A Fantastic Conceptualization of Heaven and Hell

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	• The Great Divorce C. S. Lewis HarperOne, 2001 - 160 pages average customer review:based on 210 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Lewis' visit to Heaven and Hell

I'm not quite sure what I had in mind when I picked this book up, but a full length analogical story definitely was not in my mind when I started. But that really didn't matter, because that's exactly what Lewis wrote in "The Great Divorce".

In it, Lewis used a rather interesting vision of what heaven and hell are (not) like. I say "(not) like" because Lewis admits in his introduction that this was intended from the first to be a moral story, not an exploration of what might be. He explains his purpose in a clarity that only a writer of his caliber can explain - and I highly recommend reading the introduction, because it is short and simple, but sharply insightful.

The great divorce which Lewis is writing about is that great separation between Heaven and Hell. To me, it seems, the primary concern is with personal priorities and values. How much value do you place in your children, your friends, your personal opinions and soapboxes thereof? Lewis deftly and surgically dissects these and exposes their inherent danger.

I fear to attempt to explain much more for two simple reasons. I think my explanations will confuse more than intrigue, for I don't quite have the talent of Lewis for simplicity. And secondly, I would rather you approach this book with an open mind and experience an allegorical journey which is even more piercing for yourself than the title character, one which is written by a master of the genre.

So yes, I absolutely recommend this book. To everyone. It challenges you to think. I recommend it for teenagers as well as for adults. It would be a great book to read through with your children. Just get your hands on a copy and dive in!

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Forks in the road of life and beyond

It is understandably difficult to offer an accurate depiction of any existence beyond that which humans experience on a daily basis. Fortunately for the reader of this text, Mr. Lewis claims to do no such thing. Yes, within this work the main character finds himself in Heaven, as well as Hell; however, it is this reviewer's opinion that the descriptions of these places are far from that which the work is intended to convey. Rather, it is that which this character observes and comes to understand while in these places that carries the weight of the message.

In his typical, albeit masterful, fashion, Mr. Lewis presents the reality of decisions made by every individual. In this case, such decisions expand beyond the temporal and into the realm of the eternal. Within this work, the point is clearly made that indecision is a decision in itself and that the decision to decide or not to decide must be made just as any other seemingly harmless decision if ultimate good is to be attained; perhaps in the form of a Heavenly existence. That is, there must be a complete and total surrender to good which can continuously lead to greater good, as opposed to evil or lingering indecisiveness which, while detrimental actions, behaviors, and/or perceptions can be rectified, can never transform into good simply by pressing onward.

Mr. Lewis vividly illustrates many of the snares which may disallow an attainment of that which is, ultimately, happiness through the means of intriguing character interactions and dialog incorporated within an extremely enjoyable and readable storyline. While Heaven and Hell might be little more than an abstract thought to many, if not most; Mr. Lewis has, yet again, applied a brilliant mind to difficult concepts in such a way that the message is made readily accessible to anyone that is fortunate enough to acquire a copy of this text. The message, however, could be easily missed, misunderstood, or lost by those that do not believe in the eternal consequences of decisions. Nonetheless, this is a must read for those that do subscribe to this belief and may prove to be, at least, thought provoking for those that do not.

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Nothing like it.

No one can write like CS Lewis. The ideas will challenge any conception of Heaven and Hell you have, not to mention eternity and our decision-making process. The narrator does a great job with varying the voices to follow the dialogue of the characters too. I honestly don't think I could read this selection and get as much out of it.

A Fantastic Conceptualization of Heaven and Hell

In a world full of moral relativism, C.S. Lewis provides a view of the afterlife in stark contrast. A brilliant piece that will inspire anyone to be better.

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