If a person chooses, they can disobey this law. Chapter 2. Choose from 373 different sets of Mere Christianity flashcards on Quizlet. Two different human acts can be equally inconvenient to oneself, while being completely opposite in terms of 'ought' or decent behavior. Morality, Religion, and Reason. Find a summary of this and each chapter of Mere Christianity! Mere Christianity was first written during World War II, when Europe was engaged in a bloody war between the Allied Powers, including Britain and France, and the Axis Powers, including Germany and Italy. This small-group Bible … Mere Christianity free study guide and free book downloads If you’re new to Mere Christianity, don’t worry too much if the logic comes at you a bit fast; just enjoy it. So, pleased with the quality of the material ! essentially three different views have been held. 1. PLAY. He calls this standard the Law of Nature or the Moral Law. Creeperbomb2001. Dualism believes the war is a never-ending, eternal struggle. How did this happen? STUDY. what two bits of evidence do we have available? what does Lewis mean by "mere" Christianity? Key Concepts: Terms in this set (28) How does quarreling differ from an animal fight. It tends to leave "thinking" to others, such as pastors and teachers, instead of thinking of ourselves. They're haunted by the idea of a sort of behavior they ought to practice. Chapter Summary for C.S. Download Save. The stronger instinct is always the one that's followed. motherly love, sexual instinct, or instinct for food are some "herd instincts". Christianity and the Two Kinds of “Life” Summary Analysis We’re asked to imagine two books, one lying on top of the other. Choose from 439 different sets of mere christianity flashcards on Quizlet. The bottom book, book A, is supporting the … theology mere christianity quiz 1. Only when you know you are in violation of the Law and the Power behind the Law does Christianity begin to speak. the big question is : "If a good God made the world, why has it gone wrong?" Cite this page. Why is this not true? what can we expect if the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness? The thing that all Christians believe is that Christ's death has given us a fresh start with God. Dualism is the belief that there are two equal and independent powers behind everything, one good and one evil, and the universe is battleground where they fight an endless war. PLAY. Many times, when such complex and incomprehensible truths are put into words, … how does Lewis respond to this denial (that the Law of Human Nature is known to all men)? There is an underlying theme to Mere Christianity that even the most careful reader can miss due to the many rich insights and profound wisdom that overflow its pages. witch burning wasn't an error of law, but an error of fact. At the beginning of this chapter and elsewhere in the book, Lewis alludes to evolution. they're trying to reach a standard of behavior, which they expect the other person to know. Lewis's Mere Christianity, book 2 chapter 2 summary. what point about free will does Lewis make concerning a cow, dog, child, ordinary man, and a superhuman spirit? define "dualism" and note some of the reasons why it fails as an explanation. You have to decide if he is a Liar, a Lunatic or if he is Lord. what are some different names Lewis says this can or has been called. Similarly, the happiness which God designed for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely and voluntarily united to Him. Without absolute standards of right and wrong, there is no way to distinguish good from evil, and we are left with only our preferences. Created by. One might be tempted to try to explain away this oddity of the Law of Human Nature by saying it is really only some feature of the Laws of Nature that happens to be inconvenient or non-beneficial to oneself. Book 1 Chapter 3: The Reality of the Law. Mere Christianity. Science can tell us what they learn from external observations of the facts of nature or from the results of their experiments. what response does Lewis give to those who complain that Christ's suffering and death were easier because He was both God and Man? Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or the Lord. In the past, people thought they knew this law by nature and it didn't have to be taught. The "religious view" states that something like a "mind" is behind the universe, and it is conscious or aware and has purposes and preferences. If the spread of God's new life is so important, why does God's invasion still remain so disguised and secret? if the universe is not governed by absolute good ness, then all our efforts are, in the long run, hopeless, like playing Russian roulette. If there isn't absolute goodness behind the Law of Human Nature, then it won't bother about or disapprove of human greed, exploitation, etc. we live in a land occupied by a Rebel. Chapter Summary for C.S. Enjoy this free preview Unlock all 69 pages of this Study Guide by subscribing today. The only two views around that "face all the facts" are Christianity and Dualism. Christ is necessary for salvation, yet they live their Christianity in silence, as if people around them in the world will indeed by okay in the end without Christ. Get the entire Mere Christianity LitChart as a printable PDF. list some human conventions you have learn from your parents or society: what examples of a real truth (which exists whether or not it was ever taught) does Lewis cite? The word "christian" originally meant "a disciple who accepted the Apostle's teaching." Book 1 Chapter 1: The Law of Human Natu… Book 1 Chapter 2: Some Objections. Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis. in the past, "gentleman" was used to mean "one with a coat of arms and landed property", but today it means someone who is honorable and courteous, and it is often used not as a fact but as praise. what big question is raised if God is good? Gravity. We don't merely observe man, we are men and women. 1. Radical: Chapter 7, There is No Plan B | One In Jesus Start studying Radiation Safety, Chapter 7. Book 2, Chapters 1-3. But just because we learn something from a schoolteacher doesn’t mean that it’s just … Home Mere Christianity Q & A Resources for mastering the actual content of the book are listed at the end of this post: there are tons of options: free and paid, print, digital, and audio versions, as well as study guides and Bible studies. it could not have been guessed or predicted, which means it has all the elements or unusual twists that reality does. what is the other point that Lewis makes about our human Law of Nature? James Welch, Director of Religion for the BBC, had read C. S. Lewis's book The Problem of Pain (1940) and, without ever hearing Lewis's voice, approached him about doing a radio series.**. Some Objections Is the Moral Law social convention or instinct? we are not getting our knowledge from churches or Bibles, but rather just form our own "steam" (i.e. In Book 1 he works to build the foundations of his apology, or defense, of Christianity as the answer to these profound, universal questions. They don't practice or live up to this behavior. Christianity believes it is a temporary evil war or rebellion that will come to a conclusion or end. Learn mere christianity with free interactive flashcards. Mere Christianity Summary and Study Guide. PLAY. Fallen man is not merely an imperfect man needing improvement; he is a rebel needing to surrender and lay down his arms. individual things within the universe are manifestations of God, God is separate and apart from the universe, as an author is separate and apart form a book, pantheism: adherent groups or individuals. But what exactly can scientists tell us? Start studying Mere Christianity Reading Guides. 2). what do the above notions of blaming others for not being perfect, personal beneficence, and societal beneficence each have in common relative to the Law of Human Nature? CSL states that he chose this roundabout manner to get his real subject because, without first facing the facts, Christianity makes no sense. They … The wall can't build itself just like the universe couldn't (materialistic), but the mailman hand delivers the packages just like God made us (Religious). Learn. what is the second view and what does it regard as true? Watch the Video: Session 1 of Discussing Mere Christianity. We shouldn't feel obligated to be Christian. Book 4, Chapters 1-4. But, now, dim the lights; the video’s … The "materialist view" states that matter and space happen to exist and have always existed. if a clock is wrong, you can turn it back. Match. Match. Thus, the Laws of Nature are just part of nature. Morality, Religion, and Reason. Key Concepts: Terms in this set (16) what is it that we can learn from people disagreeing or quarreling . what is it that we can learn from people disagreeing or quarreling? Lewis clarifies this point by looking more closely at the laws of nature. You ave proved to be true disciples of 'The Carpenter of Nazareth' as Dorothy Sayers portrayed, “No crooked table legs or ill-fitting drawers ever, I dare swear, came out of the … HUMANS … Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 1). An instinct is like one note on a keyboard or a key on a piano. Absolute goodness, then, is the supreme terror. in the end, we all have certain behavioral standards that we hold ourselves and others to. God is part of the world and all the world is god, A standard of behavior which applies to everyone, People don't do what they know they "ought to" do, A mind or consciousness with purposes and preferences, with an argument about who's right and wrong and that there is…, common, modern term for laws of nature i.e. Why is it called “the Law of Nature”? Faith, Works, and Salvation. The better stuff a creature is made of - the cleverer and stronger and freer it is - the better it will be if it goes right, but also the worse it will be if it goes wrong. what are the "two odd things about the human race"? God has landed in our enemy-occupied world to teach us, of course, but about what? Good, Evil, and Free Will . However, the Moral Law usually tells us to go with the weaker impulse. the problem is "a universe that contains much that is obviously bad and meaningless, but contains creatures like ourselves who know that it is bad and apparently meaningless." Log in Sign up. Key Concepts: Terms in this set (76) what are some advantages of having many denominations of Christianity? Spell. Get started. Fou…, 1. standard behavior that people appeal to ... a. we choose b/w o…, the person is appealing to some sort of standard behavior that…, One of the desires is to react, and help. Chapter 2. 1). … The recommended resources sections list carefully selected content for extra learning ! For example, getting a seat on a train: one man gets the seat first versus another man who moves my bag and slips into the seat while my back is turned. by C.S. The popular view was that Jesus was a great moral teacher, and Christianity was just one more bit of good advice. This is also known as the real Right and Wrong or the Law of Human Nature. why in the past have people called this Rule about Right and Wrong the Law of Nature? what does Lewis say in his final summary about the Law of Nature? In Mere Christianity, C.S. the familiarity and comfort of certain routines and traditions decreases chaos and distractions. I didn’t always agree with everything they said, but it was certainly thought-provoking and made a five-hour round-trip to LA much … Lewis's Mere Christianity, book 2 chapter 3 summary. But, if the whole universe was really senseless, we wouldn't have ever been able to discover it. The other desire is…. God, of course, knew what would happen if their freedom was used in a wrong way, but He thought it was worth the risk. These are some of the resources I consulted: CS Lewis Institute Questions, CS Lewis.Org Study Questions and Mere Christianity Study Guide. Deism derives the existence of God from reason and experience, but rejects revelation, prophecy, and miracles. Discussion Questions Mere Christianity. Chapter Summary for C.S. Witches do not exist. Anyone in authority knows how something can be both against your will in one way and in accordance with your will in another. The answer is "because you ought to be unselfish." Mere Christianity Discussion Questions Preface Where does the title come from? Rev. There can't be just one impulse. Rom 7.21-24 … Anti-Christians use "simplicity" to attack Christianity in two ways: what then, according to Lewis, is the appeal of Christianity as an explanation? How is the Moral Law perceived or felt differently than an instinct, desire, or impulse? From quarreling, we can learn about people's behavior. Book 3, Chapters 1-4. Of his own qualification to speak on Christianity he said: It’s not because I’m anybody in particular that I’ve been asked to tell you what … Mere Christianity . This study guide for Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, book 4 chapter 2 summary. It is the one and only thing we can know more than anything we can ever know from mere external observational knowledge. Today it has come to mean someone who is good or, more commonly, someone who is nice. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Mere Christianity, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Spell. using a war analogy, how then does Lewis describe Christianity? Main ideas and takeaways about C.S. what are some advantages of having many denominations of Christianity? Before his conversion, how did Lewis respond to Christian answers to this question? Mere Christianity; Reading Group Guide; Reading Group Guide. what other "one thing, and only one, in the whole universe [do] we know more about than what we could ever learn from external (scientific) observation"? In other words, it is mere wishful thinking. no you do not. the one and only thing is man. one who complains that Christ's suffering and death were perhaps easier because He was both God and man is akin to someone drowning who complains it is unfair that the lifeguard has one foot on the shore. Decent behavior in others isn't simply the behavior that is useful to us. Richard Baxter was a Puritan English clergyman who sought to minimize the differences between and unite Presbyterians and Anglicans and Independent Non-conformists by focusing on a "mere" Christianity. what is the definition of "Deism"? science, "There is a story about a schoolboy who was asked what he thou…, "If the ships keep on having collisions they will not remain s…, If individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nat…, According to this longer scheme there are seven "virtues." Anonymous "Mere Christianity Study Guide: Analysis". ANIMALS DON'T TRY TO CONVINCE EACH OTHER THAT ONE IS RIGHT OR JUSTIFIED IN THEIR ACTIONS AND THE OTHER SHOULD CONCEDE; THEY JUST FIGHT; MIGHT IS RIGHT. Before his own conversion, CSL responded by refusing to listen while thinking, "Aren't all your arguments simply a complicated attempt to avoid the obvious"? They cannot answer anything about ultimate questions or the "why" behind the universe. Why? STUDY. Dualism believes evil is eternally co-existent with good. How does God becoming a man help to resolve this problem? How is the Law of Human Nature different from other laws of nature? what is the problem, restated by Lewis, and what are the "only two views that face all the facts"? Our new life is spread not only by mental acts, but also bodily acts. what are some "herd instincts" that Lewis notes? he says that none of us are really keeping the Law of Nature. being with like-minded people is a benefit derived from denominations. What is the first view and what does it embrace as true? There isn't a reason to execute them if we don't believe that witches are real. Some Objections Is the Moral Law social convention or instinct? How are the Christian and Dualism explanations of the badness or evil-in-the-universe similar and how they are different? Preface-Book 1, Chapter 3. Book 2, Chapters 4-5. religion mere christianity study guide (semester test) STUDY. One may say that breaking the Moral Law of Right and Wrong only points out that people are not perfect and ask why one would want to do that. C. S. Lewis makes note of a tendency in humans of appealing to a standard of absolute truth in quarrels and arguments. In this case, you are simply saying what is true without ever giving a reason. Only those who have sinned need to repent and you can never repent perfectly unless you are perfect and, in that case, you wouldn't need to repent. Sometimes the only way to progress forward if you've made a wrong turn is to go back. lewis says he is not concerned with attributing blame, but rather with trying to find out the truth and if not conforming with the law has any consequences. We daily make ourselves an enemy of the goodness behind the "ought" or Law of Human Nature, because if we make one just mistake, we have failed; and it is unlikely that we will ever improve. Find a summary of this and each chapter of Mere Christianity! -Graham S. Download Another potential objection to the theory of moral law: moral law is just a social convention, something that we all learn from our schoolteachers. Overview. 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'S plot: what then is God 's `` arrangements about other people '' with regard to salvation his... Our new life is spread not only by mental acts, but starts. End, we can ever know from Mere external observational knowledge you want to not! '' `` desire '', or instinct for food are some advantages of having many denominations of?!, driving on the right thing when you could have the easy way out their results have through... By `` only a good God is in charge make concerning a cow, dog, child ordinary...