A Literary Critique of C. S. Lewis The Case for C Essay Example For Students

A Literary Critique of C. S. Lewis: The Case for C Essay hristianity, The Worlds Last NightA Literary Critique of C. S. Lewis: The Case for Christianity, The Worlds Last Night and Problem with PainI. IntroductionII. Brief Biographical InformationIII. The Case for Christianity- Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe IV. The Problem with Pain- Divine Omnipotence V.The Worlds Last Night- The Efficacy of Prayer VI. Conclusion A Critique of C. S. Lewis A Relativist said, The world does not exist, England does not exist, Oxford does not exist and I am confident that I do not Exist! When Lewis was asked to reply, he stood up and said, How am I to talk to a man whos not there?' C. S. Lewis: A BiographyClive Staples Lewis was born, in 1898, in Belfast. C. S. Lewis was educated at various schools in England. In 1914, Lewis began studying Latin, Greek, French, German and Italian under the private tuition of W. T. Kirkpatrick. He then moved to Oxford where his studies were interrupted by World War I (1917). Two years later he was back in Oxford resuming his studies. In 1924, Lewis was elected to teach Literature and Language at Magdalen College, Oxford and remained there till 1954. During this time period in his life, Lewis wrote the majority of his work. Lewis moved to Cambridge for the remainder of his life teaching Medieval and Renaissance Literature.1C. S. Lewis was a man dedicated to the pursuit of truth who believed in argument, in disputation, and in the dialectic of Reason. . . 2 He began his pursuit of truth as an atheist and ended up as a Christian. His works the Problem of Pain and Mere Christianity dealt with issues he struggled with. Mere Christianity consists of three separate radio broadcasts. One of the broadcasts was titled The Case ForChristianity. In The Case For Christianity, Lewis discussed two crucial topics in his apologetic defense of Christianity. They were the Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe and What Christians Believe. This critique will address the first chapter. Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, can be broken into three parts. The first deals with moral law and its existence. The second addresses the idea of a power or mind behind the universe, who, is intensely interested in right conduct. Also that this power or Godis good. Good as in the area of truth, not soft and sympathetic. The third point moves to Christianity, its attributes and why it was necessary for the long round-about approach .The law of nature binds humans as would the laws of gravity apply to a falling stone. It is called the law of nature because it does not need to be taught.Lewis points out that an odd individual may exist here and there who didnt know it, just as you find s few people who are colour-blind or have no ear for tune. But taking the race as a whole, they thought that the human idea of Decent Behavior was obvious to every one.3Lewis brilliantly defended his statement of natural laws existence. Two arguments, which argue for relativity, posted against him are the herd instincts or genetic inborn in us ( i.e. motherly love, survival or sexual impulses) and that which is taught socially or learned. Historically, these to interpretations of human behavior have clashed, however, he suggest that reason is above both. He clarifies his position by classifying impulses as separate from the decision to follow the impulse itself. The learned argument is refuted by his analogy of a boy on the island who is unaware of the existence of the process of multiplication. He never attended school and learned them.The education would be classified as human convention. This human convention, consequently, did not invent multiplication just as it did not invent the law of nature.However, this comparison is based on a false assumption. The law of nature, as Lewis argued, is not taught but some how exists as an inherent part of the human psyche. This law also presents itself in the form of decisions and actions in line with what ought to be done. There is no school-room which imparts this law and the practice of it.Consequently, mathematics needs to be taught and learned. Jesus Christ Essay If pain exists in this universe then God is either not truly good or lacks power to stop it.Lewis dedicates a chapter in his work, The Problem of Pain, to explaining this apparent contradiction. He also tackles the concept of impossibility in relation to omnipotence. The dialectic analysis consists of things intrinsically possible and the things intrinsically impossible. 7 A God of omnipotent power can do all things intrinsically possible. The reference to God performing the intrinsically impossible is nonsensical and foolishness to Lewis. The attribution of miracles and supernatural occurrences to God can be explained as possible, though humans perceive it as impossible.Clyde S. Kilby argues the point of free will and Gods power in context to Lewis work on the existence of pain. Kilby states that: Suppose that in my eagerness to be perfectly happy I persuade God day after day to change all prevailing conditions to my wishes. But if all conditions follow my wishes, it is obvious that they cannot possibly follow your wishes also and you will therefore be deprived of your freedom. Freedom is impossible in a world subject to whim. 8 Therefore, pains existence in a universe created by a good and omnipotent God is logically feasible.The next work by C. S. Lewis is The Worlds Last Night. This work contains an essay on prayer. Lewis examined prayer and its purpose by asking certain questions. Questions like, What evidence would prove the efficacy of prayer? 9 If a prayer is answered, how can you ever know it was not going to happen anyway?10 The answer to a prayer does no provide irrefutable evidence of the efficacy of prayer.Does prayer work? Lewis states that prayer is not a machine by which one could plug in the right phrases and get the results. He defines prayer as either a sheer illusion or a personal contact between embryonic, incomplete persons (ourselves)and the utterly concrete Person.11 If in fact prayer is a sheer illusion its purpose would be for the vocalization of wishful thinking. Whether the desired result comes to pass is completely based on fate or the simple fact that it was going to happen anyway.If is indeed a contact to an utterly concrete Person to what avail?What advice can a finite and intellectually limited person give to an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent being? Lewis states, Our act, when we pray, must not, any more than all our other acts, be separate from the continuous act of God Himself, in which alone all finite causes operate. 12 Prayer, according to Lewis, is a statement according to the will or actions of God.The will of God is knowable according to Lewis. However, he does not mention what Gods will was/is. In the following paragraphs Lewis conveniently changes his direction addressing an other aspect of prayer. He also does not explain how one goes about finding Gods will or why would God want to hear billions of little voices telling Him what His will is. Lewis does a poor job justifying the efficacy of prayer.It can be seen that C. S. Lewis analysis was always in terms of black and white or extremes. Any other alternative is either foolishness or unthinkable. He wielded the dialectic process of analysis as though it were second nature to him. His well trained mind synthesized theological dilemmas for the layman. Constantly referring to himself as a layman himself, Lewis left the details of theological doctrine and philosophy to those who were experts. He was only interested in his own personal questions concerning Christianity and sharing his well thought out answers to others.This critique of C. S. Lewis contains various selections from three of his books. The first work address the topic of Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe. In this section Lewis argues for the existence of absolutes, God and the validity of Christianity. The second work which was examined was The Problem of Pain. A selection on the omnipotent power of a good God was discussed in terms of the intrinsically impossible and the existence of pain.Thirdly, the efficacy of prayer was addressed in critical questioning of the purpose its existence.