Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis

Using the distinction between "making" v. "begetting" that he delineated in Chapter 1, Lewis tackles the concept of the three-personal God: how can God have three identities? Is this symbolism, or is it real?

In Book 4, Lewis tackles the theological concept of the Trilogy. After making the case, in classic Lewis fashion, using straightforward analogies and metaphors, that theology is both practical and necessary, he begins his exploration of the Trilogy by examining the distinction between "making" and "begetting."

Chapter 12 continues Lewis's discussion of faith, addressing the second sense of the word-- the "higher sense" of what it means to reach the understanding that we experience utter failure in trying to keep God's laws by our own effort, and there is nothing we can offer God that is not his already.

In chapters 11 and 12, Lewis addresses what he describes as the two aspects of faith. The first, covered extensively in this chapter, refers to "the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods." Lewis examines the role that temptation plays. He also addresses our notions that God has set before us an exam that we can pass and effectively put him in our debt to hold up his end of a contractual bargain. He then lays the foundation of looking at the second aspect of faith, which he takes up in detail in the next chapter.

In this short chapter, Lewis builds the case that, far from being a ridiculous way of escaping reality, the Christian's focus on another world (Heaven) is the logical response to our earthly experiences.

In Book 3, Chapter 7, Lewis addressed the part of Charity we know as Forgiveness. In the current book, he revisits Charity in a broader sense, giving special attention to the difference between the role of our emotions and role of our will.

Lewis comes finally to the center of Christian morals: Pride. He makes this provocative statement: "Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind," and then spends the remainder of the chapter providing examples from our everyday lives to support it. He closes the chapter with some helpful clarification on what pride isn't.

There are so many things about forgiveness (which Lewis calls the most unpopular of the virtues) that make it hard, and Lewis addresses them all, reminding us that the only terms under which we are offered forgiveness are that we forgive others.

Continuing his consideration of Christian morality, Lewis, with some apology and trepidation as he acknowledged that, at the time of writing this book, he was a single man, turns to Christian marriage. He delves deeply into the role of "being in love" and the beauty of the natural process (which is not reflected in novels and movies) of moving through the thrill of "falling in love" to the quieter, deeper, and more deliberate state of being in love. He closes with comments on the relationship between the husband and wife in decision-making.

Lewis continues his consideration of morality by examining sexual morality. After a lengthy discussion, he closes with the reminder/admonition that "the center of Christian morality is not here," preparing the listener for future chapters on spiritual pleasures.