Monday, October 19, 2015

Introduction to CS Lewis and Mere Christianity: A Discussion about Right and Wrong Ch's 1-5

This Sunday I had the opportunity to present the forum hour session, introducing the biography of "Jack" Lewis and his BBC radio talk series that he eventually published as Mere Christianity. It was a wonderful crowd in the fellowship hall of Trinity Episcopal of Upperville, VA as we all gathered to talk and learn  about the apologetics writings of one of the most familiar and beloved Anglicans, C.S. Lewis. I am so glad for all that attended, and for those that had to leave early, or missed our session I encourage you to view the following video clips. The first is an accounting of CS Lewis by his stepson Douglas Gresham, focusing on the layman that he was found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVw2_QKtgpE 
The second video short is the content from our first session, introducing Lewis and his radio talk series, as well as his ideals from his first two chapters of Mere Christianity found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcQ70cPYcB8. If you missed the sessions I encourage you to follow these links and listen to the body of our content. I also encourage you to read the first five chapters of Mere Christianity and answer the following questions either as a comment on this blog or to yourselves.
*In the video Alister McGrath states the Lewis rationale that right is not something that humans invent or arbitrate---it is already there. Can you think of more examples which illustrate the differences between moral absolutes and social conventions? Why do you think that some Christians are reluctant to use their minds when it comes to faith?
*Briefly describe someone who believes right and wrong are personal preferences. How do they compare in their lives to someone who, like Lewis, claims that there is a real standard for right and wrong. Is this contradictory? How do we as a church and Christians address this difference? Is there a contradiction?
*What does Lewis mean when he says that the hallway is not a place Christians should live? When do Christians live in the hallway? What is different about entering the room? 
*What do you think is behind our sense of right and wrong? Have you ever felt God’s hand in this regard?


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2 comments:

  1. the parsonOctober 25, 2015 at 7:05 PM

    The concept of "moral absolutes" as a reflection of a particular culture is something I understand. Lewis was speaking, no doubt, as a representative of 'Western culture, that which we have inherited from Western Civilization as it has developed over the centuries. I agree with Lewis, and I do believe there are certain moral absolutes which are inherent to those of us who share as our heritage the development of Western Civilization. The crunch comes when we ask if these moral absolutes survive the test of cross cultural examination. I ask a question (without knowing the answer) as an example of my point: were the Crusades an example of the application of moral absolutes, or cross cultural disconnect?

    In the 28th Chapter of Job there is this question, as expressed musically in a marvelous anthem by William Boyce, "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?" The answer is: "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof." I take from Job that since we are not God our wisdom is necessarily limited, as is our understanding. Jim Hammond

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    1. the parsonOctober 25, 2015 at 7:14 PM

      Sorry, I forgot to add the link to the Boyce Anthem, "O Where Shall Wisdom Be Found":

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3-tYJ9xKbg

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