BIB4360 Christian Theology - Book Report 2

Name: Ian Brown

Date: 01 Mar 11
Student ID#: 0097179

Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

Instructions: Answer the following questions carefully. The first section of the questions is to be
answered on this sheet. The second section will require answers to be placed on separate paper.

Section One
1. Did you read all of Mere Christianity? (Mark with an ‘X’) Yes X No      
Note: The questions did not cover the entire book. You are to have read the whole book, not
just those portions necessary to answer the questions.
2. On a scale of 1 to 10, how carefully do you feel you read this book? 8
Note: “1" signifies that you were adjacent to the book for occasional periods; “10" signifies
that you memorized the book completely.
3. Briefly describe your reaction to this book, whether regarding its strengths, weaknesses, areas
where it was especially helpful, style of writing, and so on.
This book was awesome!! It was written from the view of an outsider and is very well
articulated. I read someone of this book to my Non-Christian friends to start conversation and
even they said it was profound.

Section Two
Book One
1. The title of the chapter is “The Law of Human Nature.” How would you define what this law
is?
The Law of Human Nature is the natural law which applies to humans concerning Right and
Wrong. All humans know about right and wrong, however everyone has their own perception or
definition of whether something is right or wrong. This originated by people thinking everyone
knows what is right and what is wrong.

2. Cite how the fact that “we don’t execute witches anymore” is not an argument against the
moral law.
This is not an argument against moral law because we do not believe there is such a thing. You
cannot create moral principles based on things you do not believe exist. The big difference is
what is fact. There is no bettering of morality in executing witches when you do not believe in
them.

3. Why is the law of human nature not like the law of gravity?
The Law of Human Nature is different from The Law of Gravity because it is not a fact. The
Law of Gravity is a fact, and that if you throw a stone it will fall. The Law of Human Nature is
different since men can go the opposite way and has the right to choose their options. All of the
arguments against Human Nature go nowhere when trying to explain why we shouldn't do them.
Ex: Why shouldn't we be selfish? This Law definitely exists but is not a factual law like our
literal behavior.

4. If there was a “controlling power” outside the universe, how would it/he make himself known
to us?
The controlling power would one have to have a mind, and the best way to make himself known
to us is to give us the same mind as Him, or implant his standards on each of our hearts. This is
where the conscience and moral law came from.

5. What is the “terrible fix we are in” according to Lewis?

The terrible fix is that as a human race we are on the wrong road, and we are too
ignorant/stubborn to get off of that road, and change directions. We missed the point of God
embedding in our hearts the Moral Law. We automatically look for comfort when we must first
meet dismay in order to be truly, and properly comforted.
Book Two
1. Lewis used to believe that God did not exist because the universe seemed so cruel and unjust.
How did he come to see that this argument did not work?
This argument did not work because it made him realize that he has a definition of just and
uncruel. Based off Moral Law what might be cruel to one might not be cruel to another. He was
honest that all it really meant was that the way the world was did not fit how he expected things
ought to be.

2. Lewis appreciates Christianity, in part, because one “could not have guessed it” or made it up.
Why?
It could not be made up because we naturally are sinners. He states that evil is a parasite. Evil
could not exist by itself but only is a malproduct of the goodness we know. The goodness we
know about came from God. Christianity also offers us the unexpected while anything made up
would be exactly how we want it. I'm sure our flesh will tell us that it naturally doesn't want to
subject itself to righteousness!

3. What, in Lewis’ mind, is the “really foolish thing” that people often say about Jesus? Why is it
foolish?
The foolish thing to say about Jesus is that we accept Him as a moral teacher but not as God.
Jesus made the most profound statement of every human that has existed. He did not come to be
a moral teacher but to instill in the hearts of men that He is God in the human form who lowered
himself to save His creation.

4. In two or three well-worded sentences summarize how Lewis would define the wonder of the
atonement.
He defines atonement as one being able to save another due to his advantage. One example is if I
needed to learn how to defeat death, I need to learn from someone who defeated death, and the
originator alone will know how to defeat death. This is the case with Jesus he became man to
show us how we can defeat death since He accomplished it, and we would be stupid to not
follow His example since he is perfect, and God in the human flesh.

5. Why does Lewis think that God came in "disguise" the first time (in the person of Jesus) and
not as a conquering invader?
He states that Jesus came in disguise the first time to give everyone a chance to choose His side
freely. He wants to know who is truly on His side and wants to follow Him out of a life
commitment, and now just purely out of convenience. When he comes back it will truly be
overwhelming causing adoration or fear.
Book Three
1. Which lasts longer, according to Christianity--an individual or a civilization? Why does it
matter?
An individual lasts longer. A civilization/country will only last for a certain amount of time but
as individuals with souls will last forever. This is why the Bible turns us to look at things from a
heavenly/eternal perspective. It matters because us as individuals need to face the Bible and
apply it to the three aspects of morality that he explained in this chapter.

2. Finish this sentence as cited by Lewis: "We might think that God wanted simply obedience to
a set of rules"
whereas He really wants people of a particular sort.

3. What does Lewis mean when he reminds us that "Christianity does not replace the ordinary
arts and sciences"?
Christianity is designed to tell you what things you should do but not how you should do it using
natural means. He stated it tells you to read the Bible but doesn't tell you all the in's and out's of
learning the original texts, that is something we as humans discovered using arts, and sciences.
We used these skills and arts that God gave us to help us better understand His word on a human,
and practical level.

4. Lewis does not like the idea of Christianity of being a bargain with God. What is a better way
to look at it?
It is better to think that everytime you make a choice you're turning yourself into someone
different than you were last time. With our innumerable choices, we are daily changing ourselves
into someone who is getting closer in friendship with God, or as one who is converting himself
into a person at enmity with God.

5. Lewis argues that the Diabolical self is worse than the Animal self. Define what he means and
include whether you agree with him.
He means that the Animal part of you is the part of you that was created for sexual desire, yet the
Diabolical part of you is the part of you that practices lawlessness, and oppresses chastity. I
definitely agree with him. Personally speaking I've thought and done all kinds of things sexually
I never thought or could imagine, but it was all because I was daily indulging in them as fantasy,
and then they became reality. Meanwhile I was going to church and acting like it was no big
deal. At least with the prostitute they know that they are in the wrong, and the majority of them
don't like selling themselves, but use it as a mattter of convenience to feed their indulgences.

6. Does Lewis believe that the man should be the head of the home?
Yes he believes the man should be the head of the home. Mostly because people automatically
go to the man when something is affecting a family and most women who are heads of their
house are ashamed of it, and they also despise their husbands for being indecisive.

7. Lewis says that "love your neighbor" does not mean "feel fond of him.” What does it mean?
Loving your neighbor means not wishing anything upon Him that you wouldn't wish upon
yourself. If you had to kill someone you would do it in the most extreme case of preserving your
own life, but when you do it you shouldn't rejoice in it. You should have regret and hope that he
was in a place where He was right with His creator. It's all about wishing good upon Him and not
pure affliction.

8. What is, according to the title of the chapter, the "great sin"?
Pride or Self-Conceit is the "great sin". Indeed this sin is the root of where satan went wrong, and
then deceived man kind. Adam deceived himself into believing he could be like God like the
serpent told him. In James Chapter 1 we see this same type of example that we as humans can
deceive ourselves, so we need to be doers and not just hearers.

9. Lewis advises that we should not "waste time" thinking whether we love our neighbor--or
even God. What should we do instead?
It is pointless for us to sit and "think" on this but to simply act on this. If you act as if you love
someone you will naturally turn to love them. I think this is why my pastor told me to serve my
wife, and by doing this I will naturally love her more!! This is also why it is important to pray for
our enemies.

10. Why are many of us, according to Lewis, not spending every day wanting to be in heaven?
We are not spending every day wanting to be in heaven because we haven't been trained to do so,
nor have we been educated about heaven. When something in us yearns for heaven, and we have
that heavenly mindset we always fail to realize and minimize it as an a good deed we should do
to make ourselves happy.

11. Lewis begins this chapter asking a very good question: How can Christians regard faith as a
virtue?--as though believing or not believing something is in itself moral or immoral. How does
he conclude that faith is indeed a Christian virtue?
Faith is a virtue because it is something that must be earnestly sought after, and constantly
nourished. I now understand why it is impossible to please God without faith. It is a virtue
because it stands firm no matter what comes at it, and no matter how much your moods change
throughout life. It also understands that the faith in itself originates from God, and it is for God.
We can't offer God anything that he hasn't given to us to fulfill his purpose in our life's.

12. Lewis does not like the line of thinking which says, "God did this bit and I did that." Why
not?
God isn't like that, this way of thinking will fail us, and it minimizes God. Human language also
can't adequately express what God is truly doing in our life's. Our main goal is to look to Jesus
whom is the source of all faith based goodness that comes out of us.
Book Four
1. Why does Lewis reject the idea that the common man does not like or need theology?
He rejects that idea because man isn't that foolish. Theology is studying the science of God, and
anyone who wants to be closer to Him won't do anything so foolish which limits his
understanding.They need to know the truth about God and what is upcoming rather than just
laying asleep and doing nothing to find out the truth.

2. What in Lewis' opinion is the "one really adequate instrument for learning about God"?
The most adequate instrument to learn God is your whole self. This is why it is important for a
person to keep themselves unspotted from the world especially with the world pressing for
Christians to adapt their believes based on tolerance.

3. What is better than saying that "God remembers what we did yesterday" according to Lewis?
The better thing is that God does not remember what we did yesterday because there is no such
thing as yesterday to Him. He stands out of time, and therefore everything is present day or
current for Him. For everything that we have, are, and/or going to do God sees it as present day.

4. What does Lewis mean by the title of this chapter--good infection?

Jesus Christ came into the world to spread a good infection which is simply the kind of life that
he has to offer everyone. We are all to become like Christ, and imitate Him like a child mimicks
his father. This is our whole purpose as a Christian.

5. Who is the "obstinate toy soldier" in Lewis' illustration?

The obstinate toy soldier in his illustration is none other than Jesus Christ. He personally was
God who could see all of time before Him yet he chose to clothe himself in humanity and only
see what was in front of Him by submitting to the Father, and He did this to die, and rise again to
abolish our sins.

6. Why should we really never desire all other people to be like ourselves?
God does not want anyone to be like the past person or the future person. We are all part of one
body, and if you look at your body parts they all perform different functions. God has an
individual purpose for every individual person in the church.

7. After reading the entire chapter, summarize Lewis' point in choosing the title "Let's Pretend."
He is talking about us pretending to be living in the likeness of Christ. By pretending that we are
Men of God we will eventually become Men of God. If I constantly pretend that I have patience
with my wife soon or later it will become a characteristic because I will become used to being
patient. I need to begin to pretend that lust is not an issue and by me pretending that, it will not
be constantly on my mind, and next thing you know I will find myself having victory in Christ!!
Awesome chapter, and good illustration about children!

8. When God told us to "Be perfect," what did he mean?

When God meant for us to perfect he meant just that. He told us that we must daily carry our
cross, and yet that his yoke is light.We must go hard or go home. We are to daily press towards
the prize of drawing ourselves closer to Him so he can make each one of us daily like Christ.
9. How is God like a dentist in Lewis' illustration?
God is like a dentist because whenever you have a problem with one tooth/one sin he will fix that
one but will look all around in your mouth for other problems that you haven't felt the pain for
yet. You tell him that one tooth hurts but he starts drilling and pulling teeth out of your whole
mouth til you're toothless!!

10. Why should we never be surprised that some Christians are still "nasty," as Lewis would say?
We shouldn't be surprised that some Christians are nasty because this nastiness is part of the
reason God let them to himself. Just because a person becomes saved does not mean that they
will immediately change. It's the nice people that we have to worry about because they mostly
are the ones who feel they do not need Christ.

11. What is the reward, according to the author, of giving up your "self" wholly to God?
The reward of giving your whole self to God is that you will gain your real self. By trying to
become yourself outside of Christ you really are conforming to this world and doing the same
thing that they are all doing. By surrendering God will work in you and bring out the real you,
the you that you were truly created to be.