What name did C.S. Lewis use for his wartime radio talks later collected as Mere Christianity?

The story behind the answer

C.S. Lewis's wartime radio talks were first known as Broadcast Talks. The BBC broadcast the talks during World War II, beginning in 1941, and later installments appeared under related titles before being collected as Mere Christianity.

Lewis was invited to explain basic Christian belief to a general audience rather than address specialists. His clear, conversational delivery made the broadcasts widely influential. The published collection was organized into three parts: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, What Christians Believe, and Christian Behaviour.

The titles The Case for Christianity and Christian Behaviour refer to later published sections or editions connected with the broadcasts, not the original collective broadcast title. This publication history explains why several names can appear in bibliographies.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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