Miracles

This book lacks the clarity and hearty joy of "Mere Christianity" and the fun of "The screwtape letters" and can feel like heavy going - particulary when Lewis goes on at length to prove the inherent contradictions in naturalism.

For me, the middle to end of the book was best. Lewis is fascinating when he discusses Christ as "Corn King", the prodigality of nature in consuming itself and the symbiotic relationship of all living things. Death comes from the fruit of the tree and yet, from the side of Christ, hanging on the wood (tree) of the cross, flows the blood (foreshadowing the wine of the Eucharist, which become his blood) of the new covenant. His discussion of Providence and the effects of prayer in respect of past events (a thought that had struck me two years ago) resonates deeply. There is a lot in the book - it is as if Lewis is really on to something about the relationship between nature and supernature - a new way of seeing things, which is not leavened with the naturalistic and pseudo-rationalism of the enlightenment.

One of Lewis' best book! (7/8 people found this helpful)

My brain goes on and on while reading this book. With logic and rational thought, C.S. Lewis examine and defend miracles from the gospels. He does this brilliantly and the work is very persuading.

A very interesting book, a very interesting writer, a very interesting subject, a very interesting book.

Finding Reason in Miracles (37/41 people found this helpful)

This is wonderfully written book of apologetics. The best writing grows not necessarily out of right thinking, but out of clear thinking. You may not agree with its central thesis or the arguments expertly outlined and colourfully illustrated in the first half of the book, but if you, like me, get an almost sensual pleasure from good writing and clear thinking then you will certainly get your fix from this book. That is the first thing to say.

If you are reading this then you have directed your eyes to this page to read these lines. Whether you will find yourself conducive to Lewis' reasoning depends on whether you think my observation above is possibly a miracle. That is, whether you believe in free will. The very thought process and resulting choice that led you to read these lines is a product of your mind. If you think your mind is equivalent to your brain then you are a machine and I would ask you not to read on: you cannot understand what I have to say: please desist. But if you have been following my argument so far then I think you will have to admit that your mind is something quite special; it possesses reason. Reason is the divine spark in us according to Lewis, because it is what makes the difference between man and brute a difference of kind and not degree. Nature does not explain itself, it just is. Through physical science man has discovered some of the laws of nature, some of 'how's'. But physical science will never give you answers to the 'why' question, the question of meaning. And yet this question is implicit in the human mind, in reason- finding reasons, not just explanations, but justifications as well. It is this basic fact of human spirituality that corresponds directly to a reality according to Lewis: the supernatural ground of the natural, the first cause, the unmoved mover and so on.

If you accept all this as reasonable, if you find it meaningful, then you will enjoy the second half of the book, which discusses some of the Christian miracles. This work is not an attempt to verify miracles. It is simply a groundwork intended to clear the mind of pre-reflective prejudices, to allow room for the possibility of miracles. It serves its purpose admirably in this respect. Even if you are not convinced that miracles have happened you will be convinced at least that they are just as rational as not. This work broadens the mind.

Easy to read and still relevant (38/38 people found this helpful)

This book is, as with many of CS Lewis's works, much-loved by many. For those sceptical about the possibility of miracles, Lewis surveys deep philosophical territory, but in a way that non-philosophers can understand: trudging through the self-contradictions of Naturalism to set the ground for his argument, and then tackling the arguments of thinkers like Hume, he comes to a satisfying conclusion.

Don't think you won't understand it- anyone who has read Lewis before will appreciate his skill at communicating difficult concepts to the layman. His arguments, I think, are still relevant today; naturalism and its (alleged) self-contradictions are still a source of much debate in the philosophical world.

Quite frankly, I would recommend this to anyone. For Christians, as it will help them think through their faith more deeply and clearly; but I think everyone will enjoy Lewis's style and clarity of argument.

Superb discussion about the possibility of miracles (7/9 people found this helpful)

A superb book that discusses the philosophical arguments about miracles and the possibility of the supernatural occurring in the natural world. A bit difficult in parts for the general reader to follow (for whom the book was written), hence the rating of 9 rather than 10. Still, a fine work of apologetics.

C. S. Lewis

Reader Reviews:

Not easy going but some excellent insights (0/0 people found this helpful)

One of Lewis' best book! (7/8 people found this helpful)

Finding Reason in Miracles (37/41 people found this helpful)

Easy to read and still relevant (38/38 people found this helpful)

Superb discussion about the possibility of miracles (7/9 people found this helpful)

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