God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics

by C.S. Lewis and C. S. Lewis. Walter Hooper (Editor)

Book Overview

"C. S. Lewis struck me as the most thoroughly converted man I ever met," observes Walter Hooper in this book's preface. "His whole vision of life was such that the natural and the supernatural seemed... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802808689
• ISBN13: 9780802808684
• Release Date: March 1972
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 346 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Christian Apolegetic Essays from the Master of the 20th Century

The long-time friend and for some years personal secretary of C.S. Lewis has gathered and edited this anthology of essays. Written over a 24 year period and almost all published in book form here for the first time (one never published anywhere before). They range from popular pieces written for newspapers to more learned defenses of the faith. All are serious, but not "gloomy." Good reading for those who really want to know their Lewis!

As Relevant Now as Then

C.S. Lewis is known for being one of the best apologists (and amateur theologians) of our day. Primarily, Lewis is a writer; he knows how to use words to draw the reader in, and then humbly offers his insights on whatever topic is at hand. It is this humility that I think makes him so accessible - he talks about what he knows and doesn't presume to be an authority over anyone. About GOD IN THE DOCK specifically, this is a collection of his letters, columns, and speeches. Most are short (4-10 pages) reflections on something he has encountered recently, from animal-rights protestations to dogma within the church to attempts to debunk myth to Christmas. Really, though, each one of these essays is about modernism. Modernism is the arch-enemy to Lewis - in its materialism, rationalism, statism and "groupism", it denies the validity of opposing systems of thought. Miracles are definitively ruled because they can't be reproduced in a lab (which Lewis argues is precisely why they are "miraculous" in the first place." Christian beliefs are discarded because they are similar to other "primitve" myths; Lewis argues that if God is real and we are made in His image, it makes sense that we would have common motifs in how we think about Him. The essays in GOD IN THE DOCK are mostly designed to show the fallacies in people's thinking. They start with an observation, continue to describe the orthodox Christian point of view, point out something which the reader already knows to be true, and then shows that it makes more sense in the context of orthodox thought rather than modernist thought. What I found most interesting was that the same problems that Lewis wrestled with in his day are the same ones that Americans face today! I'm not sure if this proves that history repeats itself or if America is just 50 years behind England. Either way, Lewis' predictions for the future if his society continued to follow the modernist path were vindicated (if anything, he underestimated the degree to which society would degenerate). In summary, C.S. Lewis was a humble and insightful man whose essays cover a wide gamut of topics. Each essay is short, about a 15 minute read, which is a comfortable way to wind down the day. I think that he very correctly evaluated the danger that modernism poses to humanity. Finally, his essay topics are very relevant to Americans whose country is now hashing outt he same issues that Lewis' nation did fifty years ago.

A profound, mind-blowing masterpeice of theology

After years of struggling with the modern church's lack of appetite for the intellectual, I finally found an author who wasn't afraid to ask the hard questions that plague Christians and non-Christians alike: > Should we pray, and [why] does it work?<br>> Why would God want to bother with a tiny, insignificant planet in the universe? <br>> Has science negated God?<br>> Why should anyone go to church?<br>...and many more challenging topics in this complilation of essays written over CS Lewis's lifetime.<br> The amazing thing about this book is he doesn't just ask the hard questions--he has well thought out, mind-blowing answers as well, backed up by theologians, scientists, the Socratic method, and of course, the Bible. The essays may have been written in the 1940s and 50s, but they have lost none of their relevance or power in today's world.<br> As a Christian, this book has taken me to a whole new depth of understanding about what I believe. As a thinking person, it challenged me to look at my motivations for everything I do. For example: Why do I try to be a good person? Why is "good" better than "bad"?<br> I would recommend this book to any Christian with a thirst for deeper understanding of Christian theology. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is interested in what being a Christian REALLY means at the foundation, not what modern culture has tried to make it mean.<br> Some people may have trouble reading this book --it is definitely not light reading. Lewis was an English professor at Cambridge, and it shows in his dense writing and complex subject matter. He frequently quotes Latin and from sources and authors only a literature scholar would know of. However, the editor does a good job in translating and citing references where appropriate.<br> It is not enough to say that I have been profoundly moved and changed by this book. Definitely, definitely read it.

My absolute Favorite Book of Lewis

This book is a collection of 48 out-of-print essays and letters dealing with general apologetics, ethics and morality, Christian philosophy and social commentary. This is a treasure for the Lewis fan. The title of the book refers to the dock, or defendants box, in a British courtroom, and might be rendered in our vernacular as God on Trial, a reference to the strong apologetic theme that runs throughout. This book has more unique and seminal ideas per page than any book I know, even others by Lewis. It is candy for the Mind of the Christian. For example, in "On the Reading Old Books" Lewis recommends old books as an antidote to the intellectual fads of our times (the zeitgeist). In "Dogma & the Universe," Lewis explains why we need not be concerned with the popular idea that Biblical Christianity is rendered irrelevant in a scientific age. In "The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment" we see clearly the critical importance of understanding why we punish criminals. Because of the diversity of ideas, this book is a little harder reading than some of his books--until one matures into Lewis's way of thinking--then it is a shear joy. I have read it 3-4 times and it blows me away every time.

Theological tour de force!

If Indiana Jones was a theologian, this would be the type of book he would write. This book is a collection of essays and speeches on various topics, such as evolution, miracles, absolute values, et cetera! It provides a good introduction to Clivian thought.Despite having died in 1963, Lewis still remains relevant. He has that wonderful blend of velvet and steel, of logic and humor, that keeps us interested. Even if you are not Anglican, as I am, you still appreciate his logic, arguments, and reasoning.Lewis never takes "the ostrich approach" to difficult questions like so man Christians. he doesn't use his faith as a security blanket, or a doge, or a trump card. And He has NEVER checked his brain in at the door! I really believe that many Christians use the "Ostrich Technique" as a cover for laziness. they prefer Sports Center, or shopping to the knuckle-work of actually understanding what we believe, and where we are going.Lewis does none of this. He takes the questions head-on and provides a reason for belive. Remember, religion is not just an affair of the heart, but also of the mind. Remember, God invented brains. God invented logic!