God in the Dock

God in the Dock
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God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics

Information on God in the Dock from the publisher:

"Lewis struck me as the most thoroughly converted man I ever met," observes Walter Hooper in the preface to this collection of essays by C. S. Lewis. "His whole vision of life was such that the natural and the supernatural seemed inseparably combined." It is precisely this pervasive Christianity which is demonstrated in the 48 essays comprising God in the Dock. Here Lewis addresses himself both to theological questions and to those which Hooper terms "semi-theological," or ethical. But whether he is discussing "Evil and God," "Miracles," "The Decline of Religion," or "The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment," his insight and observations are thoroughly and profoundly Christian. Drawn from a variety of sources, the essays were designed to meet a variety of needs, and among other accomplishments they serve to illustrate the many different angles from which we are able to view the Christian religion. They range from relatively popular pieces written for newspapers to more learned defenses of the faith which first appeared in The Socratic Digest. Characterized by Lewis's honesty and realism, his insight and conviction, and above all his thoroughgoing commitments to Christianity, these essays make God in the Dock very much a book for our time.

Description of C. S. Lewis, author of God in the Dock:

Lewis, who considered himself a layman writing for other laypeople, had a unique ability to make the essential truths of Christianity understandable to any audience. His amazing gift for communication made him one of the most well-read and effective Christian apologists of the twentieth century. God in the Dock is one of the best looks at the broad spectrum of Lewis' apologetic efforts, as it is a compilation of 48 essays and 12 letters on topics as varied as science and Christianity, religion, Christmas, and more.Editor Walter Hooper, a friend and colleague of Lewis, has done an incredible job in pulling together numerous essays and letters never before published in book form. He has even found (and included) one essay which has never been published before. The result is a fascinating amalgamation of works that are eminently readable and enjoyable. Depending on the audience and context, Lewis' style ranges from scholarly to streetwise, and he effortlessly adapts his style to whatever audience he may be speaking to. Despite the range of topics and styles, these essays present an articulate cohesiveness.This book is divided into four sections. Section one contains essays that are considered purely theological, including "Christian Apologetics," "Myth Become Fact," "The Trouble with 'X'..." and many others. Section two contains essays which are, in the words of Hooper, "semi-theological," including "Dangers of National Repentance," "On the Reading of Old Books," "God in the Dock" and others. Section three is primarily ethical essays, including "First and Second Things," "The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment," "Xmas and Christmas" and others. Section four includes 12 of Lewis' letters, in the order they were published in various publications. Eminently practical, and always focused on the reality of living Christianity well, God in the Dock stands as one of the best defenses of Christianity made by Lewis. Its broad spectrum shows Lewis to be, as Hooper states in the preface, "the most thoroughly converted man I have ever met," for there was no aspect of Lewis' life that was untouched by his Christian faith. This collection of essays and letters can help make that true of your life as well.