious fervor that some worshipers express for the cult of the Chronicler of Narnia. Modern apologists like to brag that they are continuing in the prestigious vein of Lewis, but are quick to add that they are not comparing themselves to him, as if his propositions could never be superseded, or even adequately contested. This brings me to what I think will turn out to be my central point. Scientists are constantly chomping at the bit to disprove each other. There is respect, admiration, and inspiration for/from scientists of years and decades past and present. But scientists want to improve upon, progress from, even render irrelevant findings of late (and current) great minds. What if Leonard Susskind had said, ‘Well, Hawking discovered the origins of the universe and the functions of black holes, I suppose all I can do is try to restate that in a more modern, relevant way?’
I apologize for the sledge hammer I’ve been taking to this very first page, wherein Lewis only attempts to establish the uses for Theology, but it is just so damn frustrating! He claims to be discussing a science (and doesn’t even have the courtesy or humility to deem it a soft science), but there are no references, no data or explanations thereof, no experiments that could be run, no suggestions of demonstrability, no works cited or observations based on his senses. It is pure speculation; it is fun time at camp presupposition; it is ‘hey gang, who wants to justify our beliefs with more analogies than there are people who appreciate excessive, overwrought analogies?’
You know what, I’ve made my point here. This is a review of the first page of the last book of a larger work. I am working on a lengthier (and perhaps more prudent) review of the entire volume in which this book is contained. My thoughts are not concluded here by a long shot; nevertheless, I welcome the consequences of this rather vitriolic, and mercifully short, eruption.
November 11, 2010
For me this book was life-changing. The second chapter revolutionized the way that I think about prayer and fellowship with God. Lewis was absolutely right in saying that Theology is, in a way, "less real" than direct experience of God, but that without it we cannot find our way to ever deeper experiences.
This little work by C.S. Lewis would hardly qualify as a theological work by today's standards. It is far too informal in its tone and not nearly academic enough in its approach. But I have gained much more personal depth and growth in my understanding of God and my daily relationship with Him as a result of this book.
Lewis refers to this book as a work of "practical" theology. And it has possibly been the most practical and personally applicable work of theology I have ever read. I highly recommend that everyone read this short but sweet little book.
This little work by C.S. Lewis would hardly qualify as a theological work by today's standards. It is far too informal in its tone and not nearly academic enough in its approach. But I have gained much more personal depth and growth in my understanding of God and my daily relationship with Him as a result of this book.
Lewis refers to this book as a work of "practical" theology. And it has possibly been the most practical and personally applicable work of theology I have ever read. I highly recommend that everyone read this short but sweet little book.
April 15, 2012
Excellent book. I'd give it 6 1/2 stars if I could. It could just as easily have been entitled, "On the Process Whereby the Bride Becomes Spotless." Thank you, Clive Staples Lewis, for blessing me this day with both your intellect and your imagination. You rock my world!
December 15, 2016
I wish I would have read this as a ten year old, I could have then better articulated my distain for Christianity and the Catholic Church that my parent drug me to every Sunday. I consider myself neither a Catholic nor a Christian but a very spiritual person. C.S. Lewis is a phenomenal writer, thus the three stars and why I read the entire book. At times I felt it deserved 4 stars but by the end felt 3 was what in total it deserved. As a non-Christian I would suggest it to others as a short well written piece on Christian beliefs, a much better way to learn about the basic tenants of Christianity than 18 years of forced church attendance ;)
February 25, 2020
One of the easier to read sections of the Mere Christianity compendium. Is it a compendium?
Anyways, loved his analogies and metaphors. Lewis makes me laugh with his transparency: "This isn't an exact analogy as it falls apart if you take it very much further. I'm trying my best."
I'll detail further in my Mere Christianity review.
I'd rate this book a PG.
Anyways, loved his analogies and metaphors. Lewis makes me laugh with his transparency: "This isn't an exact analogy as it falls apart if you take it very much further. I'm trying my best."
I'll detail further in my Mere Christianity review.
I'd rate this book a PG.
January 30, 2019
I was profoundly impacted by this delightful little book. It ranks as one of his best--and that is saying a lot-- at least from this reader's perspective. Lewis is not, strictly speaking, a theologian. But this is theology in its most practical form.
August 18, 2016
Every curious christian should definitely read this.
May 1, 2025
Excellent!
“The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says “Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, crown it, or stop it, but have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked - the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.”
“The more I resist Him and try to live on my own, the more I become dominated by my own heredity and upbringing and surroundings and natural desires. - CS Lewis
“The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says “Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, crown it, or stop it, but have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked - the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.”
“The more I resist Him and try to live on my own, the more I become dominated by my own heredity and upbringing and surroundings and natural desires. - CS Lewis
February 24, 2023
This is just fantastic. Proves there is a reason we love to love Lewis. Secondly, he comes out remarkably evergreen here on questions of orthodoxy per classical creedalism. That said, he flies right off the railing at the end with some conjecturalizing on evolution. Was pretty comical and out of step I thought :) (just as good on the second read!)
April 10, 2021
"how monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different are the saints."
i love how clear lewis is, he's near unparalleled in that regard in my mind. just an expert with analogy. i really loved the last half of the book.
i love how clear lewis is, he's near unparalleled in that regard in my mind. just an expert with analogy. i really loved the last half of the book.
April 11, 2020
Lewis explains the fundamental core concepts of the Christian Theology, which is the doctrine of the Trinity, I got a great insight into some very fundamental principles of the Christian experience.
I was particularly impressed by the way how Lewis tackled the problem whether God is in time or outside time as it has been something I have been thinking about quite a lot and couldn’t find a convincing explanation but the way how he tackled this has really solved my problem. When reading the book you need to have an open mind as it requires a high level of imagination (not in the sense that some of the things that he talks about are not real, on the contrary, the examples he uses are decent in making his point).
Lewis says: ‘’ if you are looking for something duper-personal, something more than a person, then it isn’t a question of choosing between the Christian idea and the other ideas. The Christian idea is the only one on the market’’ I understand that this book is a about the Christian idea of God but perhaps making such a claim would require an evidence of why other ideas of God of different religions won’t be sufficient.
I was also a bit confused at some point where Lewis started repeating somehow the same idea but in different ways, for instance you as a Christina have to always resemble Christ in your image to the world, there was a point where I thought that we’ll also become God. I wasn’t convinced by the way how Lewis made his point that God needed to come and be one of us to save the world and then leave.
I would recommend this book to someone who is looking to know what the experience of God from a Christian perspective is, there’s a good insight into God’s transcendence which was enlightening too.
I was particularly impressed by the way how Lewis tackled the problem whether God is in time or outside time as it has been something I have been thinking about quite a lot and couldn’t find a convincing explanation but the way how he tackled this has really solved my problem. When reading the book you need to have an open mind as it requires a high level of imagination (not in the sense that some of the things that he talks about are not real, on the contrary, the examples he uses are decent in making his point).
Lewis says: ‘’ if you are looking for something duper-personal, something more than a person, then it isn’t a question of choosing between the Christian idea and the other ideas. The Christian idea is the only one on the market’’ I understand that this book is a about the Christian idea of God but perhaps making such a claim would require an evidence of why other ideas of God of different religions won’t be sufficient.
I was also a bit confused at some point where Lewis started repeating somehow the same idea but in different ways, for instance you as a Christina have to always resemble Christ in your image to the world, there was a point where I thought that we’ll also become God. I wasn’t convinced by the way how Lewis made his point that God needed to come and be one of us to save the world and then leave.
I would recommend this book to someone who is looking to know what the experience of God from a Christian perspective is, there’s a good insight into God’s transcendence which was enlightening too.
April 12, 2023
Absolutely phenomenal. How did I go to a college full of Lewis nerds and not know this book existed? Maybe it’s been subsumed into a larger collection of essays?
Either way, so so good. The last chapter went a bit wonky - I didn’t realize Lewis was a theistic evolutionist - but it rescued itself in the phenomenal last few pages.
Apparently the book was originally a series of radio talks, which makes sense because the language was very pedestrian for Lewis, but all the more brilliant.
Either way, so so good. The last chapter went a bit wonky - I didn’t realize Lewis was a theistic evolutionist - but it rescued itself in the phenomenal last few pages.
Apparently the book was originally a series of radio talks, which makes sense because the language was very pedestrian for Lewis, but all the more brilliant.
November 4, 2023
Louis hits on the head so many questions and things that I've been working through in my own life. I love the idea of manyness, as a sign of love. God in Love creates space for others.
May 18, 2016
I honestly cannot give this book enough stars!
Based upon 12 radio talks that Lewis gave concerning the understanding of the Christian God, each chapter addresses a theological issue that are commonly grappled with.
Every time I read and review a C.S.Lewis book I end up saying the same thing: I always forget just how much of an impact his writing has on me until I'm reading it.
What really stands out for me is Lewis' analogies - and how he manages to bring the most complex theological concepts into a realm which is easily comprehensive. For example:
"On the human level one person is one being, and any two persons are two separate beings - just as, in two dimensions... one square is one figure, and any two squares are two separate figures... In God's dimension, so to speak, you find a being who is three Persons while remaining one Being, just as a cube is six squares while remaining one cube. Of course we can't fully conceive a Being like that."
The other reason why I enjoy this book so much is because it encourages and challenges me in my personal faith journey. It makes me want to strive to be better, it reassures me that my journey with Christ will never be over and the more I continue to seek to be like Christ, the closer I will become to Him.
"Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply that: nothing else."
Based upon 12 radio talks that Lewis gave concerning the understanding of the Christian God, each chapter addresses a theological issue that are commonly grappled with.
Every time I read and review a C.S.Lewis book I end up saying the same thing: I always forget just how much of an impact his writing has on me until I'm reading it.
What really stands out for me is Lewis' analogies - and how he manages to bring the most complex theological concepts into a realm which is easily comprehensive. For example:
"On the human level one person is one being, and any two persons are two separate beings - just as, in two dimensions... one square is one figure, and any two squares are two separate figures... In God's dimension, so to speak, you find a being who is three Persons while remaining one Being, just as a cube is six squares while remaining one cube. Of course we can't fully conceive a Being like that."
The other reason why I enjoy this book so much is because it encourages and challenges me in my personal faith journey. It makes me want to strive to be better, it reassures me that my journey with Christ will never be over and the more I continue to seek to be like Christ, the closer I will become to Him.
"Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply that: nothing else."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2017
This short work, produced in 1944, and a previous work titled Christian Behaviour, produced in 1943, are essentially the transcripts of BBC Broadcast Talks. Beyond Personality is a theological study of God - his nature (attributes) and his character (personality and choices). Once again he makes the profound accessible to the layman, even interesting and engaging. He begins most chapters by addressing some of the questions and doubts raised by listeners from the previous program. It is not an evidentiary apologetic, rather more like a fireside chat. It is humble, in that he mentions more than once his own rational doubts and journey from atheism to faith.
August 19, 2012
"Improvement is not redemption, though redemption always improves". Based on a series of 12 short radio talks given by CS Lewis in 1944, this little book is a goldmine of wisdom and understanding, bringing to the surface extraordinary insights into several challenging issues on the nature of God and Christian belief. Profound in his logic, inspired in his illustrations, simple in his language, Lewis displays the breadth and depth of a 'beautiful mind' put to work for the glory of God. Oh, to have heard these at the time; what a privilege.
January 30, 2020
Good presentation of the main doctrines of Christianity (more concise than Lewis "Mere Christianity", in fact it is virtually an extract of "Mere Christianity" : Trinity, Incarnation, God's attributed (omnipresence, omniscience, eternity), sanctification, sin. Very clear, everyone can understand it. A lot of illustrations.
November 24, 2009
C.S. Lewis is a master of practical Christianity, connecting ordinary human experience with profound, even difficult, theology. He shows Christianity as both a grand adventure and an utterly logical and sensible position. A revolutionary interpretation of faith - but revolutionarily orthodox.
April 30, 2014
Most of this stuff is in Mere Christianity...But it's really good stuff.
April 11, 2016
Short, understandable, good examples.
September 10, 2021
Another one of my favourites, adding it to Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain and The Four Loves.
As usual his logical explanations of the Christian ideas are easy to follow and he speaks in a way that you have almost always thought of but never quite had a proper way of expressing it. I like how he explains PRAYER;
"Its very first words are Our Father. Do you now see what those words mean? They mean quite frankly, that you’re putting yourself in the place of a son of God. To put it bluntly, you’re dressing up as Christ. If you like, you’re pretending. Because, of course, the moment you realise what the words mean, you realise that you’re not a son of God. You’re not a being like the Son of God, whose will and interests are at one with those of the Father: you are a bundle of self-centred fears, hopes, greeds, jealousies, and self-conceit, all doomed to death. So that, in a way, this dressing up as Christ is a piece of outrageous cheek. But the odd thing is that He has ordered us to do it."
It's a short book, one you can read in one sitting if you are not pressed for time.
As usual his logical explanations of the Christian ideas are easy to follow and he speaks in a way that you have almost always thought of but never quite had a proper way of expressing it. I like how he explains PRAYER;
"Its very first words are Our Father. Do you now see what those words mean? They mean quite frankly, that you’re putting yourself in the place of a son of God. To put it bluntly, you’re dressing up as Christ. If you like, you’re pretending. Because, of course, the moment you realise what the words mean, you realise that you’re not a son of God. You’re not a being like the Son of God, whose will and interests are at one with those of the Father: you are a bundle of self-centred fears, hopes, greeds, jealousies, and self-conceit, all doomed to death. So that, in a way, this dressing up as Christ is a piece of outrageous cheek. But the odd thing is that He has ordered us to do it."
It's a short book, one you can read in one sitting if you are not pressed for time.
January 10, 2023
Such a good book, it's been essential for me in the way The Problem of Pain was.
About halfway through he gets into "the poor in spirit" and describes so much of what I'm going through, and it's often been very isolating and painful (which has led to irritation/anxiety/depression) but it's driven me toward God.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 over and over again. God disciplines (trains) those He loves and is developing their eternal souls which paradoxically is a road of suffering.
It also reminds me of Tozer on loneliness, how God is often causes us to even feel cut off and different from those at church to specifically draw us in a deep relationship to Christ.
So many things I used to think were bad news, were actually God showing me I'm His, then joy comes up even in the temporal misery I face in this place. (O, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! - Romans 11:33)
About halfway through he gets into "the poor in spirit" and describes so much of what I'm going through, and it's often been very isolating and painful (which has led to irritation/anxiety/depression) but it's driven me toward God.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 over and over again. God disciplines (trains) those He loves and is developing their eternal souls which paradoxically is a road of suffering.
It also reminds me of Tozer on loneliness, how God is often causes us to even feel cut off and different from those at church to specifically draw us in a deep relationship to Christ.
So many things I used to think were bad news, were actually God showing me I'm His, then joy comes up even in the temporal misery I face in this place. (O, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! - Romans 11:33)
July 25, 2020
The text is a series of radio talks CS Lewis gave during WWII in England to explain the very basics of Christian belief - as generally agreed upon by most Christian groups through the years. Admittedly I am a big fan of Lewis' writing, but this small series is just brilliant. His explanations are clear, his examples are clever and illustrate the points well. I also think it is helpful for Christians to periodically get back to basics; we so often get mired in the details of specific theological issues and forget the basics that unite us.
For the most part, the talks are not overly dated, despite being 75 years old and given in a non-US context. Lewis' arguments sometimes seem simplistic to me, and I want to complicate the issues and add caveats, but I am generally struck that he is right, and the basics of Christianity really are fairly straight-forward.
For the most part, the talks are not overly dated, despite being 75 years old and given in a non-US context. Lewis' arguments sometimes seem simplistic to me, and I want to complicate the issues and add caveats, but I am generally struck that he is right, and the basics of Christianity really are fairly straight-forward.
May 20, 2025
I have owned this book for a while, and I have read a few chapters here and there (when I was a stronger Believer). But now, as someone who has a bit less faith, I took the leap and read the whole thing. I do believe what Lewis says here, and man, is he a good writer. I just adore how straightforward his examples are. They just make sense, and they're funny too. I will need to read these chapters again as I begin to try and be a better Christian and son of God. But for now, I have a few good ideas down to think about as I keep waking up every morning.
November 28, 2023
A transcription of a series of lectures by Lewis on the relationship between God and man. The first half deals with attributes of God, such as incarnation and the issue of freedom versus foreknowledge. The later lectures address the nature of mankind and acceptance of Jesus as the Lord and Savior; specifically, what exactly is the nature of the 'new man?'
July 13, 2020
It's a good read if you're in the mood, which i wasn't in the first half. So I put it aside for a few months and did enjoy the second half of essays. Some I was familiar with as other pockets have bundled the same good essays too.
February 21, 2025
I so appreciate how Lewis was able to snap theological issues into plane language. This book--capturing a series of his radio addresses (a sort of blog for you youngins)--is now 80 years old, as of 2025, is still fresh. I recommend it and, as always, read widely.
January 2, 2021
I trust that this is a well-written book, but I marked it down because I did not like the book and did not agree with Lewis's premise.
August 22, 2021
A very comforting quick read, one of Lewis' lesser known works filled with parable, allegory, and illustrations to communicate the simplicity and beauty of the christian life.
October 17, 2023
The final chapter about finding yourself when you willingly surrender it hits me hard every time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews