C.S. Lewis Explores Vice and Virtue

by Gerard Reed

"A recovery of the old sense of sin is essential to Christianity. Christ takes it for granted that men are bad. Until we really feel this assumption of His to be true, though we are part of the world He came to save, we are not part of the audience to whom His words are addressed." --C.S. Lewis. Pride...envy...anger...lust...gluttony...sloth...avarice... C.S. Lewis, often called the grandfather of evangelical writers, is well known for the impact his books made on a secular society as well as in Christian circles. Not surprisingly, he had something to say about these seven deadly sins. The seven virtues -- prudence, courage, justice, temperance, faith, hope, love -- were portrayed in his writings as well. Gerard Reed, Ph.D., explores Lewis's thoughts on vice and virtue as expressed in his writings. Although Lewis never wrote afull-fledged ethical treatise on the seven deadly sins and seven virtures, Reed draws upon Lewis's words in timeless classics such as Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, Surprised by Joy, and others, and also draws upon thinkers Lewis used, such as Aristotle and Aquinas. Through Lewis's words, Reed points us to a deeper relationship with God and with our world.

168 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2001

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great study on Lewis's work organized around the seven deadly sins and the seven virtues. The author has a solid grasp of the main Lewisian corpus (not many quotes from his letters, though) and interacts with classical authors (Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas) as well. I was occasionally annoyed by the author's tendency to pick up the bullhorn for particular political issues, even though I sometimes agreed with his take. It was too preachy in those moments, though. But, because the book did what I hoped, namely, summarized much of Lewis's thinking around the seven deadly sins and seven virtues, I'll still give it four stars.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. Lewis writings and books are as relevant today as when he wrote them.
This book has taken samples of his writings and given us a dictionary of
how to live a good life.

[Jennifer Parent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great exploration of ideas written by Lewis but a little laborious to read.

[Mark W. Boniface · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It brings the wisdom of CS Lewis to offer an understanding of the nature of the seven deadly sins and the seven cardinal virtues. This book has impacted my life.