cs lewis the man and his message

7/27/2019 CS Lewis the Man and His Message

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PREFACE

ON DECEMBER 4 AND 5, 1998, the colleges of Religious Educatio ad CotiuigEducatio at B!igha" #oug $i%e!sit& s'oso!ed a cofe!ece i hoo! of the oe

hud!edth ai%e!sa!& of the (i!th of C) *) +eis, the g!eat Aglica chu!ch"a ad

defede! of the Ch!istia faith) -e as (o! No%e"(e! .9, 1898, i Belfast, /!elad) A "aof '!ofoud itellect ad dee' (elief i the di%iit& of ou! +o!d, he 'ossessed the !e"a!0a(le

a(ilit& to s'ea0 to 'eo'le f!o" all al0s of lifeto '!o%ide the" eithe! ith !easos fo!

co"ig to Ch!ist o! cotiuig thei! associatio ith the gos'el of 2esus Ch!ist)

B!igha" #oug $i%e!sit&3s +eis Cofe!ece as held i the ho'e that all ho'a!tici'ated, as ell as those ho ould late! lea! of it, ould gai a g!eate! a''!eciatio

ot ol& fo! +eis3s thought (ut also fo! !easos h& he cotiues to ha%e such a (!oad

a''eales'eciall& a"og +atte!da& *aits) +eis as educated at Ofo!d $i%e!sit& ad(eca"e oe of its fellos fo! thi!t& &ea!s) / 1954 he as hoo!ed ith a facult& 'ositio at

Ca"(!idge $i%e!sit&, (eco"ig that istitutio3s fi!st P!ofesso! of Medie%al ad

Reaissace Eglish) But he as eithe! a !ecluse o! a 'edat6 he did ot li%e i a i%o!&toe!) -e as a ad%ocate ad defede! of 7"e!e Ch!istiait&the 0id taught i sc!i'tu!e

ad li%ed ith fe!%o! i the !eal o!ld) Because +eis as such a (!illiat schola!, !ite!,

'oet, ad lite!a!& c!itic, e caot igo!e these as'ects of his life, o! ha%e e i this

'!eset collectio) -oe%e!, f!o" 191 o, all such "atte!s fo! +eis see" to ha%e ta0esecod 'lace (ehid the cet!al "essage of Ch!istiait&2esus Ch!ist ad -is Atoe"et)

+eis o!0ed ti!elessl& to hel' othe!s ude!stad hat it "eas to bea Ch!istia ad to li%e

as a Ch!istia) $lti"atel&, +eis ca"e to (e !ega!ded as e%e!&oe3s '!eache!, e%e!&thi0ig Ch!istia3s su'!e"e a'ologist)

:hat +eis 'ossessed a (!oad ad co"'!ehesi%e %ie of Ch!istiait& is attested (& the %e!&

'!esetatios deli%e!ed at the B#$ +eis cofe!ece) ;e a!e 'leased to '!eset the !itte

tets of ele%e of the fou!tee '!esetatios ith ol& "io! edito!ial chages)

/t is ho'ed that this %olu"e ill (!ig (ac0 fod "e"o!ies of the +eis cofe!ece to those

ho atteded ad ill (eefit a (!oad s'ect!u" of othe! idi%iduals+atte!da& *aits as

ell as those ot of ou! faith, those ho 0o +eis3s !itigs ell ad those ho ha%e

ol& a 'assig ac


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INTRODUCTION

C) *) +E;/*> :he Ma ad -is Message

Ro(e!t +) Millet

:-E E**A#* COMPR/*/N? :-/* BOO@ a!e iteded to cele(!ate the life ad o!0s of a

!e"a!0a(le hu"a (eig hose ifluece o Ch!istiait& is sigificat, hose !itigs

cotiue to sti! the souls of "e ad o"e e%e!&he!e) :he &ea! 1998 !e'!esets the

cele(!atio of the oe hud!edth (i!thda& of Cli%e *ta'les +eis) -e as (o! o .9No%e"(e! 1898 ad died o .. No%e"(e! 19, the sa"e da& that P!esidet 2oh F)

@eed& as assassiated i :eas) :his is o dou(t h& so fe 'eo'le !e"e"(e! +eis3s

death) Cofe!eces, s&"'osia, ad o!0sho's of this t&'e a!e (eig held a!oud the o!ld)/ A'!il of this &ea! P!ofesso! Ad!e *0ie! ad / atteded oe at ;heato College i

/lliois, ad the!e a!e othe!s he!e ho atteded a +eis cofe!ece at Ofo!d ad

Ca"(!idge du!ig the su""e!)

+et "e (egi, fi!st of all, ith a disclai"e! of so!ts) :his is ot, st!ictl& s'ea0ig, aacade"ic stud& of the life o! o!0s of C) *) +eis) :his is ot a fo!u" fo! schola!s to s'ea0

to schola!s) :he +eis cofe!ece at ;heato College had a ode!ful title, oe that

desc!i(es +eis3s !ole 'e!fectl&6 the& called it 7Retu!ig :heolog& to the Masses) Ma&cofe!eces a!e so aal&tical, so esote!ic, so a!!o that the ite!ested o(se!%e! o! e%e the

ifo!"ed os'ecialist feels o%e!hel"ed) ;e sought to "a0e this cofe!ece the 0id of

gathe!ig that a&oe could eo& ad lea! f!o") *o"e ha%e i ;h& ha%e3t &oui%ol%ed "o!e 7+eis schola!s i this s&"'osiu" Richa!d 2oh Neuhaus !e"a!0ed

!ecetl& at a si"ila! gathe!ig at Ca"(!idge> 7:he fi!st thig / should sa& is that / a" ot a

+eis schola!) :he secod thig is that, f!o" hat / ude!stad of the "a, he ould li0el&

(e a"used that the!e a!e 'eo'le called +eis schola!s) :he!e a!e si"'l& those ho ca sto'!eadig +eis, ad those ho ca3t) Afte! a hile, so"e of the latte! fid that the& a!e

thought to (e +eis schola!s)1

C) *) +eis as a gifted !ite!, oe hose (oo0s ad a!ticles ha%e it!igued ad is'i!ed'eo'le f!o" all al0s of life) -e is, a!gua(l&, oe of the g!eatest defede!s of the Ch!istia

faith of the tetieth cetu!&) As oe of his closest f!ieds, Austi Fa!!e!, has o(se!%ed>

7+eis as a a'ologist f!o" te"'e!, f!o" co%ictio, ad f!o" "odest&) F!o" te"'e!, fo!

he lo%ed a a!gu"et) F!o" co%ictio, (eig t!aditioall& o!thodo) F!o" "odest&,(ecause he laid o clai" eithe! to the lea!ig hich ould ha%e "ade hi" a theologia o!

to the g!ace hich ould ha%e "ade hi" a s'i!itual guide) Fa!!e! et o to e'lai that 7it

is co""ol& said that if !atioal a!gu"et is so seldo" the cause of co%ictio,'hiloso'hical a'ologists "ust la!gel& (e astig thei! shot) :he '!e"ise is t!ue, (ut the

coclusio does ot follo) Fo! though a!gu"et does ot c!eate co%ictio, the lac0 of it

dest!o&s (elief) ;hat see"s to (e '!o%ed "a& ot (e e"(!aced6 (ut hat o oe shos thea(ilit& to defed is


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defed "a& 'la& a useful, though '!e'a!ato!&, 'a!t).Ad, / ould add, fe 'eo'le ha%e

'la&ed that 'a!t 7/ !ote the (oo0s /

should ha%e li0ed to !ead) :hat3s ala&s (ee "& !easo fo! !itig)4

Of +eis, Richa!d2oh Neuhaus, a Ro"a Catholic schola!, has !itte> 7-e as, / thi0, iclied to assu"ethat his e'e!iece as the co""o e'e!iece) / this sese, although he che!ished

ecellece, he as ot a elitist) A&thig (ut) Oe "ight e%e !is0 callig hi" a 'o'ulist)

;hethe! it as "e!e3 Ch!istiait& o! "e!e3 se o! the "e!e3 co"'aioshi' of f!ieds, his'u!'ose as to elicit hat is al!ead& the!e, if ol& e ould o'e ou! e&es to see itthe

ode! disguised i the "e!e)375

72ac0 +eis, as his f!ieds 0e hi", is tough to la(el o! catego!i=e) -e 7is ot a

theological li(e!al, (ut eithe! did his %ies s


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Ma& of us %alue his o!0 (ecause of his tedec& to focus '!i"a!il& o doct!ie) :o of

his (iog!a'he!s, Roge! ?!ee ad ;alte! -oo'e!, ha%e !itte> 7:he t!uth is that +eise%e! got o ell ith 'u!el& de%otioal (oo0s) ;hat he ifiitel& '!efe!!ed e!e solid

o!0s of theolog& that he had to o!0 at to ude!stad) +eis oce !ote, i fact> 7Fo! "&

o 'a!t, / ted to fid the doct!ial (oo0s ofte "o!e hel'ful i de%otio tha the

de%otioal (oo0s, ad / !athe! sus'ect that the sa"e e'e!iece "a& aait othe!s) / (elie%ethat "a& ho fid that othig ha''es3 he the& sit do, o! 0eel do, to a (oo0 of

de%otio, ould fid that the hea!t sigs u(idde hile the& a!e o!0ig thei! a& th!ougha tough (it of theolog& ith a 'i'e i thei! teeth ad a 'ecil i thei! had)1HOthe! tha the

'i'e i ou! teeth, "a& of us ca idetif& ith these seti"ets ad see a close tie to the

o!ds of P!esidet Bo&d @) Pac0e! that 7t!ue doct!ie, ude!stood, chages attitudes ad

(eha%io!)11

Of cou!se, Cli%e *ta'les +eis as ot a +atte!da& *ait, ad e ha%e o itetio of

coto!tig hi" ito oe) ;e caot !ead his "id, o! ca e ala&s 0o assu!edl& hat

he "eat (& hat he said) But the, eithe! ca a&oe else ho !eads hi", uless the& e!e

iti"atel& ac


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Ch!istia (elief i the "ids of "e ithout (eig !e%i%alistic) / this dis'osa(le age of

'a'e! 'lates ad 'a'e! 'hiloso'hies hich a!e good fo! oe use ol&, +eis isisted that allthigs had to (e tested s'i!ituall&, !atioall&, ad e'e!ietiall& (efo!e a hoest "a could

gi%e allegiace to the") -e (elie%ed that Ch!istiait& "et e%e!& test)14

No agai, / haste to add that C) *) +eis as ot a +atte!da& *ait, ad ot all of hathe taught ad (elie%ed is i ha!"o& ith hat e (elie%e) /t does ot ta0e a uclea!scietist to 'oit out diffe!eces) ;he e loo0 se!iousl& at his !itigs, hoe%e!, the!e a!e

a su!'!isig u"(e! of si"ila!ities) +eis as ot a o!daied a'ostle, though he ce!tail&

had a testi"o& of the di%iit& of 2esus Ch!ist) -e as ot a '!o'het, though his !itigsha%e a !ele%ace a(out the" that "a0e the" (oth ti"el& ad ti"eless6 +eis3s !itigs

see" to atici'ate, fo! ea"'le, "uch of the foolishess e see toda& i the socalled 72esus

*e"ia!) :hus +atte!da& *aits do ot tu! to +eis fo! the fial o!d o doct!iale'asio o! cla!ificatio o! ite!'!etatio, o! do e "easu!e t!uth (& his isights) At the

sa"e ti"e, e a!e eage! to fid t!uth he!e%e! e ca ad ecited to ac0oledge it f!o"

ho"e%e! it flos) 2ose'h *"ith stated> 7Oe of the g!ad fuda"etal '!ici'les of

Mo!"ois"3 is to !ecei%e t!uth, let it co"e f!o" hece it "a&)15

As +atte!da& *aits e a!e i a ite!estig ad so"ehat a0a!d 'ositio i the

Ch!istia o!ld) ;e clai" di%ie a'ostolic autho!it& ad clai" to (e 'ossesso!s of the

!esto!ed gos'el of 2esus Ch!ist) At the sa"e ti"e, e full& ac0oledge that ?od is o!0ig-is ill th!ough "e ad o"e th!oughout the ea!th, ad that 7e%e!& thig hich i%iteth

to do good, ad to 'e!suade to (elie%e i Ch!ist, is set fo!th (& the 'oe! ad gift of Ch!ist6

he!efo!e &e "a& 0o ith a 'e!fect 0oledge it is of ?od Mo!o) G>1) P!esidet E=!a

:aft Beso e'laied that ou! -ea%el& Fathe! uses the 'eo'le of the ea!th, es'eciall& good'eo'le, to acco"'lish -is 'u!'oses) 7/t has (ee t!ue i the 'ast, it is t!ue toda&, it ill (e

t!ue i the futu!e)1

As e !ead C) *) +eis, let us o'e ou! "ids to e t!uths ad ou! hea!ts to ea''licatios of those t!uths) +et us a%oid a!!oess ad ecou!age i ou!sel%es that (!eadth

ad o'eess that foste!s g!oth ad egede!s hu"(le g!atitude fo! ?od ad fo! those

hose o!0s 'oit us "o!e clea!l& toa!d ?od) C) *) +eis had a (!illiat "id, oe that

"ight ell ha%e (ee de%oted eclusi%el& to othe! fields ithi the acade"&) C!itici=ed fo!"a& &ea!s (& his colleagues fo! tu!ig his gifts ad t!aiig to the defese of Ch!istiait&,

he e%e!theless felt that Ch!istiait& as o!th& of a itelliget defese, a la(o! that

dese!%ed his (est effo!t) :his as his legac& to the Ch!istia o!ld, a legac& e sha!e ithou! (!othe!s ad siste!s of othe! faiths, a legac& that foste!s a''!eciatio fo! a sigificat

life)

Robert L. Millet is "ean of %eligio#s &"#cation an" professor of Ancient Script#re at

'righam (o#ng )niversity* +e is the a#thor of n#mero#s boos an" articles, incl#"ing TheMormon -aith! A New oo at Christianity)

Notes


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1) Richa!d 2oh Neuhaus, 7C) *) +eis i the Pu(lic * Collis, 199H, ') .H)

4) C) *) +eis, as cited i B!ia *i(le&, C* S* ewis thro#gh the Sha"owlan"s ?!ad

Ra'ids> Fle"ig -) Re%ell, 1985, ') .4)

5) Neuhaus, 7C) *) +eis i the Pu(lic *

Cu"(e!lad -ouse, 199, it!oductio)

G) Michael 2) Ch!istese, C* S* ewis on Script#reNash%ille> A(igdo P!ess, 19G9, ')11)

8) ;alte! -oo'e!, i The Weight of Glory an" .ther A""ressesNe #o!0> :ouchstoe,

199, ') 19)

9) C) *) +eis,Mere ChristianityNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, '') 1H11)

1H) / C* S* ewis! A 'iography, eds) Roge! +) ?!ee ad ;alte! -oo'e! *a Diego>

-a!cou!t B!ace I Co), 19G4, ') 115)

11) Bo&d @) Pac0e!, i Cofe!ece Re'o!t, Octo(e! 198, ') .H)

1.) C) *) +eis,etters of C* S* ewis, ed) ;) -) +eis> !e%) ad ela!ged ed), ed) ;alte!

-oo'e! Ne #o!0> -a!cou!t B!ace I Co), 199, ') 44G)

1) C) *) +eis, Go" in the Doc, ed) ;alte! -oo'e! ?!ad Ra'ids, Mich)> Ee!d"as,

19GH, ') 18)

14) ;illia" Cla&to @i"(all, 7:he Ch!istia Co""it"et> C) *) +eis ad the Defese of

Doct!ie,'righam (o#ng )niversity St#"ies, 1.>., ite! 19G.) ') .H8)

15) 2ose'h *"ith, Teachings of the Prophet /oseph Smith, sel) 2ose'h Fieldig *"ith *alt+a0e Cit&> Dese!et Boo0, 19G, ') 1)

1) E=!a :aft Beso, i Cofe!ece Re'o!t, A'!il 19G., ') 49)


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1

C) *) +E;/*> /sights o Disci'leshi'

Neal A) Maell

:-E @/ND /NJ/:A:/ON FROM DEAN Ro(e!t Millet fo! "e to 'a!tici'ate i this

s&"'osiu" ca"e "a& "oths ago) M& health "ade acce'tig the i%itatio '!o(le"atic,

so / a" es'eciall& g!ateful to (e he!e) / co"e to &ou ho'ig to cot!i(ute, though ot i

!o(ust coditio)

:he!e a!e so "a& diffe!et di"esios of C) *) +eis ad his o!0s) Fo! istace, the!e is

+eis3s !ead& it, oe of the lesse!0o ea"'les of hich as !e'o!ted (& Ca!ol&

@eefe> 7+eis hi"self as ot a(o%e the deli(e!ate 'lo&) ) ) ) :he occasio as a die!'a!t&) :he "ai dish as ) ) ) the (lood ad guts of a shee') +eis as seated et to a

Po!tuguese digita!& ho, hile 'a!ta0ig ) ) ) !e"a!0ed that he felt li0e a gast!oo"ic

Colu"(us)3 :he co"'a!iso is a&a!d i &ou! case,3 !e"a!0ed +eis, ;h& ot a

%ascula! da ?a"a31

/t ould (e a''!o'!iate i this settig, as othe!s ill do, to s'ea0 a(out the %a!ious

theological touchig 'oits (etee +eis3s (eliefs ad the (eliefs of "a& of us he!e

toda&) /stead, / ha%e chose to tal0 a(out the isights ad cot!i(utios of C) *) +eis

coce!ig ho eactig Ch!istia disci'leshi' !eall& is) :o& @i"(all, a f!ied of "a& ofus he!e, !ote !ecetl&>

;he +eis !ote, 7:he ha!dess of ?od is 0ide! tha the softess of "e, ad -is

co"'ulsio is ou! li(e!atio C) *) +eis, S#rprise" by /oy! The Shape of My &arly ifeKNe #o!0> -a!cou!t, B!ace ad Co"'a&, 1955L, ') ..9, he affi!"ed he ude!stood the

a(solute atu!e of the co""it"et !e.9) / "&

o'iio, so fa! as disci'leshi' is coce!ed, this is the ol& a& e !eall& lea!) :he!efo!e,

hile it is ot doct!ie fo! hich / loo0 to +eis, / fid his "epiction of disci'leshi'es'eciall& a!ticulate ad hel'ful) :he &ield f!o" +eis i this !es'ect is a(udat)

/ sha!e the folloig ea"'les of C) *) +eis o disci'leshi' hile !eali=ig that each of

&ou has &ou! o "oti%atig collectio)

+ife3s disclosu!es a(out the deficiecies i ou! idi%idual disci'leshi' a!e seldo"

co%eiet, hece / see" to !ecall C) *) +eis sa&ig that if &ou at to fid out if the!e a!e!ats i the cella!, the flig the cella! doo! o'e suddel& ;hethe! it is the suddeess of a


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cella! doo! o! the !outie disclosu!es of deficiecies a"id see"igl& hu"d!u" dail& life, e

still eed to (e sho ou! sho!tco"igs) /t is i this coectio that faith i ou! idi%iduali""o!talit& is so %ital, sice it ude!sco!es ou! 'e!soal accouta(ilit& as ell as ou!

'e!soal 'ossi(ilities, &et such faith toda& has !eceded i so "a&, ust as Matthe A!old

!ote of i his 7Do%e! Beach)

/ts "elachol&, log, ithd!aig !oa!,Ret!eatig, to the (!eath

Of the ightid, do the %ast edges d!ea!

Ad a0ed shigles of the o!ld)

:his declie i such s'ecific faith is "uch "o!e !a'id sice A!old3s ti"e) Ce!tail& the!e is

a lac0 of 7faith uto !e'etace Al"a 4>15, hich causes "a& to a%oid the de"ads of

de%elo'"etal disci'leshi') +i0eise, the atu!e of ou! faith i ?od ad -is 'u!'oses

clea!l& dete!"ies ho e %ie ou!sel%es ad othe!s) +eis3s o!ds of 'e!s'ecti%e a!e loudad clea!> 7:he!e a!e o o!dia!& 'eo'le) K;eL ha%e e%e! tal0ed to a "e!e "o!tal) Natios,

cultu!es, a!ts, ci%ilisatiosthese a!e "o!tal, ad thei! life is to ou!s as the life of a gat) Butit is i""o!tals ho" e o0e ith, o!0 ith, "a!!&, su(, ad e'loit)

Fu!the!"o!e, sice disci'leshi' occu!s i a tight "o!tal ti"e f!a"e, it is all the "o!e a!igo!ous ad ogoig de%elo'"etal ou!e&) No ode! +eis st!essed ou! eed to 'e!sist>

7No the!e a!e a good "a& thigs hich ould ot (e o!th (othe!ig a(out if / e!e

goig to li%e ol& se%et& &ea!s, (ut hich / had (ette! (othe! a(out %e!& se!iousl& if / a"goig to li%e fo! e%e!) Pe!ha's "& (ad te"'e! o! "& ealous& a!e g!aduall& gettig o!se

so g!aduall& that the ic!ease i se%et& &ea!s ill ot (e %e!& oticea(le) But it "ight (e

a(solute hell i a "illio &ea!s)4

No ode! Ch!istia disci'leshi' assu"es ad !e


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us ad code"ed us, -e has e%e! !ega!ded us ith cote"'t) -e has 'aid us the

itole!a(le co"'li"et of lo%ig us, i the dee'est, "ost t!agic, "ost ieo!a(le sese)8

?il(e!t Meilaede! !ote ell of +eis i the fall 1998 issue of-irst Things, sa&ig, 7E%e!&

choice couts) E%e!& choice cot!i(utes to dete!"iig hat e ulti"atel& lo%e)9

C) *) +eis lea!ed ad cocluded, as do all se!ious disci'les, that he oe gets i%ol%ed

ith ?od, the lo%ig :uto! does3t sto' halfa& th!ough)

;he / as a child / ofte had toothache, ad / 0e that if / et to "& "othe! she ouldgi%e "e so"ethig hich ould deade the 'ai fo! that ight ad let "e get to slee') But /

did ot go to "& "othe!at least, ot till the 'ai (eca"e %e!& (ad) Ad the !easo / did

ot go as this) / did ot dou(t she ould gi%e "e the as'i!i6 (ut / 0e she ould also doso"ethig else) / 0e she ould ta0e "e to the detist et "o!ig) ) ) ) Ad / 0e those

detists6) ) ) Ou! +o!d is li0e the detists) ) ) ) Do=es of 'eo'le go to -i" to (e cu!ed of

so"e oe 'a!ticula! si hich the& a!e asha"ed of) ) ) ) ;ell, -e ill cu!e it all !ight> (ut he

ill ot sto' the!e) :hat "a& (e all &ou as0ed6 (ut if oce &ou call -i" i, -e ill gi%e &outhe full t!eat"et)1H

:he!e is so"eoe else of ho" +eis !e"ids us> the :e"'te!, ho is li0eise coce!ed

ith the little thigs i ou! dail& li%es> 7/t does ot "atte! ho s"all the sis a!e, '!o%idedthat thei! cu"ulati%e effect is to edge the "a aa& f!o" the +ight ad out ito the Nothig)

Mu!de! is o (ette! tha ca!ds if ca!ds ca do the t!ic0) /deed, the safest !oad to -ell is the

g!adual oethe getle slo'e, soft ude!foot, ithout sudde tu!igs, ithout "ilestoes,ithout sig'osts)11

Disci'leshi' is li0eise a '!ecious (ut ic!e"etal '!ocess, as +eis o(se!%ed, i hich

7the Ch!istia, t!&ig to t!eat e%e!& oe 0idl&, fids hi"self li0ig "o!e ad "o!e 'eo'le ashe goes oicludig 'eo'le he could ot e%e ha%e i"agied hi"self li0ig at the(egiig)1.

But e a!e so easil& deflected f!o" the ou!e&, a!e3t e +eis !ote of oe !easo

7h&> 7:he fi!st ste' is to !ecogise the fact that &ou! "oods chage) :he et is ) ) ) so"e

of its "ai doct!ies shall (e deli(e!atel& held (efo!e &ou! "id fo! so"e ti"e e%e!&da&) ) ) ) :o (e cotiuall& !e"ided of hat e (elie%e) ) ) ) /f &ou ea"ied a hud!ed

'eo'le ho had lost thei! faith i Ch!istiait&, / ode! ho "a& of the" ould tu! out

to ha%e (ee !easoed out of it (& hoest a!gu"et Do ot "ost 'eo'le si"'l& d!iftaa&1

B!igha" #oug s'o0e si"ila!l& ad e"'haticall& a(out ho all of life3s dail& "o"ets a!e

to (e used, hoe%e! o!dia!& ad si"'le these "o"ets "a& see" to (e>

/t is the agg!egate of the acts hich / 'e!fo!" th!ough life that "a0es u' the coduct that

ill (e ehi(ited i the da& of udg"et, ad he the (oo0s a!e o'eed, the!e ill (e thelife hich / ha%e li%ed fo! "e to loo0 u'o, ad the!e also ill (e the acts of &ou! li%es fo!

&ou to loo0 u'o) Do &ou ot 0o that the (uildig u' of the 0igdo" of ?od, the


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gathe!ig of /s!ael, is to (e doe (& little acts #ou (!eathe oe (!eath at a ti"e6 each

"o"et is set a'a!t to its act, ad each act to its "o"et) /t is the "o"ets ad the little actsthat "a0e the su" of the life of "a) +et e%e!& secod, "iute, hou!, ad da& e li%e (e

s'et i doig that hich e 0o to (e !ight)14

/ fact, if ot so focused, e ca ed u' 'assig so"e of life3s "ao! ea"s hile stillflu0ig so"e of the dail& .H)

Coside! hat @ig Bea"i said a(out the '!ocess of (eco"ig "o!e saitl&> 7Fo! the

atu!al "a is a ee"& to ?od, ad has (ee f!o" the fall of Ada", ad ill (e, fo!e%e!ad e%e!, uless he &ields to the eticigs of the -ol& *'i!it, ad 'utteth off the atu!al "a

ad (eco"eth a sait th!ough the atoe"et of Ch!ist the +o!d, ad (eco"eth as a child,

su("issi%e, "ee0, hu"(le, 'atiet, full of lo%e, illig to su("it to all thigs hich the+o!d seeth fit to iflict u'o hi", e%e as a child doth su("it to his fathe! Mosiah >19)

Notice @ig Bea"i3s use of the o!d inflict, the thi0 of +eis3s ist!ucti%e 'oe"

a(out 2esus as 7+o!d of the a!!o gate ad the eedle3s e&e)1G / fact, he the

de%elo'"et of the Ch!istia %i!tues is %ieed o! a''!oached othe! tha as @ig Bea"isets fo!thsuch as actig as if these att!i(utes a!e i isolatio f!o" each othe!t!ou(les

(egi) :he Ch!istia att!i(utes eed each othe! ust as do Ch!istia disci'les) Ch!istia

doct!ies a!e ot ol& st!og ad 'oe!ful, (ut the& a!e also desiged to (e highl&ite!acti%e) / ou! ti"e, fo! istace, the!e has (ee a eedless ad sad se'a!atio of "e!c&

f!o" ustice, so"ethig, usu!'!isigl&, a(out hich C) *) +eis !ote) 7:he -u"aita!ia

theo!& ats si"'l& to a(olish 2ustice ad su(stitute Me!c& fo! it) ) ) ) Me!c&, detached f!o"

2ustice, g!os u"e!ciful) :hat is the i"'o!tat 'a!ado) As the!e a!e 'lats hich flou!ish


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ol& i "outai soil, so it a''ea!s that Me!c& ill floe! ol& he it g!os i the

c!aies of the !oc0 of 2ustice> t!as'lated to the "a!shlads of "e!e -u"aita!iais", it(eco"es a "aeatig eed, all the "o!e dage!ous (ecause it is still called (& the sa"e

a"e as the "outai %a!iet&)18

:he eed fo! us to de%elo' co"'osite Ch!istia cha!acte! is e"(odied i Pete!3s .G) :he!efo!e, ou! (eig tuto!ed caot (e e'isodic ad still (e full& effecti%e) :o (esu!e, e "a& choose ot to (e se!ious 'a!tici'ats i that '!ocess) ;e "a& actuall& tu! ou!

(ac0s o it) Ne%e!theless, he 2esus said, 7Co"e uto "e, -e also '!o"ised, 7ad / ill

sho uto &ou &ou! ea0esses) Reassu!igl&, hoe%e!, so"e ea0esses, the sc!i'tu!essa&, ca actuall& (eco"e st!egths see Mo!o) 1H>.6 Ethe! 1.>.G6 see also Re%) ..>1G)

:his ecessa!& '!ocess is u!eletig as fa! as / ca see, &et it is a '!ocess full of "e!c& ad

lo%e, e"(le"atic of Fathe!3s 'la of ha''iess) /t is the effo!t of a lo%ig Fathe! ?od ad-is !edee"ig *o, 2esus Ch!ist, to do all :he& ca to hel' us du!ig the c!oded ti"e'!o%ided fo! this sho!t, "o!tal class!oo") :o (eco"e "o!e li0e :he" i%ol%es (oth

o(ediece to :hei! o!diaces ad e"ulatio of :hei! att!i(utesall i o!de! that e "ight

!etu! to :he")

No ode!, the!efo!e, e a!e !e'eatedl& u!ged to use ou! ti"e isel& (& fo!sa0ig the o!ldadK7Kta0igL u' the c!oss "aily +u0e 9>.6 e"'hasis added) / see" to !e"e"(e! that C)

*) +eis taught us that ?od is se!ious a(out o& see etters to Malcolm1G>1G) /deed,

7Ada" fell that "e "ight (e6 ad "e a!e, that the& "ight ha%e o& . Ne) .>.5) E%e so,the!e is eithe! chea' o& o! costf!ee disci'leshi')

?i%e these cos"ic facts ad di%ie 'u!'oses, o ode! e "ust set ou! faces li0e flit

agaist the %a!ied e'!essios of "ode!it&3s ethical !elati%is"of hich +eis !ote,

7;hat is the good of tellig the shi's ho to stee! so as to a%oid collisios if, i fact, the&a!e such c!a=& old tu(s that the& caot (e stee!ed at all19

De%elo'"etall& as ell as doct!iall&, all the othe! co""ad"ets hag o the to g!eat

ad ite!acti%e co""ad"ets) As +eis couseled> 7All atu!al affectios ) ) ) ca (eco"e

!i%als to s'i!itual lo%e> (ut the& ca also (e '!e'a!ato!& i"itatios of it, t!aiig so to s'ea0of the s'i!itual "uscles hich ?!ace "a& late! 'ut to a highe! se!%ice6 as o"e u!se dolls

i childhood ad late! u!se child!e).H

Cotiuig, !ega!dig such '!e'a!ato!& t!aiig, he !ote, 7;e a!e (idde to 'ut o

Ch!ist,3 to (eco"e li0e ?od) :hat is, hethe! e li0e it o! ot, ?od iteds to gi%e us hate eed, ot hat e o thi0 e at).1

Disce!"et as to ou! 'e!soal sho!tfalls du!ig ou! de%elo'"et is, the!efo!e, %ital,

icludig ho e face suffe!ig, es'eciall& he it co"es to those e lo%e) *aid +eis>

7+o%e, i its o atu!e, de"ads the 'e!fectig of the (elo%ed6 ) ) ) "e!e 0idess3 hich


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tole!ates a&thig ece't suffe!ig i its o(ect is, i that !es'ect, at the o''osite 'ole f!o"

+o%e)..

Agai, hat +eis !ote ude!sco!es the eed fo! such s'i!itual su("issi%eess ad

"ee0ess> 7Ma a''!oaches ?od "ost ea!l& he he is i oe sese least li0e ?od) Fo!

hat ca (e "o!e uli0e tha fulless ad eed, so%e!eigt& ad hu"ilit&, !ighteousess ad'eitece, li"itless 'oe! ad a c!& fo! hel' :his 'a!ado stagge!ed "e he / fi!st !aito it).

:he 'a!ado that 7stagge!ed ude!sco!es h& the fi!st co""ad"et is fi!st ad the

secod co""ad"et is secod) #es, the secod co""ad"et is 7li0e uto the fi!st, (utit is ot the fi!st / fact, e o!shi' the Pe!fect O(ect of the fi!st co""ad"et, hile,

though e a!e to lo%e :he", e do ot o!shi' the i"'e!fect o(ects of the secod

co""ad"et) ;e gladl& !ecogi=e the su'!e"ac& of the O(ect of the lo%e s'o0e of i

the fi!st co""ad"et)

Mo!eo%e!, if a 'e!so !eall& lo%es ?od ith all of his o! he! hea!t, "ight, min", ad st!egth,this i%ol%es itellectual su!!ede! to ?od, too) Alas, the!e a!e co"'a!ati%el& "o!e 0ees

(et i !e%e!ece to ?od tha the!e a!e "ids, a fact that ofte !e'!esets a failu!e to

ude!stad the atu!e of ?od)

As "ode! !e%elatio tells us, Eoch lea!ed hat Paul called 7the dee' thigs of ?od 1

Co!) .>1H) Eoch sa, 'e!soall&, the +o!d3s tea!s, ad he hea!d the +o!d3s la"etatios

a(out "a0id) ?od, ha%ig gi%e us ou! agec&, co""aded us to lo%e oe aothe! ad tolo%e ad choose -i") #et the +o!d3s la"et is that e "o!tals so ofte choose e%il istead

of choosig -i" ad -is a&s, hich e%o0ed the di%ie tea!s see Moses G)

@ee'ig the fi!st co""ad"et leads us to ac0oledge ad lo%e the +o!d sufficietl& toacce't -is ti"ig, e%e he, as Ne'hi ac0oledged, e 7do ot 0o the "eaig of allthigs 1 Ne) 11>1G) -ece the!e a!e, i fact, "o!e 'eo'le ho 'a!tiall& 0ee' the secod

co""ad"et tha t!ul& 0ee' the fi!st) :hus it is the fi!st co""ad"et hich sets the

high toe ad the stada!ds) Othe!ise, e%e!& "a ca al0 i his o a& ad do his o

thig, hich ill ofte iclude so"e useful (ut side(a! se!%ice to his fello "o!tals seeDIC 1>1) Coside!, fo! istace, the case of Mo!iato3s actuall& dealig ustl& ith his

'eo'le (ut ot ith hi"self (ecause of his ho!ig failu!e to lo%e ?od3s se%eth

co""ad"et see Ethe! 1H>11)

Clea!l&, so"e "o!tal choices eed ot ecessa!il& (e ic0ed i o!de! to do ha!") *o"e

choices a!e di%e!sios "o!e tha the& a!e t!asg!essios) #et such sis of o"issio do"out u', costitutig de'!i%atios e iflict u'o ou! fello hu"a (eigs as the hel'ful

thigs e "ight ha%e doe ad said a!e sadl& 7o"itted see Matt) .>.)

E!ic *hu"a&, '!esidet of B#$-aaii, !ote>

;h& is it that e "ust lo%e ?od firstith all ou! hea!t, ith all ou! soul, ith all ou!

st!egth, ad ith all ou! "id see +u0e 1H>.G ad the secon", lo%e ou! eigh(o! as


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ou!self, hich Ch!ist taught "eas lo%ig all hu"ait& Pa!tl&, it is (ecause if e do3t lo%e

?od fi!st ad all he !e'!esets, istead of lo%ig ou! eigh(o! as ou!sel%es, e a!e ust asli0el& to ed u' 7lo%ig ou! eigh(o!3s ife, o! his goods, o! his !e'utatio, o! his sis that

co"'le"et ad "agif& ou! o) +o%e also eeds (oth acho! ad co"'ass o ou!

%o&age) Fo! "e, lo%ig ?od ith all oe3s "id "eas ot ol& 'uttig oe3s c!itical

faculties i ?od3s se!%ice, (ut oe3s i"agiatio as ell) :his !e.) :he '!o'het Mo!"o !ote i 'oe!ful la"etatio of those

ho did ot !es'od e%e though 2esus aited 7ith o'e a!"s to !ecei%e &ou Mo!")>1G) /f e a!e full& dese!%ig, the sc!i'tu!es '!o"ise us that e ca e%etuall& 0o that

su(li"e "o"et he e ill (e 7clas'ed i the a!"s of 2esus at the et!ace to -is

0igdo" Mo!") 5>11) :he!e, 2esus, -i"self, is 7the 0ee'e! of the gate ) ) ) ad he

e"'lo&eth o se!%at the!e . Ne) 9>41) /f e t!ul& &ea! fo! the "a!%elous "o"et, ou!disci'leshi' ill (e 'e!sistet)

@ig +a"oi3s fathe! had it !ight coce!ig oe !e18) :his dee' !e ode!%aPu(lishig -ouse, 19G1, ') 89)


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.) Pe!soal Co!!es'odece f!o" :o& @i"(all, Betle& College, No%e"(e! H, 1998)

) C) *) +eis, The Weight of Glory an" .ther A""ressesNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, ') 9)

4) C) *) +eis,Mere ChristianityNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, ') G)

5) /(id), ') 5)

) C) *) +eis, The Problem of PainNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, '') 5)

G) 2ose'h *"ith, Teachings of the Prophet /oseph Smith, sel) 2ose'h Fieldig *"ith *alt +a0e

Cit&> Dese!et Boo0, 19G, ') 4)

8) +eis, The Problem of Pain, '') G)

9) ?il(e!t Meilaede!, 7:he E%e!&da& C) *) +eis, -irst Things, August*e'te"(e! 199, ')H)

1H) +eis,Mere Christianity, '') 1GG4)

11) C) *) +eis, The Screwtape ettersNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, ') 54)

1.) +eis,Mere Christianity, ') 11G)

1) /(id), ') 1.5)

14) B!igha" #oug,/o#rnal of Disco#rses>4.)

15) Meilaede!, 7:he E%e!&da& C) *) +eis) ') 1)

1) C) *) +eis, S#rprise" by /oy! The Shape of My &arly ife Ne #o!0> -a!cou!t B!ace ICo), 195, '') 1444)

1G) C) *) +eis, C* S* ewis at the 'reafast Table, ed) 2a"es :) Co"o Ne #o!0> Mac"illa,19G9, ') %)

18) C) *) +eis, Go" in the Doc, ed) ;alte! -oo'e! ?!ad Ra'ids, Mich)> Ee!d"as, 19GH, ').94)

19) +eis,Mere Christianity, ') G.)

.H) C) *) +eis, f!o" The -o#r oves, as :&dale -ouse, 1989, ') 4H1)

.1) +eis, The Problem of Pain, ') 48)

..) /(id), ') 41)


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.) +eis, f!o" The -o#r oves, as


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2

C) *) +E;/*> D!a (& the :!uth Made Flesh

B!et D) *life

?OOD AF:ERNOON) /: /* A PR/J/+E?E to cele(!ate C) *) +eis3s (i!thda& ith &ou)

-e as a a"a=ig Ch!istia "a) /deed, "& "ai cha!ge this afte!oo is to accout fo!

his Ch!istiait&) :hat is, Dea Ro(e!t Millet of B#$3s College of Religious Educatio as0ed

"e to add!ess the folloig ;h& as +eis att!acted to Ch!istiait& :o the!eade! of his "a& Ch!istia (oo0s, this "a& see" li0e a odd +eis as d!a (& the

:!uth of 2esus Ch!ist -i"self) /deed, cet!al to "& thesis is that +eis as d!a (& the'eculia! atu!e of this :!uth) / sa& 7'eculia! (ecause Ch!istiait& %iolates "a& secula!

otios of t!uth)

Ou! secula! otios of t!uth o!igiate f!o" the ?!ee0 legac& to ;este! cultu!e, he!e t!uth

has, / ill coted, fi%e o%e!la''ig (ut essetial cha!acte!istics) / ill atte"'t to sho that+eis foud all fi%e of these 'o'ula! cha!acte!istics of t!uth atig, ad foud hi"self,

istead, att!acted to ad att!acted (& the disticti%e atu!e of Ch!istia :!uth)

MAJOR LIFE THEMES: TRUTH AND RELATIONSHIPS

+et us (egi ith oe of to "ao! the"es i +eis3s life) Begiig he!e ill also e'laih& e "ust focus o t!uth i add!essig +eis3s att!actio to Ch!istiait&) /f +eis as

othig else, he as a see0e! of t!uthf!o" his ea!liest da&s of childhood) +eis had all

so!ts of diffe!et te!"s fo! his 7t!uth see0e! "etalit&te!"s such as his 7logig, 7o&,


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ad 7desi!e(ut the& all, ithout ece'tio, co%e!ge u'o his dee'seated ish to !each

the "ost '!ofoud le%els of hu"a e'e!iece) Oe of his ea!liest u!se!& "e"o!ies, fo!ea"'le, icludes his desi!e to 0o the hills he sa f!o" his u!se!& ido) / 7;hat e called the ?!ee -ills36 that is, the lo lie of the Castle!eagh

-ills) ) ) ) :he& e!e ot %e!& fa! off (ut the& e!e, to child!e,


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aio"atic ith K+eisL that f!iedshi' began, ad 'e!ha's cotiued ith to K'eo'leL

seeig the sa"e t!uth)3G

No, e should (e ca!eful ot to assu"e that ;ilso3s otio of 7seeig the sa"e t!uth

"eas si"'le ag!ee"et he!e) +eis3s ad ?!ee%es3s !elatioshi', fo! istace, as to

outlast "a& '!ofoud "isag!ee"ets, so this is ot the 'oit of ;ilso3s !e"a!0) / (elie%ethat he as !efe!!ig to so"ethig ifiitel& "o!e '!ofoud he!e> the t!uth of !elatioshi',the t!uth of a (od (etee to li%ig (eigs ho lo%e oe aothe!) :his as the t!uth that

(oth ?!ee%es ad +eis sa, ad this as the t!uth that 0it the" togethe! th!oughout thei!

li%es des'ite all "ae! of th!eats to thei! !elatioshi') :his is ot to sa& that +eis asitellectuall& aa!e of this coectio (etee t!uth ad !elatioshi' i his ea!l& da&s, o! is

it to sa& that +eis foud ust a& !elatioshi' o!th& of this t!eat"et) Rathe!, "&

cotetio is that +eis 0e i his hea!t this coectio (etee t!uth ad 'e!soal!elatioshi') -e felt it i his 7ha''iess, as he !e'o!ts, ad he could ot hel' (ut coect it

ith 7the sa"e t!uth)

:he dee'l& 'e!soal, the, ould ala&s ca'tu!e +eis3s attetio at the "ost fuda"etalle%el) Ad Ch!istiait& as dee'l& 'e!soal fo! +eis, though he as ot ala&s to 0othis) As +eis as late! to sa& i Mere Christianity,K7K/f ?odL is 'u!e impersonal "id,

the!e "a& (e o sese i as0ig itto "a0e alloaces fo! &ou o! let &ou off, ust as the!e is

o sese i as0ig the "ulti'licatio ta(le to let &ou off he &ou do &ou! su"s !og) 8

-is 'oit i this 'assage, ad "& 'oit he!e toda&, is that the 'e!soal atu!e of ?od as the

ulti"ate att!actio fo! +eis, (ecause it as the 'otet co"(iatio of (oth 'e!soal

!elatioshi' ad t!uth) / st!ess 7ulti"ate att!actio he!e, (ecause +eis did ot ala&s

'e!cei%e this att!actio) / fact, his "ao! life the"eshis sea!ch fo! t!uth ad his de%otioto !elatioshi'se!e iitiall& to 'ull hi" i o''osite di!ectios) -is sea!ch fo! the t!uth

as to ta0e hi" ito secula! schola!l& 'u!suits, hile his de%otio to !elatioshi' as to

'!o'el hi" e%etuall& ito Ch!istiait&) :he !easo h& these e!e iitiall& %ieed as7o''osite (& +eis as that the !elatioal as, fo! hi", ihe!etl& personal, hile the

t!uthful as ihe!etl& impersonal)

THE TEMPTATION OF IMPERSONAL TRUTH

+et us ta0e a fe "o"ets at this uctu!e to ea"ie the atu!e of ;este! ad secula!t!uth to ude!stad ho +eis "ight ha%e %ieed it as i"'e!soal ad o!elatioal) :his

(!ief ea"iatio, / (elie%e, ill hel' us to ude!stad the '!ofoud itellectual ad s'i!itual

coflict that +eis felt "ost of his life, i %a!&ig deg!ees) #ou "a& (e ha''& to 0o that /

ill ot (o!e &ou ith all the histo!ical ad 'hiloso'hical sou!ces of ou! 'o'ula! otios of

t!uth) As / "etioed ea!lie! ad ha%e !itte a(out elsehe!e, the& ste" f!o" so"e!eadigs of aciet ?!ee0 -elleistic sou!ces)9-oe%e!, the& a!e also sustaied ad

ifo!"ed (& "a& "ode!ist !ite!s ad schola!s, 'e!ha's "ost 'o'ula!l& (& "& o fieldof 's&cholog&) ;hat is this 'o'ula! otio of t!uth ;hat a!e its cha!acte!istics, 'a!ticula!l&

those cha!acte!istics that a!e ulti"atel& icosistet ith +eis3s 'e!s'ecti%e o

!elatioshi's

:o :&'es of :!uth
http://gospelink.com/library/document/21191#8http://gospelink.com/library/document/21191#8


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The Five Characteristics o I!"erso#a$ %Sec&$ar' Tr&th

A)Propositionality> t!uth eists as a set of a(st!act '!o'ositios)

B) Conte$tlessness> t!uth caot eist i a& 'a!ticula! locatio o! e!a)

C)Necessity> t!uth caot (e a& othe! a& tha it isuchagea(le)

D)Passivity> t!uth '!o'ositios ait fo! us to disco%e! the")

E) Comprehensibility> t!uth ca ulti"atel& (e !atioall& ude!stood)

The Five Characteristics o Perso#a$ %Christia#' Tr&th

A) Concreteness> :!uth is !eal ad 7o(ecti%e)

B) Conte$t#ality> :!uth !esides inou! 'a!ticula! cotet)

C)Agency> :!uth co#l"choose to act othe!ise tha it does)

D)Activity> :!uth ta0es the iitiati%e ad see0s us as "uch as e "ight see0 it)

E)5rre"#cibility> *o"e of the :!uth ca ol& (e fatho"ed (& the hea!t)

:he fi!st cha!acte!istic of i"'e!soal t!uth is propositionality) :hat is, t!uth is thought to

eist as a set of logical '!o'ositios o!, "o!e co""ol&, as a set of '!ici'les) :his as'ect of

'o'ula! t!uth is !eadil& see i ou! cultu!e3s !editio of ethical codes) Most '!ofessioal

o!gai=atios, fo! istace, !e'!eset thei! ethics i !itte '!o'ositios, (ecause'!o'ositios a!e thought to (e sufficietl& a(st!act ad i"'e!soal to (e a''lica(le to all the

situatios i hich '!ofessioals "ight ecoute! ethical its conte$tlessness) B&

7cotetlessess / "ea that the '!o'ositios of t!uth caot !eside i a& 'a!ticula!

cotet o! situatio) Although "ulti'licatio ta(les ad ethical codes ca (e !e'!eseted o a'a!ticula! 'iece of 'a'e!, the t!uth of these '!o'ositios does ot eist i a& s'ecial locatio

o! e!a, (ecause it "ust (e a''lica(le to all locatios ad e!as) :!uth, the, is ot in a&

'a!ticula! cotet6 it lies i so"e "eta'h&sical !eal" o#tsi"e all cotets) /t ol& ete!s'a!ticula! cotets he it is t!aslated ad tailo!ed to the s'ecial situatio at had, so it


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caot al!ead& (e 'a!t of the situatio i the fi!st 'lace) / this sese the t!uth of the

"ulti'licatio ta(les "ust (e t!aslated ad tailo!ed to 'a!ticula! cotets, (ecause the logicof these "athe"atical '!o'ositios is thought to (e utte!l& cotetless)

:he thi!d cha!acte!istic of ou! 'o'ula! otio of t!uth is its necessity) :his cha!acte!istic

i"'lies that t!uth is the a& it is, (ecause it is the a& it hasto (eecessa!&) /t m#st(e asit is, ad it caot (e a& othe! a&) :he '!o'ositioal atu!e of t!uth ca, agai, illust!atethis) +ogical '!o'ositios a!e coside!ed to (e ecessa!& i this sa"e a&> /f *oc!ates is a

"a, the *oc!ates "ust of ecessit& (e "o!tal) :he!e is o othe! a&) Multi'licatio

ta(les ad all the !elatioshi's the& !e'!eset "ust (e the a& the& a!e6 the& caot (eothe!ise) :he& ha%e o f!ee ill ad the& a!e uchagea(leca!%ed i stoe) / this sese

the t!uth is al!ead& ad fo!e%e! dete!"ied, ad its atu!e ad all thigs that "ight (e

associated ith it also ha%e to (e the a& the& a!eof ecessit&)

:he fou!th cha!acte!istic of ;este!, secula! t!uth is its passivity) :hat is, t!uth is otso"ethig that acts o its o acco!d) As / "etioed, it has o ill of its o, o! a&

"eas of etedig itself to othe!s) Multi'licatio ta(les do ot teach the"sel%es to us, o!do the& ca!e hethe! the& a!e taught (& othe!s) Rathe!, t!uth '!o'ositios, such as"ulti'licatio ad "o!alit&, lie 7out the!e uca!igl&, aitig fo! us to disco%e! the") /

"uch the sa"e sese that t!uth is ecessa!& ad al!ead& ad fo!e%e! dete!"ied, it is also

'assi%e ad does ot ite!%ee i ou! affai!s o! !each out to us o its o) :his is ot to sa&that he e do disco%e! this fo!" of t!uth it ill ot chage us o! suggest i"'o!tat

i"'licatios fo! ou! li%es6 it is "e!el& to sa& that e "ust disco%e! ad co"'!ehed this

t!uth fo! it to ha%e these effects) /t does ot disco%e! ad co"'!ehed us6 e "ust disco%e!

ad co"'!ehed it)

:his eed fo! co"'!ehesio !elates di!ectl& to ou! fifth ad fial '!o'e!t& of ;este! t!uth

its comprehensibility) Because t!uth is '!o'ositioal, dete!"iate, ad 'assi%e, it isso"ethig that is 'e!fectl& co"'!ehesi(le) Ou! !atioalit& 'e!"its us to co"'!ehed the!atioalit& of t!uth) :his is ot to sa& that t!uth is ot dee' o! co"'le, 'e!ha's e%e a (it

o(scu!e ad esote!ic) :he 'oit is, hoe%e!, that secula! t!uth is ulti"atel& co"'!ehesi(le)

?i%e eough ti"e ad eough stud&, e ill (e a(le to !a' ou! "ids a!oud e%e!& (it of

its isdo", e%e!& oe of the "athe"atical !elatioshi's !e'!eseted (& the "ulti'licatiota(les) :his, of cou!se, has (ee the guidig '!e"ise of sciece sice it as fo!"ulated o%e!

th!ee cetu!ies agoa"el&, that the "athe"atical las ad t!uths of atu!e ill e%etuall&

su!!ede! the"sel%es to us co"'letel&)

:hese fi%e cha!acte!istics, the, a!e the cha!acte!istics of t!uth that / (elie%e "a& 'eo'le i

the ;este! o!ld ould affi!") +eis3s fa"ilia! ea"'le of the "ulti'licatio ta(lese%ideces this 'o'ula!it&, (ecause e do ot ha%e to go to the !a!efied !eal"s of theolog& o!

'hiloso'h& to sho the co""oess of these cha!acte!istics6 e ca see the" (eig taughti ou! ele"eta!& schools e%e!& da&) Although fe 'eo'le ould a!ticulate these

cha!acte!istics i the fashio / ha%e he!e, ad '!o(a(l& ould ot use the la(els fo! these

cha!acte!istics that / ha%e '!o%ided toda&, / ould a!gue that "ost 'eo'le of ou! 'o'ula!cultu!e ould affi!" these cha!acte!istics as the a& i hich t!uth is)


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THE ATTRACTION OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH

-o the does Ch!istiait& %iolate these cha!acte!istics f!o" +eis3s 'e!s'ecti%e :o e%ei"'l& that it %iolates these fa"ilia! ad, i so"e sese, che!ished otios of t!uth "a& (e

'!o%ocati%e) Ma& of us "a& ha%e a''lied these cha!acte!istics of 'o'ula! t!uth, 0oigl&

o! u0oigl&, to Ch!istia t!uth) -oe%e!, the sigula! atu!e of Ch!istiait& is easil&e%ideced (& Ch!ist3s astoudig '!oouce"et> 7/ a" the a&, the t!uth, ad the life2oh 14>) Notice that Ch!ist does ot sa& that -e 0os the t!uth, o! that -e ca!!ies ith

-i" the '!o'ositios of t!uth, o! that -e ee"'lifies these '!o'ositios) Ch!ist sa&s that -e

is the t!uth) 2esus Ch!ist isthe ;o!d o! :!uth "ade flesh) Needless to sa&, this coc!ete,e"(odied t!uth is a !adical de'a!tu!e f!o" -elleistic ad thus ;este! t!aditios of a

'!o'ositioal t!uth, ad it is i this !adical de'a!tu!e that this e"(odied t!uth %iolates all the

cha!acte!istics that / ust outlied)

Concreteness) +eis as %e!& aa!e of the coc!ete atu!e of Ch!istia t!uth i his ea!l&da&s as a Ch!istia) / The Screwtape etters, fo! ea"'le, +eis desc!i(es the di%ie

'!esece as 7co"'letel& !eal ad the!e 7i the !oo" ith us)1H

Of cou!se, this coc!etet!uth is ot a Netoia "ate!ialit&, ith the coc!ete ha%ig to (e a seso!& e'e!iece)-oe%e!, as +eis shos, this t!uth is a 7o(ecti%e '!esece e%e!theless, 11 oe that

allos us to co%e!se ad fo!" a !elatioshi' ith it) ;e ha%e, decla!es +eis i S#rprise"

by /oy, 7a co""e!ce ith so"ethig hich, (& !efusig to idetif& itself ith a& o(ect ofthe seses, o! a&thig he!eof e ha%e (iological o! social eed, o! a&thig i"agied, o!

a& state of ou! o "ids, '!oclai"s itself sheerly ob6ective) Fa! "o!e o(ecti%e tha

(odies, fo! it is ot, li0e the", clothed i ou! seses)1.

*uch a clai" should ot (e too su!'!isig fo! a Ch!istia) Ch!istias coside! the histo!icalCh!ist, as the :!uth Made Flesh, to cotiue to li%e, so that a !eal !elatioshi' ca (e fo!"ed

ith a o(ecti%e ad di%ie '!esece, e%e toda&) Oe caot fo!" a 'e!soal !elatioshi'ith a a(st!act set of '!o'ositios) *o"e of us "a& ha%e eo&ed lea!ig the"ulti'licatio ta(les) -oe%e!, fe of us, / ould age!, ould coside! this a 'e!soal

!elatioshi' ith the ta(les the"sel%es) :his is (ecause, at least i 'a!t, the ta(les a!e

a(st!actios ad thus do ot ha%e the ecessa!& coc!eteess ith hich to fo!" a

!elatioshi') /t is this coc!eteess of Ch!ist o! ?od that +eis felt hi"self "o%igieo!a(l& toa!d th!oughout his life) As +eis !ites i S#rprise" by /oy, 7E%e!& ste' /

had ta0e, f!o" the A(solute to *'i!it3 ad f!o" *'i!it3 to ?od,3 had (ee a ste' toa!d

the "o!e coc!ete, the "o!e i""iet, the "o!e co"'ulsi%e)1

Of cou!se, aothe! a& to ude!stad this e"(odied t!uth is to ude!stad ou!sel%es as

Ch!ist3s 7(od&) / this sese the :!uth of Ch!ist is lite!all& i ad o'e!atig th!ough us ascoc!ete (eigs) Coside! +eis3s !itigs iMere Christianityo this 'oit> 7Ad let "e

"a0e it


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the a''eal that +eis has fo! "a& +atte!da& *aits, (ecause +atte!da& *aits (elie%e ot

ol& i a e"(odied Ch!ist (ut i a e"(odied ?od as ell)

Conte$t#ality) Of cou!se, a e"(odied t!uth, e%e if it is the Ch!istia chu!ch as 7Ch!ist3s

(od&, caot %e!& ell (e a cotetless t!uth) Recall that ou! i"'e!soal otio of t!uth

'uts it outside ou! li%ed e'e!iece ad ito so"e "eta'h&sical !eal") :his as the ?!ee0a& of "a0ig '!o'ositioal t!uth a%aila(le to, though ot locata(le i, all cotets) :heta(les of "ulti'licatio ca (e !e'!eseted o 'a'e!, (ut the& do ot lite!all& eist the!e6 the&

eist i so"e t!ascedet !eal" of "athe"atics o! logic that is outside a& 'a!ticula!

cotet) :he effect of this cotetlessess o coce'tios of ?od, o! hat +eis called theA(solute, is (ut the!e as o dage! of /ts doig a&thig a(out us) /t

as the!e36 safel& ad i""o%a(l& the!e3) /t ould e%e! co"e he!e,3 e%e! to (e (lut"a0e a uisace of /tself) :his


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of ecessit& ;hat ould such a (eig (e li0e /f Ch!ist is the t!uth, as -e clai"ed ad as

Ch!istias (elie%e, ad the t!uth is ecessa!&, as "ode! otios of t!uth assu"e, the Ch!ist-i"self ould ha%e had to act out of ecessit&) :hat is, the histo!ical 2esus had to doof

ecessit&hate%e! -e did) All -is actios e!e '!edete!"ied) -e had to follo

uchagea(le ad ecessa!& atu!al las, o! (e costituted i so"e uchagea(le ad

ecessa!& a&) / eithe! case, as +eis 'aista0igl& shos i his (oo0Miracles, -e couldot ha%e 'e!fo!"ed a& "i!acles, (ecause "i!acles a!e, (& defiitio, %iolatios of

ecessa!& ad uchagea(le las) 2esus also could ot ha%e (ee "o%ed (& the 'ai adsuffe!ig of othe!shich -e asad -e could ot ha%e (ee te"'ted (& sihich -e

as) Ch!istias, of cou!se, (elie%e that Ch!ist "ade all the !ight choices, des'ite these

te"'tatios) -oe%e!, Ch!istias also (elie%e that Ch!ist co#l"ha%e doe othe!ise6 -e

co#l"ha%e sied6 -e ust did3t)

:his agec& of Ch!ist, this a(ilit& to do othe!ise, is cet!al to !elatioshi', (ecause Ch!ist

ad ?od ha%e "ade ce!tai co""it"ets to us, such as a 'ledge to lo%e us) ;hat ould

-is lo%e "ea if Ch!ist e!e ot a(le to do othe!ise :hat is, ho "eaigful ould &ou!

s'ouse coside! &ou! 'ledge of lo%e, if &ou could ot do othe!ise -o "eaigful ouldthe 'h!ase 7/ lo%e &ou (e if &ou e!e dete!"ied, out of ecessit&, to sa& it *i"ila!l&, ho

"uch stoc0 ould e 'ut i 2esus3 healig of the sic0, o! -is co"'assio fo! the 'oo!, he

e%e!& actio ad attitude e!e dete!"ied out of ecessit&-e had to do ad (e hat -edid ad as) -is agec&-is a(ilit& to chage, e%e he -e did e%e!&thig co!!ectl&is

c!ucial to the meaningof -is actios)

?od is o diffe!et) ;h& ould e '!aise ?od if, of ecessit&, -e has to do hate%e! -e

does ;hat ould -is lo%e "ea fo! us, if -e hasto lo%e us ;h& ould e '!a& to -i"/s '!a&e! "e!el& fo! ou! sa0e, o! is it 'ossi(le that e a!e t!&ig to "o%e ?od, ust as the

sic0 ad the suffe!ig "o%ed 2esus +eis does ot coside! the agec& of ?od to (e

icosistet ith -is chagelessess) As he sa&s iMiracles, 7:he li%ig foutai of di%ieee!g&) ) ), does i fact, fo! us, co""ol& fall ito such ad such 'atte!s) But to thi0 that a

distu!(ace of the" ould costitute a (!each of the li%ig !ule ad o!gaic uit& he!e(&

?od, f!o" his o 'oit of %ie, o!0s, is a "ista0e) /f "i!acles do occu!, the e "a& (esu!e that notto ha%e !ought the" ould (e the !eal icosistec&).H

:he 0e& is that agec& ad, ideed, the a(ilit& to chage oe3s o actios ad attitudes do

ot '!eclude co""it"et ad co%eat) :hat is, ?od ad Ch!ist ca (e uchagingithout

ha%ig also to (e uchageable) Aothe! a& to 'ut this is that the t!usto!thiess of ?odad Ch!ist is uchagig, (ecause these di%ie (eigs ill ala&s choose to (e t!usto!th&,

ot (ecause :he& a!e "ade to (e t!usto!th& out of ecessit&) ;hat 0id of !elatioshi'

ould e ha%e if :he& e!e "ade to (e t!usto!th& Agai, e ha%e "a& 7!elatioshi'sith iai"ate ad 'e!ha's t!usto!th& o(ects, fo! ea"'le, ca!s, (a0 accouts,

"ulti'licatio ta(les) -oe%e!, e usuall& use the te!" 7i"'e!soal fo! such !elatioshi's

ad !ese!%e the te!" 7'e!soal fo! !elatioshi's a"og e"(odied (eigs that 'ossess

agec&)

Activity) :his agec& !aises aothe! -o

'assi%e is the :!uth Made Flesh Recall that 'o'ula! otios of t!uth assu"e it ust lies the!e


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i so"e "eta'h&sical !eal"util it is disco%e!ed) :his 'assi%it& "eas that so"e t&'e

of "ethod is ecessa!& to dig it out) :his 'assi%it& as, of cou!se, the i"'etus fo! scietific"ethodto disco%e! the t!uth) Because the t!uth as3t loo0ig fo! us, e had to go loo0ig

fo! it) But is this the case ith Ch!istia :!uththe ;o!d Made Fleshf!o" +eis3s

'e!s'ecti%e A(solutel& ot) As +eis desc!i(es the "o"et of his co%e!sio i S#rprise"

by /oy> 7#ou "ust 'ictu!e "e aloe i that !oo" i Magdale, ight afte! ight, feelig,hee%e! "& "id lifted e%e fo! a secod f!o" "& o!0, the stead&, u!eletig a''!oach

of -i" ho" / so ea!estl& desi!ed ot to "eet) :hat hich / g!eatl& fea!ed had at last co"eu'o "e) / the :!iit& :e!" of 19.9 / ga%e i, ad ad"itted that ?od as ?od, ad 0elt

ad '!a&ed).1

/ this sese, as +eis !eali=ed, the :!uth is see0ig us as "uch as e a!e see0ig it) /t is

o! !athe!, -e isot aitig a!oud fo! us to co"e u' ith ce!tai "ethodologies) -e is otaitig to (e disco%e!ed i this 'assi%e ;este! sese) As +eis 'ut it iMere Christianity!

7;he &ou co"e to 0oig ?od, the iitiati%e lies o -is side) /f -e does ot sho

-i"self, othig &ou ca do ill ea(le &ou to fid -i")..F!o" +eis3s 'e!s'ecti%e,

Ch!ist ad ?od, %ia the -ol& *'i!it, a!e ali%e ad acti%e) ?od has ite!%eed th!ough -isAtoe"et ad is cotiuig to ite!%ee i ou! 'a!ticula! li%es, hethe! e 0o -i"

the :!utho! ot) /deed, oe of us ould 0o the t!uth ithout this acti%it&, this

d&a"ic ite!%etio, (ecause o hu"a"ade "ethod ould e%e! !e%eal this t!uth ithout!e%elatio (& the :!uth itself) Ce!tail&, oe of us could fo!" a 'e!soal !elatioshi' ith

this :!uth ithout its !eachig fo! us as e !each fo! it) :his acti%it&, the, as agai oe of

the att!actios of Ch!istiait& ad, ideed, of all !elatioshi's fo! +eis)

5rre"#cibility) M& discussio, at this uctu!e, has (egu to shade ito Ch!istiait&3s fial%iolatio of the i"'e!soal ad secula! otio of t!uth, acco!dig to +eisits %iolatio of

t!uth3s co"'!ehesi(ilit&) Although all the cha!acte!istics of 'e!soal t!uth a!e i"'o!tat to

+eis ad his att!actio to Ch!istiait&, / ill atte"'t to sho ho this 'a!ticula! %iolatioof co"'!ehesi(ilit& as es'eciall& i"'o!tat to hi") Fo! o, !e"e"(e! that i"'e!soal

t!uthth!ough the %a!ious "ethods of sciece, etc)is '!esu"ed to (e ulti"atel&

co"'!ehesi(le) :he ecessa!& '!o'ositios of t!uth should (e a(le to (e disco%e!ed adco"'letel& ude!stood (& a i"(le ad 'atiet !atioalit&)

-oe%e!, it as this cha!acte!istic of 'o'ula! t!uth, as e%ideced i his 7log ight tal0.

ith -e!& D&so ad 2) R) R) :ol0ie, that '!o%ed so cet!al to +eis3s co%e!sio) Befo!e

this tal0, +eis sa the t!uth as a set of logical '!o'ositios that e!e ulti"atel& g!as'a(le(& the itellect) $fo!tuatel&, this 'e!s'ecti%e "ade little sese of "a& as'ects of the

:!uth Made Flesh) Fo! istace, +eis could ot !a' his fe!tile "id a!oud the

Atoe"et> 7;hat / could3t see, he as to !ite, 7as ho the life ad death of *o"eoeElse hoe%e! he as .HHH &ea!s ago could hel' us he!e ad oece't i so fa! as his

e$amplehel'ed us).4/ othe! o!ds, +eis could ot "a0e logical o! '!o'ositioal sese

out of the Atoe"et6 it as ot co"'!ehesi(le ad thus could ot (e t!uth) Ch!ist could

ol& (e "odelig the t!uth, th!ough -is ea"'le, (ecause the Ch!ist ould (eee"'lif&ig so"e se'a!ate t!uth)


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/ thei! log ight tal0, hoe%e!, :ol0ie ad D&so a!gued 'e!suasi%el& that the

ico"'!ehesi(ilit& of the Atoe"et sto!& as ot a '!o(le" ith the sto!&, (ut a '!o(le"ith +eis) ;he +eis !ead sto!ies a(out othe! 7gods, such as Adois o! Bacchus, +eis

as '!e'a!ed to 7feel the "&th as '!ofoud ad suggesti%e of "eaigs (e&od "& g!as'

e%e tho3 / could ot sa& i cold '!ose hat it "eat)3.5 :he 'oit of :ol0ie ad D&so

as that +eis laid aside his a(ilit& to a''!eciate "&th he it ca"e to Ch!istiait&, ad(eca"e !igidl& a!!o ad '!o'ositioal) +eis should ude!stad, istead, that 7the sto!&

of Ch!ist is si"'l& a t!ue "&th6 a "&th o!0ig o us i the sa"e a& as the othe!s, (utith this t!e"edous diffe!ece that it really happene"> ad oe "ust (e cotet to acce't it

i the sa"e a&).

/t as i this a&, the, that +eis as a(le to ustif& to hi"self the i!!educi(ilit& of the

:!uth Made Flesh) :he ;o!d of the +o!d, ica!ate i 2esus Ch!ist, as too la!ge ad tooalle"(!acig fo! the fiite "id to a(so!().G /deed, this i!!educi(ilit& as att!acti%e to

+eis i the sa"e a& that his "edie%al studies e!e att!acti%e) Although the!e is o dou(t

that "uch of Ch!ist ad -is -ea%el& Fathe! a!e co"'!ehesi(le, the!e is also little dou(t

that Ch!ist ad -is Fathe! a!e ot co"'letel& !educi(le to itellectualis"s)

As +eis 'ut it iA Grief .bserve", 'e!ha's the "ost "atu!e e'!essio of his Ch!istiait&>

7M& idea of ?od is ot a di%ie idea) /t has to (e shatte!ed ti"e afte! ti"e) -e shatte!s it

-i"self) -e is the g!eat icooclast) Could e ot sa& that this shatte!ig is oe of the "a!0sof -is '!esece.8+eis !eali=ed that ?od is ot "e!el& a '!o'ositio to (e co"'!eheded6

-e is a Beig to (e held i 7ae ad lo%ed).9/f Ch!ist e!e totall& co"'!eheded, the e

ould o loge! eed -i", (ecause e could de'ed u'o hat e had co"'!eheded) /f

?od could (e full& ca'tu!ed (& ou! itellect, the e ould be?od ou!sel%es)

:his does ot "ea, hoe%e!, that e a!e caught i so"e "e!e "&sticis" as Ch!istias) /f

+eis3s !itigs sho us othig else, the& sho us ho "uch of Ch!istia doct!ie castad u' to the c!ite!ia of !atioalit&) Ad hate%e! e caot !a' ou! "ids a!oud

intellect#ally, e ca !a' ou! hea!ts a!oudspirit#ally) / fact, +eis3s !eali=atio of the

i"'o!tace of "&th fo! ude!stadig Ch!istiait& as the "ai i"'etus fo! his fo!a& ito

"&thical !itigs, such as the Chronicles of Narnia ad the Space Trilogy) +eis

fo!"ulated sto!ies ad "&ths that could co%e& the t!uth of Ch!istiait& he his'!o'ositioal a'ologetics could ot) Asla, fo! ea"'le, i his lad of Na!ia, as a(le to

e"(od& the :!uth, as a Ch!ist figu!e, i a&s that o !atioal a!gu"et could e%e! '!o%ide)

CONCLUSION

;h&, i coclusio, as +eis att!acted to Ch!istiait& M& ase! is dece'ti%el& si"'le,des'ite the ci!cu"locutios of "& '!esetatio toda&) :he ase! is that +eis as d!a

to ad d!a (& the ;o!d Made Flesha co"(iatio of (oth the :!uth an" the

Relatioshi') :hat is, +eis as ieo!a(l& ad ie%ita(l& d!a (& the 'eculia! atu!e ofCh!istiait&, !e'lete ith its coc!eteess, cotetualit&, agec&, acti%it&, ad i!!educi(ilit&)

-oe%e!, his fo!"al acade"ic t!aiig iitiall& stee!ed hi" toa!d a co"'letel& dissi"ila!


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fo!" of t!uth, "a0ig hi" sus'icious, if ot co"'letel& s0e'tical of Ch!istia t!uths6 the&

e!e "&ths, ot '!o'ositios o! facts) :his i"'e!soal otio of t!uth led +eis aa& f!o"Ch!istiait& fo! a ti"e) /deed, e%e afte! his fo!"al co%e!sio he cotiued to "i

ele"ets of -elleis" ith Ch!istiait&)H

-oe%e!, / (elie%e e see this "itu!e lesseig i his late! o!0s, such as A Grief.bserve", ad a fai!l& co"'lete 'e!soal !elatioshi' occu!!ig ith :!uth) :his!elatioshi' occu!s i s'ite of, o! 'e!ha's (ecause of, the te!!i(le g!ief he suffe!ed as a !esult

of his ife3s death) As he said of his "a!!iage, 7:he "ost '!ecious gift that "a!!iage ga%e

"e as this costat i"'act of so"ethig %e!& close ad iti"ate &et all the ti"eu"ista0a(l& othe!, !esistati a o!d, !eal)1 / this sese it as the !esistat,

i!!educi(le othe! of his ife, 2o&, that d!e hi" to he!, ad it is "& cotetio that it as the

i!!educi(le, (ut i%itig, Othe! of ?od that d!e hi" ito a 'e!soal !elatioshi' ith -i")

;h& as +eis a(le to "o%e toa!d this 'e!soal t!uth -o as he a(le to "o%e aa&f!o" the i"'e!soal t!uth that has see"ed to ca'tu!e so "a& othe! ;este! thi0e!s :his

is he!e, / (elie%e, +eis3s !elatioalis" as to i out o%e! his lo&alt& to secula! t!uth)$lti"atel& he !eali=ed that the g!eate! '!ofudit& la& ith the 'e!soal !athe! tha thei"'e!soal) -is schola!l& t!aiig iitiall& '!e%eted this 'e!soal t!uth f!o" (eig

itellectuall& acce'ta(le) :his is, i 'a!t, h& he o!0ed so ha!d at his a'ologeticsto "a0e

Ch!istiait& itellectuall& acce'ta(leacce'ta(le i the -elleistic "old) -oe%e!, hehe co%e!ted, ad as he "atu!ed i his Ch!istiait&, he alloed the :!uth Made Flesh to

"old hi") -e sto''ed t!&ig to "a0e ?od ito his -elleistic i"age ad alloed ?od to

"a0e hi" ito -is i"age)

:his "eas that e caot o%e!loo0 the 'oe! of ?od i +eis3s co%e!sio) /t is ot thecase, fo! ea"'le, that +eis as 's&chologicall& att!acted to the 7t!uth fla%o! of the

"oth o! the challege of a t!uth that held "&stical as ell as !atioal ele"ets) Rathe!,+eis as selected ad u!tu!ed (& ?od i "uch the sa"e a& that +eis "ight ha%eselected ad u!tu!ed oe of his o studets) ;e, i this s&"'osiu", ca ol& (e g!ateful

that +eis &ielded to that u!tu!ig) ;e ca ol& ho'e that e ill si"ila!l& &ield)

Brent D. Slifeis professor of Psychology at 'righam (o#ng )niversity* +e receive" his

Ph*D* from P#r"#e )niversity* +e is the a#thor of n#mero#s p#blications, incl#"ing;hat3sBehid the Resea!ch Disco%e!ig -idde Assu"'tios i the Beha%io!al *cieces) This

lect#re was pro"#ce" with the assistance of Melin"a Petersen an" /enith arsen )

Notes

1) *ee A) N) ;ilso, C* S* ewis! A 'iographyNe #o!0> Facett Colu"(ie, 199H, ')

41)

.) C) *) +eis, S#rprise" by /oy! The Shape of My &arly ifeNe #o!0> -a!cou!t B!ace I

Co), 199, ') G)


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) M) ;) +eis,ewis Papers, 4 +odo> Cu!tis B!o, 198.6 see also ;ilso, C* S*

ewis! A 'iography, ') 41)

4) ;ilso, C* S* ewis! A 'iography, ') 11)

5) +eis, S#rprise" by /oy, ') )

) /(id), ') 1H)

G) ;ilso, C* S* ewis! A 'iography, ') G)

8) C) *) +eis,Mere ChristianityNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, ') 86 e"'hasis added)

9) *ee B) D) *life, 7Jalues of Ch!istia Fa"ilies> Do :he& Co"e f!o" $!ecogi=ed/deals'() St#"ies, i '!ess6 see also B) D) *life, Time an" Psychological &$planation

Al(a&, Ne #o!0> *$N# P!ess, 199> see also B) D) *life, C) -o'e, ad *) Ne(e0e!,

7Ea"iig the Relatioshi' Betee Ps&chological *ciece ad Religious *'i!itualit&,/o#rnal of +#manistic Psychology, i '!ess)

1H) C) *) +eis, The Screwtape ettersNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, ') H)

11) +eis, S#rprise" by /oy, ') ..1)

1.) /(id)6 e"'hasis added)

1) /(id), ') .G)

14) +eis,Mere Christianity, '') 45)

15) +eis, S#rprise" by /oy, ') .1H)

1) C) *) +eis, The Problem of PainNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, ') .1)

1G) C) *) +eis,MiraclesNe #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, '') 1151)

18) *ee R) +) ?!ee ad ;) -oo'e!, C* S* ewis! A 'iographyNe #o!0> -a!cou!t B!ace

I Co), 19G4, '') 1H4)

19) +eis, The Problem of Pain, ') G)

.H) +eis,Miracles, '') 1.9H)

.1) +eis, S#rprise" by /oy, ') ..8)

..) +eis,Mere Christianity, ') 144)


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.) They Stan" Together! The etters of C* S* ewis to Arth#r Greeves 7879278:;, ed) ;)

-oo'e! Ne #o!0> Mac"illa, 19G9, ') 4.5

.4) ;ilso, C* S* ewis! A 'iography, '') 1.5.)

.5) /(id)

.) They Stan" Together, ') 4.G)

.G) *ee ;ilso, C* S* ewis! A 'iography, ') 1.)

.8) C) *) +eis,A Grief .bserve"Ne #o!0> :ouchstoe, 199, ') .84)

.9) *ee +eis, S#rprise" by /oy, ') ..H)

H) Fo! ea"'le, the dualis" of s'i!it ad "atte! i his (oo0Miracles


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(

?O/N? :O -E++ C) *) +E;/* *:#+E> -is Jies

o *i, :e"'tatio, ad the De%ilAd!e C) *0ie!

/F POP$+AR/:# OF A PAR:/C$+AR JO+$ME ca (e ta0e as a& idicato! of hat

'eo'le ha%e thought e!e the "ost sigificat isights offe!ed (& Cli%e *ta'les +eis, the'e!ha's e "a& sa& that !eade!s ha%e felt that +eis as at his (est, o! at least "ost

egagig, he discussig e%ils'ecificall&, si, te"'tatio, the de%il, ad hell) +eis

oce !ote i a lette! to oe of his "a& &oug ad"i!e!s ad co!!es'odets that his "ost'o'ula! o!0 as The Screwtape etters)1:his is a (oo0 that !igs t!ue to actual hu"a

e'e!iece ad, (ecause of that, has eo&ed a log shelf life) /t desc!i(es the ete!al (attle

fo! the souls of hu"as f!o" the 'oit of %ie of a seio! de%il a"ed *c!eta'e, ho!ites a se!ies of lette!s to his e'he, ;o!"ood, a uio! de%il ad te"'te!) :he lette!s

a!e filled ith a so'histicated, cuig, dia(olical logic ad c&ical hu"o! that !e%eals the

ai"s, goals, ad "ethods the *ataic "iios t!& to e"'lo& to ca'tu!e 7co%e!ts)

;hile The Screwtape ettersha%e (ee !ega!ded as so"e of the ittiest ad "ost (!illiat'ieces of !itig i the tetieth cetu!&, the!e a!e at least th!ee othe! %olu"es that also

offe! 0ee isights o si, te"'tatio, hell, ad the de%il, ad that "ust (e coside!ed he

desc!i(ig ad aal&=ig +eis3s coce'tio of these to'ics) :hese o!0s iclude Mere

Christianity, The Problem of Pain, ad The Great Divorce) Out of all fou! o!0s co"e ideasthat e'ad ad ifo!" ou! ude!stadig of ?od3s 'la of sal%atio, hel' us to "a0e

g!eate! sese of ou! "o!tal e'e!iece, ad, as +atte!da& *aits, cause us to !efie ou!thi0ig a(out ou! o doct!ies ad t!uths of the !esto!ed gos'el of 2esus Ch!ist)

+et "e outlie hat / thi0 a!e the fuda"etal (eliefs held (& +eis !ega!dig the atu!e

ad sigificace of te"'tatio, si, hell, ad the de%il) :hese 7foudatio stoes of the

g!eat a'ologist3s thought allo us to see his logical ad 'e!suasi%e "id at o!0) +eis3s

theolog& su(tl& co""uicates the idea that he!e &ou sta!t f!o" dete!"ies he!e &ou edu') O this 'oit / thi0 +eis "a& ell ha%e ag!eed ith 2ose'h *"ith3s state"et> 7/f e

sta!t !ight, it is eas& to go !ight all the ti"e6 (ut if e sta!t !og, e "a& go !og, ad it

(e a ha!d "atte! to get !ight)./ ould catego!i=e alog the folloig lies the foudatioal(eliefs held (& C) *) +eis !ega!dig si, te"'tatio, ad hell>

1):he *igificace of Choice, Cose


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:his is ot a ehausti%e list, (ut a fuda"etal oe) :hese as'ects of P!ofesso! +eis3s

Ch!istia o!ld%ie a!e ite!!elated, ad the& "atch u' i a ite!estig a& ith +atte!da& *ait (eliefs ad doct!ies) *tud&ig the" !e"ids "e that "a& good "e ad o"e

ot of "& faith coduct thei! li%es (& the light of t!ue '!ici'les ad gi%es "e !eeed

a''!eciatio fo! the little cou'let that hel's dis'el "& a!!oess of "id>

:!uth is t!uth he!e3e!e it3s foud,O fo!eig o! fa"ilia! g!oud)

CONCEPT 1: CHOICE) CONSE*UENCES) AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTA+ILIT,

C) *) +eis taught that the ete!al desti& of each 'e!so !esides i his o! he! o hads)

:his is a fuda"etal coce't ith hi") B& ee!cisig the !ight of 'e!soal choice,idi%iduals e%etuall& (eco"e souls fit fo! eithe! hea%e o! hell) ;e (eco"e hat e

choose to (eco"e th!ough "a& choices, g!eat ad s"all, o%e! ti"e) / +eis3s %ie hea%e

o! hell is a 7eithe!o! '!o'ositio6 the!e is o 7"a!!iage (etee the to, o i(etee

status, o "iddle g!oud)

+eis fi!"l& (elie%ed that f!o" ?od3s 'oit of %ie it is ot'ossi(le to culti%ate ithi oe3s soul as'ects of (oth hea%e ad hell if oe desi!es to

o(tai hea%e)

+eis illust!ates this '!ici'le, as ell as the closel& !elated afflictio f!o" hich so"e ofus suffe!, i his sho!t (ut '!ofoud little (oo0 etitled :he ?!eat Di%o!ce) #ou ill

!e"e"(e! that +eis c!afts his sto!& i the fo!" of d!ea"%isio, he!e the a!!ato!, +eis

hi"self, ta0es a (us !ide f!o" hell to the outs0i!ts of hea%e ad itesses a se!ies of%igettes that teach i"'o!tat lessos) At oe 'oit alog the a& the a!!ato!3s guide ad

teache!, ?eo!ge MacDoald, offe!s this stuig co""et i !e'l& to the a!!ato!3s 7E%e!&oe ho ishes it does) Ne%e! fea!) :he!e a!e ol&to 0ids of 'eo'le i the ed> those ho sa& to ?od, :h& ill (e doe,3 ad those to

ho" ?od sa&s, i the ed, :h& ill (e doe)3 All that a!e i -ell, choose it) ;ithout that

selfchoice the!e could (e o -ell) No soul that se!iousl& ad costatl& desi!es o& ill e%e!"iss it) :hose ho see0 fid) :o those ho 0oc0 it is o'eed)4

No oe ho desi!es to 7get o the (us ill "iss itthis is a i"'o!tat ad a''ealig idea)

$fo!tuatel&, the sad afflictio f!o" hich so"e of us suffe!, also highlighted (& +eis i

:he ?!eat Di%o!ce, is t!agic ideed (ecause it is so c!i''lig) /t is the thig that does '!e%etus f!o" !eachig ou! fial destiatio o!, so"eti"es, e%e gettig o the (us) Ma& of us

0o e do3t at hell, (ut e caot, o! ill ot, full& co""it to hea%e) #et, sa&s

+eis, if e isist o 0ee'ig e%e a little (it of hell o! o!ldliess, 'e!ha's, 7e shall otsee hea%e> if e acce't hea%e e shall ot (e a(le to !etai e%e the s"allest ad "ost

iti"ate sou%ei!s of hell)5/ othe! o!ds, e ill ot (e a(le to 0ee' e%e ou! fa%o!ite

little si, 'et 'ee%e, 'ettiess, selfishess, o! self'it& if e a!e full& ad co"'letel&co""itted to o(taiig hea%e)

:a0e, fo! ea"'le, oe of the last %igettes de'icted i The Great Divorce, he!e a self

'it&ig ghost a"ed F!a0 a''ea!s as a da!f ho leads a!oud, (& a chai, a '!oectio of


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his siful self called a :!agedia) F!a0 has "ade the ou!e& f!o" hell to the outs0i!ts of

hea%e ot i o!de! to o(tai hea%e, (ut fo! the 'u!'ose of gaiig 'it& fo! his !etchedcoditio) / the ed, F!a0 chooses self'it& o%e! hea%e, ad thus his !eal self, his (ette!

self, cotiues to sh!i0 util othig is left ece't the '!oectio of his si, the :!agedia,

hich the %aishes (ac0 to hell) Clea!l&, fo! +eis, if oe does ot full& ad co"'letel&

choose hea%e, hate%e! else is chose i the ed ill (!ig o lastig o&) B& choosighat he has, F!a0 has 'e!%e!ted his t!ue self ad thus (eco"e the %e!& si he has cotiued

to e"(!ace)

Cot!ast F!a0 ith aothe! of the ghosts at the outs0i!ts of hea%e) :his is the "a hose'laguig si is lust) / a ode!ful use of s&"(olic i"age!&, +eis desc!i(es this si as a

!ed li=a!d could this (e the e"(odi"et of *ata hi"self ho is desc!i(ed i Re%) 1.as a

!ed d!ago) :his !ed li=a!d sits o the shoulde! of the "a as a 0id of alte! ego, ala&s!ead& to '!od his host) A agel "eets the "a ad desi!es of hi", ideed coaes the "a,

to gi%e the agel 'e!"issio to sla& the li=a!d) / s'ite of the fea! that such a act "a& "ea

the %e!& death of the "a hi"self lust has (eco"e so ite!tied ith the "a, the "a

fiall& cosets) / a 'aiful '!ocess, the "a has chosento gi%e u' that hich is 0ee'ighi" f!o" hea%e ad !eal ha''iess ot the coute!feit ha''iess '!o"oted (& the li=a!d)

Mi!aculousl&, the li=a!d is t!asfo!"ed ito a (eautiful hite stallio ho!ses ala&s

s&"(oli=e %icto!& i the sc!i'tu!es, hich the "a the !ides ito hea%e)G

-e!e oe detects shades of the A'ostle Paul, ho taught that e a!e t!asfo!"ed he the

old "a o! o"a of si dies ad Ch!ist li%es i us see ?al) .6 Ro") ) -oe%e!, the 'oit

is that the "a ith the li=a!d had chosento (e hel'ed) / fact, e%e!&oe ho had ta0e the

(us !ide had chose it) Othe!s (ailed out of the e'e!iece hile aitig i lie at the (ussto' i hell) But choice as the o'e!at fuctio) /t "a0es o diffe!ece hat ea0esses

e "o!tals 'ossess) /f e choose ?od ou! ea0esses ca ad ill (e tu!ed ito st!egths)

/ su", e "a& get a clea! 'ictu!e of hat +eis (elie%ed to (e the fuda"etal!elatioshi' (etee the '!ici'le of choice ad the o'tios of hea%e o! hell, ha''iess o!

"ise!&, (& 7/ illigl& (elie%e, sa&s+eis, 7that the da"ed a!e, i oe sese, successful, !e(els to the ed6 that the doo!s of hell

a!e loc0ed o the insi"e)9

CONCEPT 2: THE NATURE OF OUR FALLEN -ORLD

Oe of the dage!s of i"'le"etig a s&ste" he!e f!eedo" of choice is u'held is thatso"e ill choose e%il) 7?od c!eated thigs hich had f!ee ill, sa&s +eis) 7:hat "eas

K&ou ha%eL c!eatu!es hich ca go eithe! !og o! !ight) 7#ou "a0e a thig %oluta!& ad

the half the 'eo'le do ot do it)1H+eis goes o to sa& that ?od "a& ot ha%e atedthe" to choose ico!!ectl&, (ut that is hat is 'ossi(le, that is hat ?od3s ill has "ade

'ossi(le)11:hus, f!eedo" of choice ca lead to (ad choices ad siful (eha%io!, hich

!esults i ou! '!eset ci!cu"stacea falle o!ld) Oig to the Fall ou! o!ld is, to 'ut it

collo


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Acco!dig to that doct!ie Kthe FallL, "a is o a ho!!o! to ?od ad to hi"self ad a

c!eatu!e illada'ted to the ui%e!se ot (ecause ?od "ade hi" so (ut (ecause he has "adehi"self so (& a(use of his f!ee ill) ) ) ) -e "ade all thigs good ad fo! the sa0e of thei!

goodess6 that oe of the good thigs -e "ade, a"el&, the f!ee ill of !atioal c!eatu!es,

(& its %e!& atu!e icluded the 'ossi(ilit& of e%il6 ad that c!eatu!es, a%ailig the"sel%es of

this 'ossi(ilit&, ha%e (eco"e e%il)1.

/ othe! o!ds, 7the atu!al "a Kfalle "aL is a ee"& to ?od, ad has (ee f!o" the fall

of Ada" Mosiah >19)

+eis e"'hasi=ed that the Fall ca"e as a !esult of !e(ellio) 7Falle "a, states +eis, 7isot si"'l& a i"'e!fect c!eatu!e ho eeds i"'!o%e"et> he is a !e(el ho "ust la& do

his a!"s)1:hat hich u!ege!ate o! atu!al "a is !e(ellig agaist is ot si"'l& a

itagi(le, a"o!'hous thig called goodess o! !ightess) ;he hu"as co""it si the& a!e

!e(ellig agaist thei! c!eato!, hich, as +eis i"'lies, is a dou(l& stu'id ad iu!iousthig to do) Not ol& is the sie! hu!t (& the si, (ut sa&s +eis, 7A c!eatu!e !e%oltig

agaist a c!eato! is Ka c!eatu!eL !e%oltig agaist the sou!ce of his o 'oe!sicludige%e his 'oe! to !e%olt) ) ) ) /t is li0e the scet of a floe! t!&ig to dest!o& the floe!)14

-ece, fo! +eis, 7:he Fall is si"'l& ad solel& Diso(ediecedoig hat &ou ha%e (ee

told ot to do)15

+eis 'oits out that o oe esca'es the effects of the Fall) ;e a!e alli a hole, he sa&s6

7;e a!e all falle c!eatu!es ad all %e!& ha!d to li%e ith) -oe%e!, the!e is good es):he hole e a!e i is ot a 'e!"aet situatio, ot i!!e'a!a(le) As oe schola! otes, oe of

+eis3s o!0s of sciece fictio, etitled .#t of the Silent Planet, it!oduces a %e!& hel'ful

o!d to desc!i(e ou! falle coditio) :he o!d is bent) ;he the good scietist, Raso",atte"'ts to desc!i(e the dage!ous "oti%es of othe! s'ace t!a%ele!s to the iha(itats of the

'laet Malachad!a, he uses the o!d bent) :his is so a't a te!" (ecause it suggests the'ossi(ilit& of co!!ectio o! !ede"'tio) *o"ethig that is (et is ol& disto!ted !athe! tha(eig co"'letel& (!o0e)1:hat 'ossi(ilit& of co!!ectio, e could e%e sa& t!asfo!"atio,

!esides i Ch!ist ad !e

7;e (elie%e that th!ough the atoe"et of Ch!ist all "a0id "a& (e sa%ed (& o(ediece tothe las ad o!diaces of the gos'el A of F 1>)

+eis (elie%ed that the effects of ou! falle coditio e!e so 'e!%asi%e ad i%asi%e that it

ould (e dage!ous e%e fo! us to t!a%el i s'ace) ;e!e e to stu"(le u'o a 7ufalle

!ace, assu"ig that e!e 'ossi(le, e ould ca!!& ou! s'i!itual cotagio to that othe!

o!ld) -oe%e!, this is ot to sa& that +eis (elie%ed i the total de'!a%it& of "a) Rathe!,it "a0es the eed fo! a *a%io! g!eate!) / his Problem of Pain, +eis stated, 7:his cha'te!

ill ha%e (ee "isude!stood if a&oe desc!i(es it as a !eistate"et of the doct!ies of:otal De'!a%it&) / dis(elie%e that doct!ie, 'a!tl& o the logical g!oud that if ou! de'!a%it&

e!e total e should ot 0o ou!sel%es to (e de'!a%ed, ad 'a!tl& (ecause e'e!iece

shos us "uch goodess i hu"a atu!e) No! a" / !eco""edig ui%e!sal gloo")1G
http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#12http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#13http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#14http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#16http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#17http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#12http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#13http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#14http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#16http://gospelink.com/library/document/21192#17


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+eis allos ot ol& fo! "o!al i"'!o%e"et i hu"as (ut also fo! ic!eased self

0oledge as a !esult of that "o!al '!og!ess> 7;he a "a is gettig (ette! he ude!stads"o!e ad "o!e clea!l& the e%il that is still left i hi") ;he a "a is gettig o!se, he

ude!stads his o (adess less ad less) A "ode!atel& (ad "a 0os he is ot %e!&

good> a tho!oughl& (ad "a thi0s he is all !ight) ) ) ) ?ood 'eo'le 0o a(out (oth good

ad e%il> (ad 'eo'le do ot 0o a(out eithe!)18

/ li0e this state"et %e!& "uch fo! to !easos) Oe is a co!olla!& teachig gi%e (& the

P!o'het 2ose'h *"ith> 7;e coside! that ?od has c!eated "a ith a "id ca'a(le of

ist!uctio, ad a facult& hich "a& (e ela!ged i '!o'o!tio to the heed ad diligecegi%e to the light co""uicated f!o" hea%e to the itellect6 ad that the ea!e! "a

a''!oaches 'e!fectio, the clea!e! a!e his %ies, ad the g!eate! his eo&"ets, till he has

o%e!co"e the e%ils of his life ad lost e%e!& desi!e fo! si)19

A secod !easo h& / !esoate to +eis3s state"et is that such e'laatios a(out ou!ca'a(ilit& to (e sesiti%e to the *'i!it of ?od, hich is hat / thi0 +eis is tal0ig a(out, is

also !eflected i the teachigs of sc!i'tu!al '!o'hets li0e the A'ostle Paul, ho said i hisfi!st !eco!ded lette! to the Co!ithias> 7Fo! hat "a 0oeth the thigs of a "a, sa%e thes'i!it of "a hich is hi" e%e so the thigs of ?od 0oeth o "a, (ut the s'i!it of

?od) ) ) ) But he that is s'i!itual udgeth all thigs, &et he hi"self is udged of o "a .>11,

15)

CONCEPT (: THE SI.NIFICANCE OF PRIDE

/ +eis3s sche"e the Fall is di!ectl& tied to the si of '!ide) 7:he Fall is si"'l& ad solel&

diso(ediece ) ) ) ad it !esults f!o" P!idef!o" (eig too (ig fo! &ou! (oots, fo!gettig

&ou! 'lace, thi0ig that &ou a!e ?od).H-e!e oe caot hel' (ut thi0 of that 'assage i

hat +atte!da& *aits call the Pea!l of ?!eat P!ice, the (oo0 of Moses 4> 14, hich la&sout the '!o(le" i ui


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*ata is the e'ito"e of '!ide, ad it is this fact that is at the co!e of hat +eis is t!&ig to

tell us> 7it as th!ough P!ide that the de%il (eca"e the de%il).1+eis has also 'oited outthat 7the de%il is a lia!, ust as the a(o%e 'assage i the (oo0 of Moses has stated) :hus the

ugl& t!uth is "ade 'lai> '!ide ad dishoest& go togethe! (ecause those ho 'ossess '!ide

a!e ot (eig hoest a(out thei! t!ue stadig (efo!e ?od ad thei! fello"e) As :e!!&

?las'e& sa&s i su""a!i=ig the %ies of +eis> 7P!ide, at its !oot, is selfcete!edess) /tis the desi!e that e%e!&thig ad e%e!&oe !e%ol%e a!oud ou! o 'e!cei%ed eeds ad

ats, the !efusal to see thigs th!ough the e&es of othe!s) P!ide is ) ) ) a 'u!el& s'i!itual si,(i!thed i -ell itself) /t is the si that "ade *ata ho he is, fo! he !efused to (o to ?od3s

!ightful autho!it& as C!eato!) ;he e a!e '!oud, e cut ou!sel%es off f!o" ?od ad f!o"

othe!s)..

:he effects of '!ide a!e u(ouded ad fa!!eachig) *aid +eis> 7/t is '!ide hich has (eethe chief cause of "ise!& i e%e!& atio ad e%e!& fa"il& sice the o!ld (ega) Othe!

%ices "a& so"eti"es (!ig 'eo'le togethe!> &ou "a& fid good felloshi' ad o0es ad

f!iedliess a"og d!u0e 'eo'le ad uchaste 'eo'le) But '!ide ala&s "eas e"it&it

is e"it&) Ad ot ol& e"it& (etee "a ad "a, (ut e"it& to ?od).

P!ide is a to'ic o hich +eis has offe!ed so"e of his "ost (!illiat isight ad e'ositio)

-e (elie%ed it as the sou!ce of all othe! sis, 7the essetial %ice, the ut"ost e%il) .47P!ide

leads to e%e!& othe! %ice, he !ote iMere Christianity).5

:he o!st thig a(out '!ide is that it 0ee's oe f!o" ?od6 7it is the co"'lete ati?od stateof "id, said +eis).Cotiuig ith his o!ds> 7As log as &ou a!e '!oud &ou caot

0o ?od) A '!oud "a is ala&s loo0ig do o thigs ad 'eo'le> ad, of cou!se, as

log as &ou a!e loo0ig do, &ou caot see so"ethig that is a(o%e &ou) .GAs +eis'oited out i a sectio of dialogue he c!afted as occu!!ig (etee the '!otagoist i The

Great Divorcead the '!otagoist3s guide, those ho chose hell o%e! ?od t!& to ustif& thei!actios '!ecisel& (ecause the& caot get !id of the '!i"al si'!ide) -e!e is that 'o!tio ofdialogue>

7Milto as !ight, said "& :eache!) 7:he choice of e%e!& lost soul ca (e e'!essed i the

o!ds Bette! to !eig i -ell tha se!%e i -ea%e)3 :he!e is ala&s so"ethig the& '!efe!

to o&that is, to !ealit&) #e see it easil& eough i a s'oiled child that ould sooe! "issits 'la& ad its su''e! tha sa& it as so!!& ad (e f!ieds) #e call it the *ul0s) But i adult

life it has a hud!ed fie a"esAchilles3 !ath ad Co!iolaus3 g!adeu!, Re%ege ad

/u!ed Me!it ad *elfRes'ect ad :!agic ?!eatess ad P!o'e! P!ide).8

:he t!uth of the "atte! is that the!e is othig '!o'e! a(out '!ide i a& fo!" it ta0es,(ecause it 0ee's us f!o" ?od)

;ith '!ide, the de%il has a costat, u!eletig, 'oe!ful (uilti tool th!ough hich he

t!ies to esa!e us ad "a0e us his o) :o it, e%e though e "a& acce't Ch!ist ad

'!ofess to tu! aa& f!o" e%il, e the (eco"e susce'ti(le to self!ighteousess, hich i+eis3s %ie as oe of the o!st "aifestatios of the g!eatest si) 7A "a is e%e! so

'!oud as he st!i0ig a attitude of hu"ilit&).9:hus, as +eis said i oe of his lette!s,
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'!ide is t!ul& the 7'e!'etual aggig te"'tatio)H:he ol& a& to di"iish '!ide is to

costatl& ha""e! aa& at the co"'etiti%e s'i!it> 7Oce the ele"et of co"'etitio hasgoe, '!ide has goe)1

-ad e the ti"e, e could list a do=e sc!i'tu!es i the Boo0 of Mo!"o o the disast!ous

effects of '!ide) ;e could tal0 a(out the essetial ig!ediets of a io societ&, each ofhich is a "aifestatio of the eact o''osite of '!ide, ad is, !athe!, the total i""e!sio ofself i a sese of co""uit&, each idi%idual 'e!so see0ig the ite!est ad elfa!e of his

o! he! fa"il& "e"(e!s, f!ieds, eigh(o!s, ad&ese%e see0ig the ite!est of st!age!s

ad fo!eige!s)

CONCEPT /: THE NATURE OF THE DE0IL AND HELL

P!ide atu!all& leads us to tal0 a(out the atu!e of the de%il ad hell sice, as e ha%e

al!ead& oted, 7it as th!ough P!ide that the de%il (eca"e the de%il) .+eis (elie%ed

ue8) 7Ad it ca"e to 'ass that Ada", (eig te"'ted of the de%ilfo!, (ehold,

the de%il as (efo!e Ada", fo! he !e(elled agaist "e, sa&ig, ?i%e "e thie hoo!, hichis "& 'oe!6 ad also a thi!d 'a!t of the hosts of hea%e tu!ed he aa& f!o" "e (ecause of

thei! agec&6 ad the& e!e th!ust do, ad thus ca"e the de%il ad his agels6 Ad,

(ehold, the!e is a 'lace '!e'a!ed fo! the" ) ) ) hich 'lace is hell)

+eis3s ideas co"'a!e ith this !e%elatio i a ite!estig a&, es'eciall& he e!e"e"(e! that +eis also (elie%ed that *ata3s fall as due to !e(ellio (!ought a(out (&

'!ide) / fact, it is agai '!ide that +eis (elie%ed is the essetial cha!acte!istic, e%e

at"os'he!e, that 'e!"eates hell) 7;e "ust 'ictu!e -ell as a state he!e e%e!&oe is'e!'etuall& coce!ed a(out his o digit& ad ad%ace"et, he!e e%e!&oe has a

g!ie%ace, ad he!e e%e!&oe li%es the deadl& se!ious 'assios of e%&, selfi"'o!tace,

ad !eset"et)4

Fu!the! 'la&ig o the the"e of '!ide, +eis sees the !eal" of the de%ils as 7official societ&held togethe! eti!el& (& fea! ad g!eed) ) ) ) Fo! of cou!se Dog eat dog3 is the '!ici'le of

the hole o!gai=atio) E%e!&oe ishes e%e!&oe else3s disc!editig, de"otio, ad

!ui)5

-e!e agai e see the co"'etiti%e s'i!it i full fo!ce, o!0ig its dest!uctio)Pe!ha's that is h& the de%ils a!e called, i +D* 'a!lace, 7sos of 'e!ditio DIC G>.

f!o" the +ati !oot per"it#s, "eaig 7!ui o! 7dest!uctio) De%ils a!e "oti%ated (&

hat +eis calls 7s'i!itual cai(alis"a 7'assio to do"iate, al"ost to digest, oe3sfello)GBut it is a 'assio hich is e%e! satisfied) B& !eadig C) *) +eis the '!ofudit&

of fathe! +ehi3s o!ds i the Boo0 of Mo!"o a!e "ade e%e! so "uch g!eate!> 7Ad

(ecause he Kthe de%ilL had falle f!o" hea%e, ad had (eco"e "ise!a(le fo!e%e!, he sought
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also the "ise!& of all "a0id) ) ) ) Fo! he see0eth that all "e "ight (e "ise!a(le li0e uto

hi"self . Ne) .>18, .G)

:hus, hell, the a(ode of the de%ils, is (ased o hat!ed) Fo!, as +eis o(se!%es, 7A (eig

hich ca still lo%e is ot &et a de%il)8+eis is ell 0o as a "aste! of "eta'ho!, ad

he uses this gift to desc!i(e gli"'ses of hell that e see dis'la&ed fa! too ofte i7!es'ecta(le 'e!sos) 7O%e! all this thei! good "ae!s, thei! e'!essios of g!a%e !es'ect,thei! t!i(utes3 to oe aothe!3s i%alua(le se!%ices fo!" a thi c!ust) E%e!& o ad the it

gets 'uctu!ed, ad the scaldig la%a of thei! hat!ed s'u!ts out)9

+ogicall&, e ould ha%e e'ected hell ad hat!ed to go togethe! i +eis3s sche"e ofthigs) ;e ha%e al!ead& see ho '!ide is the foudatio of hell6 ad '!ide, as +eis

defied it fo! us, is 'u!el& ad si"'l& e"it&, o! hat!ed, toa!d ?od :he (i(lical !ite!

2a"es '!o%ided aothe! e

1) E"'hasi=e, o! o%e!e"'hasi=e, the (od&, es'eciall& 'h&sical o! (odil& eeds) -a%e the

!eal o!ld, the seso!& 'e!ce'tios, it!ude o oe3s s'i!itual life, li0e huge!, thi!st, heat

ad cold, ad 'h&sical u!ges) *a&s *c!eta'e, 7;hate%e! thei! (odies do affects thei!souls)41*igificatl&, the!e is the ude!l&ig '!e"ise i The Screwtape ettersthat hu"as

do 'ossess a ad%atage i this "ou"etal st!uggle fo! souls) /t is the fact that ?od

-i"self (eca"e "o!tal, ac


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) ;o!0 to "agif& disa''oit"ets ad foste! discou!age"et)

4) @ee' the su(ect tu!ed toa!d hi"self ad thus aa& f!o" ?od,44e%e if it is to ha%ehi" focus o it!os'ectio, selfea"iatio ad the 7ie! life) :his ill 0ee' hi" o! he!

tu!ed aa& f!o" ?od3s t!ue desi!es fo! the idi%idual)

5) Ma0e su!e that the su(ect is coce!ed ith 7s'i!itualit& i)e), oe3s a(st!act thoughts

a(out s'i!itual ideals o%e! ad a(o%e, o!, (ette! &et, to the eclusio of, '!actical !eligio o!coc!ete actiothe 7"udae, si"'le, dail& tas0s of Ch!istia li%ig) At oe 'oit

*c!eta'e ad%ises his e'he, ;o!"ood, to 7Ma0e su!e that ) ) ) K;o!"ood3s su(ectL

is ala&s coce!ed ith the state of Khis "othe!3sL soul ad e%e! ith he! !heu"atis")45

/ othe! o!ds, "a0e su!e the su(ect thi0s i a(st!act te!"s ad ot i '!actical te!"s, lest

he actuall& shos his faith (& his o!0s !eall& hel'ig othe!s, fo! ea"'le) :hus the o!st,

"ost da"agig 0ids of sis a!e notthose associated ith outa!d, o%e!t actios>

:he sis of the flesh a!e (ad, (ut the& a!e the leas

cs lewis the man and his message

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