Mere Christianity - Bk 2 - Ch 2 - The Invasion

Lewis gave this talk over the BBC on Jan. 18, 1942.  It was the second talk in the second set of five talks he delivered.  It simply became "2" when it was later published as "What Christians Believe" ("The Case for Christianity" in America).  When "Mere Christianity was compiled in 1952, it became "The Invasion" as Chapter 2 in Book 2.

Lewis begins by explaining that reality betrays the simple explanations we tend to want to give things.  Thus, if you want to find out what is really happening, you must be prepared for something that may turn out difficult and somewhat odd.  So many people give a version of Christianity suitable for a child - and then attack that.  But if you try to explain how Christianity - how actual Christian doctrine - really explains such things, those same people often complain you are making it too complicated - and that God would have made it much more simpler.

So, for example, we all know the universe has much in it, and about it, that is obviously bad.  How do we explain that?  Lewis boils down the answers to two.  The Christian view holds that a good world has gone bad, but retains a memory what it ought to be.

Dualism holds there are two equal powers behind everything - one good - the other bad - which battle it out in the universe in endless warfare.

However, Lewis then asks dualism - how do we know which power is good and which bad, unless we admit to a third thing over and above them, a standard, law, or rule of good?  If no third thing exists, then all discussion of good or bad gets reduced to personal preference.  Yet, as soon as we admit of such a third thing, we not only negate dualism, we begin to talk about the real God.

Lewis admits Christianity approaches closer to dualism than most people think.  The New Testament talks about a Dark Power behind sin, disease, and death.  However, Christianity asserts this Dark Power was created by God as something good who went terribly wrong - which left the universe at war - a civil war - where we find ourselves in rebel occupied territory.  The rightful king has landed in disguise in this enemy occupied territory, and calls us to engage in sabotage.  When we go to church, we listen in on the secret broadcasts from our friends.  So the enemy worries when we gather there at church.

Lewis firmly believes in the devil, though he is not sure if the devil has hoofs and horns, or otherwise knows about the devil's personal appearance.  For those who want to know the devil better, Lewis replies, "Don't worry.  If you really want to know, you will.  Whether you'll like it when you do is another question."

Bk. 2 - Ch. 1 - The Rival Conceptions of God

Bk 3 Ch 3 - The Shocking Alternatives

Overview