I was to write an answer to these three questions:—
What Christians Need Not Believe:
(In Mere Christianity, Lewis opens a section by explaining that Christians don’t think that all religions are just plain wrong, as he once thought when an atheist. I was asked to elaborate on how this aspect of Christianity affects Christians’ ability to communicate with peoples of other religions.)
I’m not sure how this affects the ability of a Christian to talk with those of other religions. On the purely literal level, the ability to speak a language and therefore communicate ideas is neither elevated nor denigrated by either belief or disbelief in the principle Lewis here espouses. And in all actuality, it seems primarily a conception shared by most worldviews: Even in “Mere Christianity,” Lewis describes the belief that other worldviews are primarily wrong as one associated with the atheistic (24). As such, I do not see how the idea that “the main point in all religions of the whole world is simply one huge mistake” (24) has any real association with Christianity, and therefore cannot see how the counter narrative, mainly that “even the queerest [religions] contain at least some hint of the truth” (24) changes Christianity in any way.
Yet taking the concept as merely an aspect of Christianity, even if it be one common to many other religions, I do not concede its absence as changing Christianity as regards communication. Atheists communicate their ideas and beliefs, and most seem to hold to the idea that most of the world is not merely wrong, but almost entirely wrong.
A Fighting Religion:
(In Mere Christianity, Lewis describes Christianity as a fighting religion. I was asked to elaborate upon the term.)
This seems a self-evident remark, but given the propensity of some to equate Jesus’ teachings to a progressive pacifist philosophy, there is, perhaps, a need for clarification. It does not mean that Christians ought to convert others by acts or threats of violence. Christianity is a fighting religion not in that it calls for literal fighting—and if Christians should ever fight is a point of contention—but in its unwillingness to bend. Christ did not twiddle his thumbs and say, “Oh, ah” sheepishly. He taught with authority. Christianity is a fighting religion in the realm of religion. Lewis makes this declaration on page twenty-five after using what some might mistake for mere vulgarity, that is, Lewis described certain aspects of pantheism as “damned nonsense.” Christianity is a fighting religion in that it says some things are good and some bad, some blessed and some damned. And yet still, I have not gotten to the heart of the matter. Christianity is a fighting religion in that Christians are to be, as Lewis describes them, resistance fighters within “occupied territory” (29).
Grief Challenged Belief:
(In A Grief Observed, Lewis writes a semi-journal of his grieving process after the death of his wife. I was asked to elaborate upon how his faith was challenged.)
My answers to these three questions I have separated into sections as I cannot see any connections among them besides the basic ones of authorship and literature. Yet this one is set apart from the other two by a further step: Not only is it from another book, it is a book not primarily dealing with reason but with experiential knowledge, a book wherein intuition comes against reason, where doubt is set against faith.
I’m tempted to answer that the book itself is both that question and its answer rolled into one. How is any belief challenged? It is challenged in that cold separation when God’s “door [is] slammed in your face” (A Grief Observed 6). Lewis believed in an afterlife and yet found that belief less trustworthy when it wasn’t just a stranger or friend dead, but his beloved, his lover, gone.
Tale Told 
“Atheists communicate their ideas and beliefs, and most seem to hold to the idea that most of the world is not merely wrong, but almost entirely wrong.” I do wonder if you’ve actually communicated with an atheist. What do you mean by this claim, that atheists find most of the world wrong,? What do we find wrong? And what do we find “entirely wrong”?
I’ve read a lot of C.S. Lewis, as a Christian and as an atheist. I am curious on what you think about his advice to lie to potential Christians about the disagreements in Christianity regarding which version is the right one.
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Atheists communicate their ideas and beliefs:
Most atheists have the capacity of reason and speech.
Most seem to hold to the idea that most of the world is not merely wrong, but almost entirely wrong:
That is, intrinsic to the denial of a spiritual reality, atheists stand against the majority of humanity. The atheist position is that the non-atheist is ‘entirely’ wrong in the very idea of a spiritual world, as opposed to being ‘merely’ wrong on some point regarding said world.
Lying to prospective Christians:
I assume you are referencing this statement: “Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is His only Son.”
Your description of Lewis’ position is either stupid or disingenuous. In Lewis’ preface to Mere Christianity, he makes clear he is not trying to say whether any branch of Christianity is more Christian than another, the presenting of a ‘mere’ Christianity being the entire point of the book, a Christianity in common among the differing denominations. Furthermore, Lewis never intimated that one should hide, or lie about, the different forms of Christianity. He is drawing focus on the actual point, sharing the gospel, remarking that the differences should be a secondary matter, not in the forefront.
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It’s pretty funny that you think you are so terribly clever in making the false statement that “most” atheist have the capacity for reason and speech. Unfortunately for you, we all do, including those whom you get upset about. To try to dehumanize people is often attempted by Christians.
You are using an appeal to popularity, Dr. Hopefully you understand that no matter how many people might believe something, that doesn’t make it true. In that theists don’t agree about this “spiritual world”, including the Christian sects, and all insist that each other is wrong, there is no reason to think that any of you is correct. Add to this the fact that there has been no evidence presented for a “spiritual world” despite many claims of this world influencing ours, and it comes down to that the “majority of humanity” are simply wrong. However, if you would like to show that this spiritual world exists, I’d be happy to know how you’ve come to this conclusion.
Yes, that is indeed the advice that C.S. Lewis gives to Christians, to lie by omission. Having been a Christian, Presbyterian sect, I know first hand about the divisions and hatred between Christian sects. Anti-Catholic nonsense was part of my childhood. To lie to someone and try to present Christianity as perfect with no murderous hatreds between who has the “right” version is pathetic and intentional. Considering that the bible says that no lies should be told, it seems that Christians ignore it when convenient.
You try to claim that my quote of Lewis is “stupid or disingenuous”. That’s quite a lie on your part again, Doctor. Let me show how: if I said “our divisions about how evolution works should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that “x” theory is the only one.” Now, in this case, you would take a fit and accuse evolutionary scientists of lying to Christians by trying to hide the fact that they don’t agree. So, Doctor, Lewis did indeed advise people to hide and lie about the different forms of Christianity. The differences are not a “secondary matter” at all, especially when you all don’t agree on how one is saved.
Lewis tries to claim that there is “one” Christianity, and anyone who has been a Christian, knows that is not the case at all. Christians don’t agree on what their god wants, how to be saved, how to interpret the bible, etc. There is no “mere” Christianity. If there were, then we wouldn’t have thousands of sects all clamoring that they and only they have the one true way to worship this god, and all having separate churches and all trying to convert each other. My church sent missionaries to Catholic majority countries because they were sure that those Christians weren’t the “right” type of Christians.
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