He talks about the major divisions within belief in god, and discusses what he calls christianityandwater. Lewis and the argument from morality to god catholic. I like lewis in general and some of chestertons apologetics, but mc, for me, is. Reading response mere christianity, book 4 chapters 10. Lewis believes that we can learn something valuable by the kinds of phrases people use when they quarrel. Jesus did not come to give us a standardized moral code to which all should conform, but to give us his life whereby the divine character might be expressed through our behavior. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. This talk became chapter 3 of lewis book mere christianity and was called the reality of the universal moral law. Contribute to f1lt3rmere christianity development by creating an account on github. Here are my notes for the first chapter of mere christianity. Core christianity the bible is a ruling constitution. Lewis book mere christianity bible study guide cs lewis study series steven urban. God had made man in a way that they were so sinful that they need to redeem themselves but god will reward them for their deed with eternal life. Mere christianity book 4 chapters 910 completed in this life, for death is an important part of the treatment.
On the other hand, it is not a mere fancy, for we cannot get rid of the idea, and most of the things we say and think about men would be reduced to nonsense if we did. What is the christian idea of a good man or what is the christian specification for the human machine. First heard as informal radio broadcasts and then published as three separate booksthe case for christianity, christian behavior, and beyond personalitymere christianity brings together what lewis sees as the fundamental truths of his religion. It tells you to do the straight thing and it does not seem to care how painful, or dangerous, or difficult it. Across more than six decades, lewis is talking to me and anyone else who will listen about his christian faith.
Christianity is not morality christ in you ministries. His metaphor for a hall christian orthodoxy with many rooms christian denominations on it at the end of the preface makes it clear. If anyone will take the trouble to compare the moral teaching of, say, the ancient egyptians, babylonians, hindus, chinese, greeks and romans, what will really strike him will be how very like they are to each other and to our own. Moral law when we encounter the phrase law of nature, we tend to assume that it refers to the workings of the natural world the law of gravity being a key example.
Initially, published as three separate volumes broadcast talks 1942, christian behaviour 1943, and beyond personality 1944, the works were combined in 1952 to result in mere christianity. Lewis to christianity today, but cant write you articles. Lewis, best known for his chronicles of narnia series, had been raised as a christian but grew disillusioned with the faith and turned to atheism at age 15. It tells you to do the straight thing and it does not seem to care how painful, or dangerous, or difficult it is to do. Lewis seems to see a common law of human nature that remains the same everywhere, regardless of whether people know god and his ways or not. The mere christianity critical analysis journal is a powerful tool to strengthen critical thinking while cultivating a biblical worldview. To those, like myself, who were not raised with a christian background, this book is able to convey a considerable understanding of the basic ideas all christians hold without delving into the often cryptic, archaic, and heavily metaphorical language of the. This chapter addresses the three general conceptions of god. Mere christianity book 1 chapter 1 summary course hero. The challenge of being a human being, at least from a christian perspective, is that humans are aware of the moral law, but can never obey it perfectlythey. Reading response mere christianity, book 2 chapter 5. In his book, the abolition of man, lewis calls this supposed universal law, the tao, based on the ancient chinese religions, taoism, symbolized by the yinyang. Some thinkers have taken issue with lewiss argument for objective moral law two people disagreeing about morality doesnt prove that morality is real, any more. But many people today are reluctant to read this magnificent classic.
The moral law tells us the tune we have to play our instincts are merely the keys. Children have an innate understanding of justice deep within their souls because our god is a god of justice and we are all made in his image. Lewis forceful and accessible doctrine on christian belief. There is a law of human nature the man who makes these objections is not merely saying that the other mans behaviour does not happen to please him. Imagine if men looked at food the way they looked at strippers. Lewis is one of the most interesting and engaging presentations of core christian beliefs and argumentation.
Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities. Lewis, we develop wholehearted disciples of jesus christ who will articulate, defend, share, and live their faith in personal and public life. In book 1 he works to build the foundations of his apology, or defense, of christianity as the answer to these profound, universal questions. These disputed points dont bring nonchristians to christ. Im looking back through mere christianity these days, one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors. Mere christianity is written in an older style and in british english, so it isnt always the most conversational book to read through. One of them, mere christianity, published in 1952 and consisting of. Sep 28, 2017 mere christianity is written in an older style and in british english, so it isnt always the most conversational book to read through. Lewis, adapted from a series of bbc radio talks made between 1942 and 1944, while lewis was at oxford during world war ii. Some may talk about moral ideals rather than moral rules, but the term ideals is problematic, as people have different tastes and goals. Lewisnovember 2012the instrumentthrough which you seegod is your whole self. Mere christianity was published in 1952 and is an expansion of some of c. Lewis signature classics the first thing to get clear. Lewis july 11, 2016 patrick t reardon 0 i finish c.
Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. What is the best thing for you to do when you feel yourself becoming angry. Mere christianity critical analysis journal homeschool. If someone goes through the whole conversion process of becoming a christian but does not change hisher wicked behavior, its obvious that heshe has really. At this point, a twentyfirstcentury reader might note that mere christianity was derived from a series of bbc radio talks that lewis gave between 1942 and 1944. One of the best arguments for the christian faith of all time. Considered a classic of christian apologetics, the transcripts of the broadcasts originally appeared in print as three separate pamphlets. Lewis talks about how if christianity is true why arent all christians obviously nicer than all nonchristians. The next third of the book explores the ethics resulting from christian belief. Mere christianity a revised and enlarged edition, with a new introduction of the three books, the case for christianity. Addressing moral objections to christianity download mp3 perhaps the deepest, soilhardening challenges to the apologetic task in our time are moral objections to christianity to the perceived immorality of christian behaviour in history the crusades, the inquisition and of christian attitudes in the present intolerance, arrogance. In book two lewis simply states what christians believe. Lewis 1952 book mere christianity with great sadness, respect and hope. His response to the problem of evil is the classic augustinian freewill one.
Rationality is the tack lewis takes in mere christianity. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In this chapter, lewis will complete his argument from moralitythe idea that the existence of a universal moral law proves the existence of some kind of moral. Also, once someone becomes a christian there is no turning back. Such an argument might have worked then, one might say, but the objection to hell with your standard is exactly what the average person on the street might say today. From mere christianity 1952 book 1, chapter 2 if no set of moral ideas were truer or better than any other there would be no sense in preferring civilized morality to savage morality or. Justice and the prophets bible study lessons adult sunday. Lewis states that it used to refer to a code of decency that was recognized universally. Initially, published as three separate volumes broadcast talks 1942, christian behaviour 1943, and beyond personality 1944, the works were combined in 1952 to result in mere christianity, that is to say, merely expounding on christianity. The moral law, or law of human nature, is not simply a fact about human behaviour in the same way as the law of gravitation is, or may be, simply a fact about how heavy objects behave. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis.
Lewis wrote in his classic work mere christianity that morality is concerned with three things. Lewis made in the early 1940s there are certainly controversies which separate christians, such as papal infallibility or the real presence, but lewis wanted to write about a sort of baseline christianity which would get the most important points across without broaching. Mar 21, 2017 i think he used mere in the sense common i. If anyone will take the trouble to compare the moral teaching of, say, the ancient egyptians. The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs. Mere christianity a revised and enlarged edition, with a. Christian morality claims to be a technique for putting the human machine right. Lewis definition of moral rules at the beginning of his chapter three parts. Its not interested in offering fresh takes on spiritual truths or modern interpretations of scripture, nor is it a book about feelings or personal spiritual growth. So instincts are desires but the moral law tells us if they are appropriate or right. The author of many books, including core christianity, he is also the host of the new core christianity radio show, a daily bible questionandanswer show broadcasting nationwide. In early 2000, mere christianity was named by christianity today as the most influential christian book of the twentieth century. The book mere christianity was published in 1952, but is based upon a series of radio broadcasts which c. Morals are the acceptable behavior based on the mores of a social grouping.
The three parts of morality people often see morality as bothersome and something that interferes with their life. He lives with his wife lisa and four children in escondido, california. A companion to lewiss classic work, the journal can be used for independent study with teenagers or adults, or as a group study in families, homeschools, coops, classrooms, sunday school, and small groups. Mere christianity book i chapter 1 the law of human. I like lewis in general and some of chestertons apologetics, but mc, for me, is a mess. You find very few people who want to eat things that really are not food or to do other things with food instead of eating it. Christianity compared to psychoanalysts, bad psychological material is not a sin but a disease. Jan 16, 2012 nor is mere christianity is a theology lite kind of book. Henry, founding editor of the magazine, had in 1955 invited lewis to.
He concluded, without good men you cannot have a good society. Lewis pointed out that all these notions of fairness and right and wrong ultimately point to a moral law and a moral lawgivergod. The moral law isnt any one instinct or any set of instincts. Because man went astray there is evil in the world in addition to the good that god had intended christians, jews, muslims. Nov 16, 2016 there is nothing indulgent about the moral law. In other words, perversions of the food appetite are rare. Mere christianity a revised and enlarged edition, with a new introduction of the three books, the case for christianity, christian behaviour, and beyond personality lewis, c. The case for christianity 1942, christian behaviour 1943, and beyond. Lewiss book, mere christianity, is based on a series of bbc radio broadcasts in the early 1940s. Lewis this study guide consists of approximately 49 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of mere christianity. Lewis assumes that there are facts about moral right and wrong, that people.
The stylistic achievement of mere christianity digital commons. On the other hand, it is not a mere fancy, for we cannot get rid of the idea, and most of the things we say and think about men would be reduced to nonsense. Spirit of joy mens fellowship saturday bible study mere christianity. Issues about justice, honesty, respect, fairness, and situational ethics that mr. Despite its plain and nontechnical language, i am struck by how much theological learnedness stands behind and informs lewis writing. That jesus, being god and therefore perfectly good and just, expects us to be morally good. Book 1 first of the four parts combined in mere christianity. The challenge of being a human being, at least from a christian perspective, is that humans are aware of the moral law.
Unlawful use of this content, without prior permission of both the owner andor the owner of this site, is illegal and punishable by law. Aug 16, 2017 at this point, a twentyfirstcentury reader might note that mere christianity was derived from a series of bbc radio talks that lewis gave between 1942 and 1944. He talks about the major divisions within belief in god, and discusses what he calls christianity andwater. Some may talk about moral ideals rather than moral rules, but the term ideals is problematic, as people have. The laws of morality are similar to laws of science, but with the one crucial difference that humans are capable of breaking laws of morality. And if a mans self is notkept clean and bright,his glimpse of god willbe blurred 2. How far the change will have gone before death in any particular christian is uncertain. The book is a chronology of the thinking processes lewis went through as his spiritual. Lewis concludes that the moral law is alive and active in human lives. According to lewis, science cannot be used to discover the mind behind the creation of the universe. Justice and the prophets bible study lessons adult. There are already books that deal with those issues 3. What did you learn from reading the book mere christianity.
1159 1517 1473 1416 1485 194 1206 1472 1592 991 1428 320 115 246 772 345 779 408 1533 457 600 1172 870 688 947 983 921 877 213 137 1524 1459 819 892 25 162 1235 1111 1125 1067 1083 526 349 80 1335 1457 1230 1435