Parker's Pensées

chevron_right

Ep. 74 - The Full Story of Mere Christianity w/Dr. Jerry Root

Mar 8, 2021

Guest

Jerry Root

Dr. Jerry Root, a renowned C.S. Lewis scholar and Wheaton College professor, dives deep into 'Mere Christianity.' He discusses its origins during WWII, aiming to uplift spirits through core Christian tenets. Jerry highlights its historical impact, appealing to both believers and skeptics alike. The conversation also touches on moral law and the complexities of faith, exploring themes of love, community, and the Trinity in light of Lewis's teachings. This engaging dialogue offers insights into how Lewis's work continues to resonate today.

01:07:44

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Origin And Ecumenical Aim

Mere Christianity grew from WWII BBC broadcasts meant to address England's spiritual need.
Lewis aimed for a center Christian message acceptable to Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants.

insights

INSIGHT

Broadcast's Biblical Roots

The word 'broadcast' was chosen from the biblical image of a sower casting seed.
BBC founder John Reith used that seed image to name transmissions 'broadcast'.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

From Live Talks To Bestselling Book

Mere Christianity's individual pamphlets sold rapidly and were later combined into a single volume in 1952.
Lewis expected publication and shaped broadcasts with the book form in mind.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Exploring the Origins of 'Mere Christianity' During Wartime

01:44 • 3min

chevron_right

The Etymology of 'Broadcast' and Its Biblical Roots

04:32 • 2min

chevron_right

The Legacy of 'Mere Christianity'

06:39 • 15min

chevron_right

Exploring C.S. Lewis's Moral Landscape

21:19 • 28min

chevron_right

The Intersection of Love and Charity

49:01 • 7min

chevron_right

C.S. Lewis and the Trinity: Identity in Community

56:00 • 12min

chevron_right

Prizing the Imagination of C.S. Lewis

string

Mark Neal

Jerry Root

C. S. Lewis at the Bbc

Justin Phillips

#1044

• Mentioned in 23 episodes

The consolation of philosophy

Boethius

Boethius's 'Consolation of Philosophy' is a philosophical treatise written while he awaited execution. The work explores themes of fortune, adversity, and the nature of good and evil. Through a dialogue between Boethius and Lady Philosophy, the text examines the relationship between God and the world, grappling with questions of divine providence and human suffering. It offers a blend of philosophical and theological perspectives, providing solace and insight into the challenges of life. The book remains a significant work in the history of philosophy and theology.

#24903

Owen Barfield on C. S. Lewis

Owen Barfield

#328

• Mentioned in 54 episodes

The abolition of man

C.S. Lewis

In 'The Abolition of Man', C.S. Lewis delivers a defense of objective value and natural law, originating from his Riddell Memorial Lectures at the University of Durham in 1943. Lewis argues that education should be conducted within the context of moral law and objective values, which he terms the 'Tao'. He criticizes modern attempts to debunk these values, warning that such actions could lead to a dehumanization of society, resulting in what he calls 'Men without Chests' – individuals whose emotions have not been trained to conform to reason. The book emphasizes the universal nature of traditional moralities across different cultures and warns against the dangers of moral relativism and the reduction of human beings to mere objects of scientific analysis.

#2450

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

The Discarded Image

Stratford Caldecott

#1540

• Mentioned in 18 episodes

Surprised by Joy

C.S. Lewis

Neglected C. S. Lewis

Mark Neal

Jerry Root

#1059

• Mentioned in 23 episodes

The Problem of Pain

C.S. Lewis

In 'The Problem of Pain', C.S. Lewis addresses the age-old question of how a good and all-powerful God can permit pain and suffering. Lewis argues that human suffering is a consequence of the existence of evil and free will, and that God uses suffering as a tool to draw us nearer to Him. He categorizes pain as both physical and emotional, serving as a warning signal that alerts us to potential harm and compels us to make necessary changes. Lewis also discusses the Fall of Man and how it led to chaos and disaster, emphasizing that God's goodness is not negated by suffering but rather evidenced through His merciful intervention. The book concludes by reassuring that God's wisdom is infinitely superior to ours and that pain eventually leads us back to a loving relationship with our Creator.

#187

• Mentioned in 77 episodes

The Screwtape Letters

C.S. Lewis

The Screwtape Letters is a Christian apologetic novel written in a satirical, epistolary style. It consists of 31 letters from Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below' (the Devil), to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon tasked with securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The letters provide advice on various methods of undermining God's influence and promoting abandonment of God, while offering insights into human nature and the Bible. The book is a profound and striking narrative on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil, highlighting the subtle forms of sin such as vanity, pride, and distraction that can lead humans away from God.

#62

• Mentioned in 151 episodes

Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis

In 'Mere Christianity', C.S. Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology. The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity. Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage. The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style.

In this episode of the Parker's Pensées Podcast, I'm joined once more by my friend, mentor, and C.S. Lewis scholar, Dr. Jerry Root. Jerry gives us the full story of Mere Christianity, its origins and what Lewis intended by it. Jerry is the man. If you like this episode then check out our previous episode on his book, the Neglected C.S. Lewis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x6q6afsDUA&t=15s

If you like this podcast, then support it on Patreon for $1, $3, or $5 a month. Any amount helps, and for $5 you get a Parker's Pensées sticker and instant access to all the episode as I record them instead of waiting for their release date. Check it out here:

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parkers_pensees

If you want to give a one-time gift, you can give at my Paypal:

https://paypal.me/ParkersPensees?locale.x=en_US

Check out my merchandise at my Teespring store: https://teespring.com/stores/parkers-penses-merch

Check out my blog posts: https://parkersettecase.com/

Check out my Parker's Pensées YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYbTRurpFP5q4TpDD_P2JDA

Check out my other YouTube channel on my frogs and turtles: https://www.youtube.com/c/ParkerSettecase

Check me out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/trendsettercase

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkers_pensees/

Time Is Running by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6203-time-is-running

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books