Welcome to Tumnus’s Book Shelf where we review any and all books related to The Chronicles of Narnia and CS Lewis! For today’s book we will be covering CS Lewis’s The Weight of Glory.
Title of Book Weight of Glory
Author of Book : CS Lewis
Publisher: Harper One
ISBN-10: 0060653205
ISBN-13: 978-0060653200
Summary of the Book:
The Weight of Glory collects nine different sermons or lectures given by CS Lewis. Some of things Lewis addressess are the importance of theology in “Is Theology Poetry?”, examining what true glory is in “The Weight of Glory” ( for which this collection is named for), and showing how forgiveness of sins is different from excusing them in “On Forgiveness”. Many more insights lie in store in for readers to discover in this collection.
Review of the Book:
Besides being a celebrated author of science fiction and fantasy, as well a noted lay theologian, CS Lewis was also a prominent speaker. Many of his essays were actually the transcripts of speeches or sermons he gave. Weight of Glory is one such book that collects these sermons and addresses that he gave. This work is not as well known or quoted as some of the rest of Lewis’s non-fiction like Mere Christianity, Miracles or Problem of Pain, but it continues to show the same careful levels of insight, intellect and deep faith that are present in the other “major works”.
This of course means that they are not really “essays” in the strict sense as much as his transcripts for his speeches. Some allusions and points he made may be lost on modern readers. To Lewis’s contemporaries he was addressing them in a very typical manner of the day. Now, he seems somewhat removed from us, especially when he quotes things like Tolstoy or other classical works, which many modern speakers seldom attempt.
Because of this, their is no linear theme in Weight of Glory. Where as his other works such as Mere Christianity, dealt with specific areas of Christian doctrine, or The Four Loves deals with love, Weight of Glory deals with various topics. In Weight of Glory the essays can deal with any subject , ranging from the topics of forgiveness and theology, to even a more politically based essay on pacifism.
This is actually an advantage of the book, as readers do not have to read the essays in the order they appear and can skip around much easier. Lewis is not trying to build up any arguments in this book. While at times he certainly does deal with similar topics to those he addressed in other works, these essays get right to the point with a thesis, supporting claims, and conclusion.
Some things he talks about may be difficult for some readers to swallow. His essay on pacifism, in particular can be hard for many to handle, especially when he addresses “turning the other cheek“ in “Why I Am Not a Pacifist”. While he does not refute the command of Jesus to “turn the other cheek” , he instead looks at what it really means and essentially dismisses any ideas of Christians needing to be doormats.
Since these essays are written to be read, Lewis’s voice shows up once again. One almost wishes for full audio copies of these, just to hear him present them as he originally intended them to be. None the less, his insights and his wit all show up on page just as easily as they would if one were to have heard the addresses themselves. His words in turn are just as important today as when he first delivered them. So sit back, pick up the Weight of Glory, and just picture yourself in a church in England. The sermon is just about to start, and today we are fortunate to have it given by CS Lewis. I am sure you will learn a lot from what he has to say.
Five out of Five shields.
I’ve found this book at a Christian library at the beginning of my vacation, and it has been a great company through all these weeks. I’m not finished yet, as I’m trying to read each essay at least twice (they have lots to offer, and only one reading can miss it so easily). It’s absolutely worth it, I’d recommend it to anyone. And I’ve been sharing what I’ve read in it with lots of people! 🙂
I just disagree with your point that “Now, he seems somewhat removed from us, especially when he quotes things like Tolstoy or other classical works, which many modern speakers seldom attempt”. His quoting of a maybe unfamiliar author is not enough to lose his point or make it less appealing at all.
By the way, I happen to have read Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, that Lewis quotes, one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. This quote was actually one of the reasons (along with the book and essay’s titles) I chose to buy that book over other of Lewis’ titles (yes, I buy books mostly for odd reasons).