FREE ESSAY ON MERE CHRISTANITY

MERE CHRISTANITY

C.S. Lewis begins his book, "Mere Christianity", by introducing the Law of Right and Wrong
or the Laws of Nature. This, however, arises a question. What is the Law of Nature? The
Law of Nature is the known difference between right and wrong. That is, mans distinction
between what is right and what is wrong. "This law was called the Law of Nature because
people thought that everyone knew it and did not need to be taught it"(18). Lewis relates
the law to how we treat others. We treat others the way we want to be treated and if they
treat us poorly in return we become agitated and annoyed with them. He states that we
become a society of excuses when something goes wrong. He goes on to say that we want to
behave in a certain way when in reality we do the opposite of what is right or what is
wrong.
We are humans and humans have primal instincts. We are all capable of using our instincts
to do right or wrong. Lewis uses an example of a drowning man to prove this point. When
one sees a man in trouble two desires or instincts kick into play, to save the man or
ignore him because the situation at hand could endanger you. However, there in another
impulse that says help the man. With this comes a conflict of instincts. Do you run and
forget about it or do you jump in and help. Most people will help even if the situation
is going to endanger their life. This is just one way of seeing moral law. The right in a
situation will mostly always prevail over the wrong.
"Men ought to be unselfish, ought to be fair. Not that men are selfish, nor that they
like being unselfish, but they ought to be"(30). We are creatures of habit and logic.
Lewis believes that the moral law is not taught to us rather known by us instinctively.
He also believes that the law is real. The law is our behaviors in life via good or bad.
Lewis states, "there is something above and beyond the ordinary facts of men's
behavior"(30). This opens Lewis to believe that the natural law is both alive and active
in mans life today.
Lewis goes on to say that the law must be something above mans behavior. He begins to
relate this to the creation of the world. He takes into count the materialistic theory of
creation, that is that matter has always existed and creation of man happened out of
nowhere. The other view is the religious view. This view states, "what is behind the
universe is more like a mind then it is anything else we know"(32). Man wants to know who
or what created the universe and if there is a force directing it let alone them.
Lewis wants humanity to reconsider because he feels that man is on the wrong road. He
tries to prove this theory by looking at the present condition our world is in today. He
feels that people believe in God but only as the Supreme Being behind the law. Lewis
believes that God is good and like all good God can be hard and even dangerous. He
believes that only a person can forgive and their good can be reacted to in many
different ways. We ultimately can interpret the outcome as good or bad. Good to our
benefit and bad to no ones prevail. Lewis also believes that Christianity will not make
sense to anyone until they realize that the Moral Law is real and the power that governs
it is also real. To make Christianity make sense we must stop abusing the power and
breaking the law.
Lewis starts off Book II by discussing his ideas on God and the major divisions of belief
in God. He believes that God is beyond all good and evil and that He is righteous and all
mighty. To say that God is beyond all that is good and evil is called Pantheism.
Pantheists believe that God is the universe and if the universe didn't exist neither
would God. This differs from the Christian view that God created the universe. He then
starts to dwindle on the just and unjust in the world today. He blames his view on the
fact that he used to be an atheist and that his whole reality was senseless.
There are many people who reject the Christian doctrine simple due to the fact that it is
not easy to understand. Lewis believes that if there really were a God the religion of
that God would be easy to follow because "simplicity is beautiful"(48). This topic
discussed by Lewis leads to the conversation on Dualism. "Dualism is the belief that
there are two equal and independent powers at the back of everything, one of them is good
and the other bad, and that the universe is a battlefield in which they fight out an
endless battle"(48-49). Lewis, however, rejects the idea of dualism due to the fact that
our God is a Supreme Being and He is very intelligent and this makes him good. He
believes that evil is a parasite and that it a false attitude of good. He uses an analogy
that a good man does good to do well and a bad man does not do bad to be bad. This is why
Lewis does not agree with Dualism.
When we were created God gave us free will. This free will could be used to do anything,
both good and evil. Lewis believes that with free will comes the ability to do wrong. He
also believes that free will leads to evil but it also lead to love and joy that is worth
having. Lewis goes on to discuss Satan and the sin he taught the human race. "The moment
you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first-wanting to be in
the center-wanting to be God"(53-54). God, however, gave us three ways to fight Satan's
sin. He gave us a conscience, the ability to dream good dreams, and He taught the Jews
that He was the one true God of the universe. He goes on to say that Jesus was not a
great moral teacher because he felt that the people viewed him as a lunatic and not as
the Son of God.
Christians believe that Jesus came to this world to suffer and die for their sins and
wrong doings. They also believe that through His death they are back in the proper view
of God, in other words, Jesus' death was a fresh start for Christians. This leads Lewis
to start talking about repentance. Lewis believes that repentance is the unlearning of
all that has been taught to us, a sort of death in order to repair ourselves in God's
eyes. He feels that humans are only capable of a perfect repentance if they get God to
help. God helps us by showing how to think and teaching us how to love in His eyes. This
leads Christians to ask the question about Jesus' death and resurrection. Lewis feels the
whole situation to be silly due to the fact that he feels that Jesus was God. 
Lewis states that according to the Christian belief, by sharing in the humility and
suffering of Jesus we will share in his triumph over death and his finding of God's
kingdom in Heaven. Through this belief we as Christians will have fulfilled all God wants
us to fulfill and be able to live happily ever after in Heaven. Lewis states that being a
Christian is more then just mental belief. We must involve physical activities like mass
and the Eucharist. He also believes that doing well does not appease God rather it brings
the Christian closer to God and to his eternal promise to man. 
Lewis begins Book III by discussing the three parts of morality that comes with Christian
behavior. " Morality raises in a good many people's minds: something that interferes,
something that stops you from having a good time"(69). Morality is the fair play and
harmony between individuals. This can be broken, however, when humans separate from each
other and when there is something internally wrong with an individual. Morality can be
concerned with three things or reasons. "Firstly, with fair play and harmony between
individuals"(71). Secondly, with the harmonizing of one's inner self and thirdly with
what man is made for, human life. Morality can be said to be the general purpose for
human life as a whole.
Lewis goes on to discuss the "Cardinal Virtues." "Cardinal Virtues" are the virtue
admired by civilized people. "They are PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, JUSTICE, and FORTITUDE"(74).
Prudence is common sense. Lewis says that children are excellent examples of prudence
because they are sensible. "Temperance referred not specially to drink, but to all
pleasures; and it meant not abstaining, but going to the right length and no
further"(76). Justice means "fairness" and is more of a law virtue. Finally, fortitude,
which means courage in the sense of both personal and spiritual strength.
Social morality is a discussion of morality between man and man. Lewis believes that
Christ did not preach anything in new regards to morality. The real job of a moral
teacher is to bring us back to old principles we do not care for. Lewis introduces the
phrase "The church ought to give us a lead"(80). When he says church he means the whole
body of Christians. This means that he wants see these Christians to govern the others
who are farther behind in their faith. This leads him to begin talking about charity and
who should give and how much they should give. He believes that we should give more then
we can spare. He seems to express that we are a society of cheap and greedy people. I
feel that in the eyes of God all we give does not add up to all he returns.
Lewis believes that when a man makes a moral decision there are two things involved. They
are choosing and various feelings or acts that show his psychological abilities. This
then would lead to a normal feeling or a feeling that turns to fear and strikes the man
down. This links in to social morality and the man's perception to do right or wrong.
This may also lead into sexual morality or chastity. 
Christian chastity is different then social modesty because social modesty tells what on
the body can be displayed. In regards to sex there is nothing to be ashamed of unless it
is taken in excess and is done out of self-pleasure not in love. Christianity agrees with
this statement because Christianity approves of the body. This is where marriage comes to
play a role in mans behavior. The sexual impulse in man works best under marriage. Man
and wife unite on the alter to form "one flesh." According to Lewis, living together
outside of marriage causes one to unchaste and commits perjury against the law. The
passion of love compels two people to unite and create life of their own. Lewis also
believes that the man is the head and should deal with his families' policy because he is
strong and wise. 
Forgiveness in Lewis' eye is the love of a mans enemy. One of mans most terrible duties
is the forgiveness of his enemy. Two things we can do to make loving our enemies easier
are to forgive and to learn how to love our self. Loving yourself does not mean that you
have to punish yourself; it means you have to have courage in the face evil. The love of
our self can lead to us committing the great sin. Lewis describes the great sin as one in
which no man in the world is free, which every one in the world loathe when he sees it in
another, and which no Christian will admit to; Pride. The virtue opposite to Pride is
Humility. Lewis suggests that in order to find how proud you are you ask yourself this
question. "How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any
notice to me, or shove their oar in, or patronize me, or show off"(110)? There are four
misunderstandings Lewis discusses about pride. They are: pleasure in being praised, being
"proud of," pride in wrong doings, and being humble. To gain humility one must realize
that they are proud.
Lewis goes on to talk about the "Theological" virtues of FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY. He
describes charity as giving "alms" or giving to the poor. Lewis believes that that when
you love someone and you injure it you will not love it no more, but if you show love
your love will grow stronger. Lewis gives advice to those for a person with no love for
God. He tells them to try and love Him as if you really did love Him. Act in love and you
will be loved. Our feeling come and go, but God's are eternal and forever. Lewis mentions
some accomplishments of men who left their mark of earth because of their hope occupied
in Heaven. Most people look at heaven as a place to meet old friends. It however, is a
place to be with God and a place to live in peace with us. Although we experience great
things in life something still evades us. Lewis believes there are two wrong ways to deal
with this. They are: the fool's way; putting the blame on things themselves, and the way
of the disillusioned "sensible man". The right way is the Christian way. We do not have
desires unless a need arises to fulfill that desire. This leads into faith. Faith is the
art of holding onto things reason has once accepted. No man knows how hard he tries to be
good. Lewis believes this is a silly idea because good people know what temptation is. It
is only when we resist temptation that we know how strong it really is. Man strong in
faith is not always in perfect coexistence with God. As we grow in faith we begin to obey
Christ more passionately. This is related to the obedience of the truths that Christians
obtain.
Lewis begins Book IV with a discussion about life and how it relates to God. Theology is
the science of God. Lewis uses an analogy of a map to describe theology. In order to have
a map man must have experience of the area. Theology is the same due to the fact that the
experience is God. Lewis then goes on to describe the difference between begetting and
creation. To create is to make and to beget is to father. This theory then leads into
"Bios" and "Zoe." "Bios" is life without spirit; life in nature. "Zoe" is spiritual life.
Together they form one complete life; a life in God. 
Lewis then moves to a discussion of the divine personality, the three personal God. Most
people believe in a personal God, a mysterious something behind a mysterious force. Lewis
describes God's personality as being on a divine level. Theology is practical and the one
instrument for learning about God is the whole Christian community. This leads us to
believe that God is in three parts: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. "God is
love." In Lewis' view this statement is not true unless there are a Father and a Son
because love is for another person. "Love is God" on the other hand describes God's
creation of us and all that we do. The Trinity is in fact God both as Supreme Being, son
made flesh, and as a spirit. This in Lewis's view is what all of Christianity is about.
Lewis goes on to use a toy soldier analogy to describe how Christians are transformed
into the likeness of Jesus. Our natural life is life self-centered in us. Lewis views the
analogy of the tin soldier very solemnly yet very seriously on the other hand. He states
that if we were to become Christ we may not like it. This will lead us to resent him and
most likely steer us from him. We are human and God is God. This is the way it is
supposed to be. We need to gain our spiritual life by ourselves and with the help of
God's humanity. Lewis believes that this is how we will gain spiritual life.
Lewis now raises the question about Christianity being hard or easy. Lewis believes "that
the more you obey your conscience the more you conscience will demand of you"(169). This
will lead to anger and then you will either give up totally or live for others needs and
not the needs of yourself. Lewis says that the Christian way is both harder and easier
then giving into your conscience. Lewis goes on to ask if we as Christians should be
nicer then non-Christians. We as men are all the same. It is all on how man lives his
life. Lewis ends the book with the question; If a nice world would be easier to save than
a miserable one? A nice world would be in as much need from God as a miserable world, its
all how man lives his life. 
C.S. Lewis begins his book, "Mere Christianity", by introducing the Law of Right and
Wrong or the Laws of Nature. This, however, arises a question. What is the Law of Nature?
The Law of Nature is the known difference between right and wrong. That is, mans
distinction between what is right and what is wrong. "This law was called the Law of
Nature because people thought that everyone knew it and did not need to be taught
it"(18). Lewis relates the law to how we treat others. We treat others the way we want to
be treated and if they treat us poorly in return we become agitated and annoyed with
them. He states that we become a society of excuses when something goes wrong. He goes on
to say that we want to behave in a certain way when in reality we do the opposite of what
is right or what is wrong.
We are humans and humans have primal instincts. We are all capable of using our instincts
to do right or wrong. Lewis uses an example of a drowning man to prove this point. When
one sees a man in trouble two desires or instincts kick into play, to save the man or
ignore him because the situation at hand could endanger you. However, there in another
impulse that says help the man. With this comes a conflict of instincts. Do you run and
forget about it or do you jump in and help. Most people will help even if the situation
is going to endanger their life. This is just one way of seeing moral law. The right in a
situation will mostly always prevail over the wrong.
"Men ought to be unselfish, ought to be fair. Not that men are selfish, nor that they
like being unselfish, but they ought to be"(30). We are creatures of habit and logic.
Lewis believes that the moral law is not taught to us rather known by us instinctively.
He also believes that the law is real. The law is our behaviors in life via good or bad.
Lewis states, "there is something above and beyond the ordinary facts of men's
behavior"(30). This opens Lewis to believe that the natural law is both alive and active
in mans life today.
Lewis goes on to say that the law must be something above mans behavior. He begins to
relate this to the creation of the world. He takes into count the materialistic theory of
creation, that is that matter has always existed and creation of man happened out of
nowhere. The other view is the religious view. This view states, "what is behind the
universe is more like a mind then it is anything else we know"(32). Man wants to know who
or what created the universe and if there is a force directing it let alone them.
Lewis wants humanity to reconsider because he feels that man is on the wrong road. He
tries to prove this theory by looking at the present condition our world is in today. He
feels that people believe in God but only as the Supreme Being behind the law. Lewis
believes that God is good and like all good God can be hard and even dangerous. He
believes that only a person can forgive and their good can be reacted to in many
different ways. We ultimately can interpret the outcome as good or bad. Good to our
benefit and bad to no ones prevail. Lewis also believes that Christianity will not make
sense to anyone until they realize that the Moral Law is real and the power that governs
it is also real. To make Christianity make sense we must stop abusing the power and
breaking the law.
Lewis starts off Book II by discussing his ideas on God and the major divisions of belief
in God. He believes that God is beyond all good and evil and that He is righteous and all
mighty. To say that God is beyond all that is good and evil is called Pantheism.
Pantheists believe that God is the universe and if the universe didn't exist neither
would God. This differs from the Christian view that God created the universe. He then
starts to dwindle on the just and unjust in the world today. He blames his view on the
fact that he used to be an atheist and that his whole reality was senseless.
There are many people who reject the Christian doctrine simple due to the fact that it is
not easy to understand. Lewis believes that if there really were a God the religion of
that God would be easy to follow because "simplicity is beautiful"(48). This topic
discussed by Lewis leads to the conversation on Dualism. "Dualism is the belief that
there are two equal and independent powers at the back of everything, one of them is good
and the other bad, and that the universe is a battlefield in which they fight out an
endless battle"(48-49). Lewis, however, rejects the idea of dualism due to the fact that
our God is a Supreme Being and He is very intelligent and this makes him good. He
believes that evil is a parasite and that it a false attitude of good. He uses an analogy
that a good man does good to do well and a bad man does not do bad to be bad. This is why
Lewis does not agree with Dualism.
When we were created God gave us free will. This free will could be used to do anything,
both good and evil. Lewis believes that with free will comes the ability to do wrong. He
also believes that free will leads to evil but it also lead to love and joy that is worth
having. Lewis goes on to discuss Satan and the sin he taught the human race. "The moment
you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first-wanting to be in
the center-wanting to be God"(53-54). God, however, gave us three ways to fight Satan's
sin. He gave us a conscience, the ability to dream good dreams, and He taught the Jews
that He was the one true God of the universe. He goes on to say that Jesus was not a
great moral teacher because he felt that the people viewed him as a lunatic and not as
the Son of God.
Christians believe that Jesus came to this world to suffer and die for their sins and
wrong doings. They also believe that through His death they are back in the proper view
of God, in other words, Jesus' death was a fresh start for Christians. This leads Lewis
to start talking about repentance. Lewis believes that repentance is the unlearning of
all that has been taught to us, a sort of death in order to repair ourselves in God's
eyes. He feels that humans are only capable of a perfect repentance if they get God to
help. God helps us by showing how to think and teaching us how to love in His eyes. This
leads Christians to ask the question about Jesus' death and resurrection. Lewis feels the
whole situation to be silly due to the fact that he feels that Jesus was God. 
Lewis states that according to the Christian belief, by sharing in the humility and
suffering of Jesus we will share in his triumph over death and his finding of God's
kingdom in Heaven. Through this belief we as Christians will have fulfilled all God wants
us to fulfill and be able to live happily ever after in Heaven. Lewis states that being a
Christian is more then just mental belief. We must involve physical activities like mass
and the Eucharist. He also believes that doing well does not appease God rather it brings
the Christian closer to God and to his eternal promise to man. 
Lewis begins Book III by discussing the three parts of morality that comes with Christian
behavior. " Morality raises in a good many people's minds: something that interferes,
something that stops you from having a good time"(69). Morality is the fair play and
harmony between individuals. This can be broken, however, when humans separate from each
other and when there is something internally wrong with an individual. Morality can be
concerned with three things or reasons. "Firstly, with fair play and harmony between
individuals"(71). Secondly, with the harmonizing of one's inner self and thirdly with
what man is made for, human life. Morality can be said to be the general purpose for
human life as a whole.
Lewis goes on to discuss the "Cardinal Virtues." "Cardinal Virtues" are the virtue
admired by civilized people. "They are PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, JUSTICE, and FORTITUDE"(74).
Prudence is common sense. Lewis says that children are excellent examples of prudence
because they are sensible. "Temperance referred not specially to drink, but to all
pleasures; and it meant not abstaining, but going to the right length and no
further"(76). Justice means "fairness" and is more of a law virtue. Finally, fortitude,
which means courage in the sense of both personal and spiritual strength.
Social morality is a discussion of morality between man and man. Lewis believes that
Christ did not preach anything in new regards to morality. The real job of a moral
teacher is to bring us back to old principles we do not care for. Lewis introduces the
phrase "The church ought to give us a lead"(80). When he says church he means the whole
body of Christians. This means that he wants see these Christians to govern the others
who are farther behind in their faith. This leads him to begin talking about charity and
who should give and how much they should give. He believes that we should give more then
we can spare. He seems to express that we are a society of cheap and greedy people. I
feel that in the eyes of God all we give does not add up to all he returns.
Lewis believes that when a man makes a moral decision there are two things involved. They
are choosing and various feelings or acts that show his psychological abilities. This
then would lead to a normal feeling or a feeling that turns to fear and strikes the man
down. This links in to social morality and the man's perception to do right or wrong.
This may also lead into sexual morality or chastity. 
Christian chastity is different then social modesty because social modesty tells what on
the body can be displayed. In regards to sex there is nothing to be ashamed of unless it
is taken in excess and is done out of self-pleasure not in love. Christianity agrees with
this statement because Christianity approves of the body. This is where marriage comes to
play a role in mans behavior. The sexual impulse in man works best under marriage. Man
and wife unite on the alter to form "one flesh." According to Lewis, living together
outside of marriage causes one to unchaste and commits perjury against the law. The
passion of love compels two people to unite and create life of their own. Lewis also
believes that the man is the head and should deal with his families' policy because he is
strong and wise. 
Forgiveness in Lewis' eye is the love of a mans enemy. One of mans most terrible duties
is the forgiveness of his enemy. Two things we can do to make loving our enemies easier
are to forgive and to learn how to love our self. Loving yourself does not mean that you
have to punish yourself; it means you have to have courage in the face evil. The love of
our self can lead to us committing the great sin. Lewis describes the great sin as one in
which no man in the world is free, which every one in the world loathe when he sees it in
another, and which no Christian will admit to; Pride. The virtue opposite to Pride is
Humility. Lewis suggests that in order to find how proud you are you ask yourself this
question. "How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any
notice to me, or shove their oar in, or patronize me, or show off"(110)? There are four
misunderstandings Lewis discusses about pride. They are: pleasure in being praised, being
"proud of," pride in wrong doings, and being humble. To gain humility one must realize
that they are proud.
Lewis goes on to talk about the "Theological" virtues of FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY. He
describes charity as giving "alms" or giving to the poor. Lewis believes that that when
you love someone and you injure it you will not love it no more, but if you show love
your love will grow stronger. Lewis gives advice to those for a person with no love for
God. He tells them to try and love Him as if you really did love Him. Act in love and you
will be loved. Our feeling come and go, but God's are eternal and forever. Lewis mentions
some accomplishments of men who left their mark of earth because of their hope occupied
in Heaven. Most people look at heaven as a place to meet old friends. It however, is a
place to be with God and a place to live in peace with us. Although we experience great
things in life something still evades us. Lewis believes there are two wrong ways to deal
with this. They are: the fool's way; putting the blame on things themselves, and the way
of the disillusioned "sensible man". The right way is the Christian way. We do not have
desires unless a need arises to fulfill that desire. This leads into faith. Faith is the
art of holding onto things reason has once accepted. No man knows how hard he tries to be
good. Lewis believes this is a silly idea because good people know what temptation is. It
is only when we resist temptation that we know how strong it really is. Man strong in
faith is not always in perfect coexistence with God. As we grow in faith we begin to obey
Christ more passionately. This is related to the obedience of the truths that Christians
obtain.
Lewis begins Book IV with a discussion about life and how it relates to God. Theology is
the science of God. Lewis uses an analogy of a map to describe theology. In order to have
a map man must have experience of the area. Theology is the same due to the fact that the
experience is God. Lewis then goes on to describe the difference between begetting and
creation. To create is to make and to beget is to father. This theory then leads into
"Bios" and "Zoe." "Bios" is life without spirit; life in nature. "Zoe" is spiritual life.
Together they form one complete life; a life in God. 
Lewis then moves to a discussion of the divine personality, the three personal God. Most
people believe in a personal God, a mysterious something behind a mysterious force. Lewis
describes God's personality as being on a divine level. Theology is practical and the one
instrument for learning about God is the whole Christian community. This leads us to
believe that God is in three parts: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. "God is
love." In Lewis' view this statement is not true unless there are a Father and a Son
because love is for another person. "Love is God" on the other hand describes God's
creation of us and all that we do. The Trinity is in fact God both as Supreme Being, son
made flesh, and as a spirit. This in Lewis's view is what all of Christianity is about.
Lewis goes on to use a toy soldier analogy to describe how Christians are transformed
into the likeness of Jesus. Our natural life is life self-centered in us. Lewis views the
analogy of the tin soldier very solemnly yet very seriously on the other hand. He states
that if we were to become Christ we may not like it. This will lead us to resent him and
most likely steer us from him. We are human and God is God. This is the way it is
supposed to be. We need to gain our spiritual life by ourselves and with the help of
God's humanity. Lewis believes that this is how we will gain spiritual life.
Lewis now raises the question about Christianity being hard or easy. Lewis believes "that
the more you obey your conscience the more you conscience will demand of you"(169). This
will lead to anger and then you will either give up totally or live for others needs and
not the needs of yourself. Lewis says that the Christian way is both harder and easier
then giving into your conscience. Lewis goes on to ask if we as Christians should be
nicer then non-Christians. We as men are all the same. It is all on how man lives his
life. Lewis ends the book with the question; If a nice world would be easier to save than
a miserable one? A nice world would be in as much need from God as a miserable world, its
all how man lives his life.