Lewis, Greene and Co.

I have just finished reading my first two C.S. Lewis books: The Screwtape Letters and The Problem of Pain. His writing was recommended for its wit and clarity and it did not disappoint on either counts. He explores his topics from a kind of generic Christian perspective, which works very well in that it allows him to stick to the subject and doctrine at hand (no temptation to universalism) without seeming exclusive in any sense (denominations are never mentioned). Indeed there is no reason to be more specific; after reading these books, one realizes that the most important questions often have nothing to do with the details we love to argue over.

A couple of suggestions then, if I may. I believe that The Screwtape Letters should be read as a book of short meditations, perhaps one per night before bed. His task is to wittily point out human weaknesses from the perspective of a tempter (an assistant to "Our Father Below") and he accomplishes it so well that if you read too many letters at once, you may be overwhelmed by the incisiveness and left a little despondent. Human weaknesses are so great that having too many enumerated in one sitting feels more like an assault than a lesson. I wish I had taken the time to reflect on each instead of plowing through half the book in one night.

My only complaint with The Problem of Pain is that he did not directly address the question that led me to pick up the book, the question posed by Ivan Karamazov--how can the suffering of innocent children be explained? I suppose he did speak to this question indirectly but I was hoping that he would take a chapter to address it head on since it is a rather famous problem. It certainly did not slip through the cracks, it just wasn't essential to the focus of the book. Other than this problem of expectations, I was very impressed with the clarity of his explanation and encouraged by his words.

My next reading comes from an author who I have never intended to read but who has been recommended from every angle. I finally gave in and decided to start reading Graham Greene when The Power and the Glory arrived in the mail (without my asking for it). I don't know much of twentieth century fiction or of the author so I have no idea what to expect. Perhaps this is for the best.

But the real question is, will I ever get to the Kierkegaard? Yes, right after this.