The Grand Miracle: And Other Selected Essays on Theology and Ethics from God in the Dock

By C.S. Lewis

Book Overview

"Captivating reading that builds the faith while it fills the mind with greatness."--Sherwood Wirt, former editor, DECISION Magazine One of this century's greatest writers of fact, fiction, and fantasy explores, in utterly beautiful terms, questions of faith in the modern world: * On the experience of miracles * On silence and religious belief * On the assumed conflict between work and prayer * On the error of trying to lead "a good life" without Christ * On the necessity of dogma to religion * On the dangers of national repentance * On the commercialization of Christmas . . . and more "The searching mind and the poetic spirit of C.S. Lewis are readily evident in this collection of essays edited by his one-time secretary, Walter Hopper. Here the reader finds the tough-mind polemicist relishing the debate; here too the kindly teacher explaining a complex abstraction by means of clarifying analogies; here the public speaker addressing his varied audience with all the humility and grace of a man who knows how much more remains to be unknown."-- The New York Times Book Review

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345336585
• ISBN13: 9780345336583
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

A Compilation

As a fan of Jack Lewis I was somewhat disappointed that this collection didn't live up to some of his other works. It should be noted that there are a few good insights to be found here, but not nearly what one would expect when compared to Lewis's other books. Furthermore, this is a posthumous collection that was edited from various sources including articles, speeches, interviews, which explains some of the reason for it being a departure from traditional Lewis work. I found the essay, "God in the Dock" to be helpful in that he argues for making the truths of the Scriptures understandable to people in the language to which they're accustomed. He explains, "The popular English language, then, simply has to be learned by him who would preach to the English: just as a missionary learns Bantu before preaching to the Bantus" (p. 149).Chapter 24 is the transcript of an interview Lewis did with Sherwood E. Wirt. It contains a pithy quote on writing. Lewis says "Writing comes as a result of a very strong impulse, and when it does come, I for one must get it out" (p. 151).Lewis addresses the issue of the preisthood of all believers by observing "...a sacred calling is not limited to ecclesiastical functions. The man who is weeding a field of turnips is also serving God" (p. 157).I had difficulty deciding whether to give this book a 3 or 4 rating. The way I arrived at my decision was: compared to other Lewis writings it's a 3, compared to most other communicators it's a 4. As a result I went with the latter.

For those who thought "god," not "God"

God is not cool because He's not seen as God. He's not seen as incredible and yet always near. The Grand Miracle knocks the wall down and helps the reader to think of God as the most astounding and needed being you will ever encounter--and there's not a bit of academic bilge anywhere in this book. Pour a cup of tea and read till you're crying.