Cs Lewis’s work entitled “What Christians Believe” is a persuasive essay written in attempt to explain Christianity in terms of how it differs from other religions and perhaps is trying to persuade his audience into logical reasoning about the truthfulness of his beliefs. His main points of argument include that there is such thing as right/wrong, there must be a God, and that religion is not meant to be “simple” but is understandable.
While writing this, it is clear, that CS Lewis assumed his audience was generically familiar with Christianity because of all the basic doctrinal details that he leaves out, and the questions he strives to answer. He also assumes that religion is an important subject to his audience and that everyone understands the basic concepts of right and wrong, and it is upon these assumptions that he builds his argument. It is clear also that he personally believes in a God and is religious himself, this also is an underlying influence in his writing.
In order to reach his audience he uses powerful analogies and examples to prove his points. For example: he explains that the idea of duel idealism is wrong. Meaning something can’t be good/bad at the same time. The example he uses for this is: we all consider cancer bad because it kills people, but we don’t consider a surgeon bad because he kills cancer.
He uses these examples and step by step processes to convince his audience. Also, in the beginning of the essay he creates an ethos for himself by saying he was once an Atheist himself but he found the logic in religion. In this he shows he has seen both sides and has chosen. In this he builds his audiences confidence in him.
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