“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Image credits：Aronsyne,”Lewis, age 48″,CC BY-SA 4.0,C.S.-Lewis – C. S. Lewis – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963
- Born in Ireland
- Writer, scholar
- Had a major influence on fantasy literature and religious thought through his many works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and The Poetics of Christianity
Quote
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Explanation
In this quote, C. S. Lewis emphasizes the radical implications of Christianity. He suggests that Christianity is either absolutely true and thus infinitely significant, or it is false and therefore has no real value. In either case, Lewis argues, there is no room for a middle ground. If Christianity is true, then it is the most important reality in existence, with eternal consequences for every aspect of life. If it is false, however, it is not just unimportant—it is irrelevant. There is no space for viewing Christianity as merely one of many helpful philosophies or as a mildly significant moral guide. For Lewis, the question of its truth demands either a profound commitment or a complete rejection, and cannot be reduced to a lukewarm or half-hearted belief.
Historically, Lewis’s argument against “moderate importance” reflects his own journey of conversion from atheism to Christianity. Before his conversion, Lewis saw religion—especially Christianity—as either irrelevant or false. However, after his conversion, he came to understand that if Christianity is true, it redefines everything, shaping how one lives, acts, and sees the world. This perspective is consistent with his larger works, such as Mere Christianity, where he argues that Christianity isn’t just a collection of ethical teachings, but a fundamental truth about the nature of the world and humanity’s place within it.
In the modern context, this quote is particularly relevant in a world where people often compartmentalize religion—treating it as a personal choice, a cultural tradition, or a moral guideline, but not necessarily as definitive truth. Lewis’s words challenge individuals to reconsider the seriousness of faith and its role in their lives. Christianity, in this view, is not something to be taken half-heartedly, but something that either demands complete acceptance or rejection, because its truth is of such eternal significance. This perspective invites modern readers to confront the central question of Christianity: Is it true, and if so, what does that mean for how we live our lives?
