Merely Christian

C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity was published 65 years ago. Why is it one of the "best Christian books of all time," according to one survey?

Religious books are big business. In the United States, sales revenue has recently been around $500 million per year.

About 50 million religious books are sold each year, both fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary. Perhaps you'll find one waiting for you under your Christmas tree. But with so many books to choose from, how do you know which ones have value? Which ones are bad, which ones are good and which ones are great? What would you say is the best Christian book of all time?

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship tried to figure this out a few years ago. Their Emerging Scholars Network had a "Best Christian Book of All Time Tournament," and the final four turned out to be:

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

Confessions by Saint Augustine.

In the end, Confessions edged out Mere Christianity for the top spot, the "Best Christian Book of All Time." But it is Lewis' book that we want to look at...