God in the DockJanuary 23, 2008 This collection of essays is probably the best introduction to the non-fiction works of C.S. Lewis. It provides an intellectual and spiritual challenge to any intelligent reader.
Random Theological Thoughts of LewisFebruary 16, 2006 2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Lewis was prolific thinker, reader and writer on theology and ethics, two of his real passions. Here collected some of them, 25 around plus some letters.
We find him commenting on wide range of subjects, from decline or rise of Christianity in England of his day to apologetics to capital punishment to the question of animals in heaven, or women as pastors.
If this hasn't sufficiently whetted your appetitie to read, likely you're not interested in such as Lewis was, and wouldn't enjoy this great read at all.
But if you're hooked, you'll be landed with gratification after pouring over selected or all these well done writings. As another reviewer so correctly pointed out, one truly gets more insight into the man's thoughts and personality from these. One that truly captivated this reviewer was: The Decline of Religion. Here he wrestles with significant topic, does empty pews suggest decline in Chrisianity? He has not illusions as so many do that the true church is visible, and flushes all prestensions away for those who have not the true motivator for pew occupance. Commenting on storm of Christian activity at Oxford for faith as sign of comeback of faith he comments: "The propagandist, the apologist, only represents John Baptist: the Preacher represents the Lord Himself. He will be sent--or else he will not. But unless he comes we mere Christian intellectuals will not effect very much. That does not mean we should down tools." Well said.
The more of these I read, the more I like the man. Would have been wonderful to sit by a fire as at Inklings gathering and talk over cigar or pipe and coffee and other libations. Yet, seems just like that in these remanants of his thinking.
Title TranslationOctober 28, 2005 5 out of 9 found this review helpful
"God in the Dock" is the British way of saying "God on Trial." In the UK, "the dock" is the physical enclosure in the courtroom where the defendant stands. Whether this collection of Lewis' short works is the best out there or not, it would certainly sell more copies if the title made sense in US English.
Another Classic Collection by the Ever-Relevant C.S. LewisJune 14, 2005 8 out of 9 found this review helpful
1. This book challenged and enlightened me. 2. I found much food for thought. 3. I felt again the pure genius of Lewis's insights and writings. 4. I refer to this book often. 5. I am always amazed at the relevancy of his messages. 6. This book is life-changing and powerful!
As Relevant Now as ThenSeptember 6, 2004 13 out of 13 found this review helpful
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.
