Mere Christianity
Lewis used the term “Mere Christianity” to refer to the aspects of faith that all Christians, regardless of whether they are Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant, share. He intended to find and describe our common ground without getting into obscure doctrine or taking sides on any theological disputes that divide the various denominations. Therefore, the phrase “Mere Christianity” was used with deliberate intent to explain what Christians believed would be understandable to someone investigating the faith, while also being accessible to established believers, whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant.
Gentleman and Christian
Lewis says “gentleman” meant something recognizable, “one with a coat of arms and some landed property” (Lewis, 2001). Therefore, referring to a person as a gentleman did not imply a compliment but stated a fact about the person. According to Lewis, saying that someone was not a gentleman was perceived as providing information rather than insulting.
However, the meaning has evolved, as people have begun to associate behavioral attributes, such as rights, charity, spirituality, and sensitivity, with the definition. People’s behavior is now more important in characterizing them than their coat of arms or land. Therefore, calling someone a gentleman in the newly refined sense becomes a way of praise rather than a means of identification.
The original Christian meaning was a name given to disciples, implying those who accepted the teachings of the apostles. Therefore, there were no restrictions on the believers or refinement to people closer to Christ than others. Accordingly, the meaning of Christianity was not a theological or moral one, but one that all can understand.
In this perspective, a person who accepts Christian doctrines but lives unworthy of them is referred to as a bad Christian rather than not a Christian. Lewis worries that people have started deepening the meaning of the Christian word by spiritualizing and resining. He is afraid the word ‘Christian’ will lose its initially intended meaning, just as the word ‘gentleman’ did.
Lewis on Science and Religion
Lewis suggests that there is an all-powerful being (who need not be a Christian God) in this section and speculates on how this being may reveal itself to humans. He alleges that since science can provide a material explanation for the phenomena in question, the being could not manifest itself in any tangible way. A non-material, ordered system would be the only way for a non-material creature to manifest itself to humans, and Lewis says that this system is morality.
It reveals much about the universe and that people have an inbuilt drive to follow moral laws. Whether or not a being created and governs the universe is a mystery science cannot resolve. An all-powerful being could make his presence known to humans in non-material ways. The fact that everyone has a feeling of Right and Wrong suggests the existence of a strong being whose existence cannot be proven through science.
Lewis makes a compelling case that the foundational concepts of life, such as morality and faith, are rarely novel or thrilling but instead call for us to pay attention once more to what we already know or have heard. Therefore, to become a Christian, one must first acknowledge one’s lack of moral perfection. The gap between moral law and humanity’s vain attempts to live morally is where Christianity comes from. As a result, many will look to God and Christ to try to find a way to bridge this gap.
Reference
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. HarperCollins, 2001.