Didn't know GPa Sean referred to MC in the book. Its an excellent point he makes, and subsequently, you make. To be merely christian is essentially to not be christian...to be a Christian, the goal is to be transformed to the core.
I was surprised to see the reference myself! Having read MC (it's been a few years now), however, I think that Lewis does somewhat believe in the inner transformation wrought by supernatural grace, but he doesn't say so explicitly. I would have to check on this as well, but I think he likely subscribes to the Protestant view that our participation in this inner renewal has absolutely nothing to do with us other than having faith alone, which is, of course, the foundational and sustaining principle that is necessary for any of us, but as Catholics we believe participation in the divine life (1 Pt 1:4) entails 'just' a few more awesome things as well :)
I wonder if perhaps Lewis was intentionally very basic with MC in hopes that it be approachable and a springboard to other works that go deeper into what it means to be Christian and the responsibilities thereof. It’s unfortunate though, because it seems that, as you point out in your article, it’s “mere-ness” has likely engendered a sort of basic complacency among Christians, but I doubt that that was at all Lewis’s intention. That’s been my understanding of it at least, though to be fair it has been quite a while since I’ve read the book.
Yes, I think so as well -- although I guess I didn't make that quite clear in my first comment. It is certainly what I meant when I referred to this trend as "the abused excuse" of the Mere Christianity principle. I myself benefitted very deeply from reading MC and loved it. I still have a bunch of photos saved from whole pages of the book!
Didn't know GPa Sean referred to MC in the book. Its an excellent point he makes, and subsequently, you make. To be merely christian is essentially to not be christian...to be a Christian, the goal is to be transformed to the core.
I was surprised to see the reference myself! Having read MC (it's been a few years now), however, I think that Lewis does somewhat believe in the inner transformation wrought by supernatural grace, but he doesn't say so explicitly. I would have to check on this as well, but I think he likely subscribes to the Protestant view that our participation in this inner renewal has absolutely nothing to do with us other than having faith alone, which is, of course, the foundational and sustaining principle that is necessary for any of us, but as Catholics we believe participation in the divine life (1 Pt 1:4) entails 'just' a few more awesome things as well :)
I wonder if perhaps Lewis was intentionally very basic with MC in hopes that it be approachable and a springboard to other works that go deeper into what it means to be Christian and the responsibilities thereof. It’s unfortunate though, because it seems that, as you point out in your article, it’s “mere-ness” has likely engendered a sort of basic complacency among Christians, but I doubt that that was at all Lewis’s intention. That’s been my understanding of it at least, though to be fair it has been quite a while since I’ve read the book.
Yes, I think so as well -- although I guess I didn't make that quite clear in my first comment. It is certainly what I meant when I referred to this trend as "the abused excuse" of the Mere Christianity principle. I myself benefitted very deeply from reading MC and loved it. I still have a bunch of photos saved from whole pages of the book!