Transcript MERECH1b
Rivermont Presbyterian Church Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis Book I Right and Wrong As A Clue To The Meaning Of The Universe Summary of Chapters 3 - The Reality of the Law 4 - What Lies Behind the Law I Peter 3:15 But in your heart set Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience. 1 Rivermont Presbyterian Church Book I: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe Chapter 3. The Reality of the Law - Summary - Humans are haunted by the idea of a sort or standard of behavior they ought to practice, what we call fair play, decency, or morality. - But that they do not in fact usually behave the way they think is right. - Morality is not an instinct or convention. - Morality does not depend on the culture or society. Could you remember one event this past week in which you clearly used the moral law to encourage one instinct and discourage another? 1) How the Moral Law differs from the Natural Law? What happens when your break either of them? 2) What are the implications / consequences of admitting that we are not perfect. 3 - Why are the consequences of saying: “Why should I care what’s good for society except when it happens to pay me personally? 4 - According to Lewis, the statement, "Men ought to behave decently in order to benefit society", is a redundant statement. Why? Why should we be unselfish? 5 - The moral law is a reality, but not a fact in the ordinary sense. What kind of reality is it? 6 - How is the moral law pressing on us? 7 - The choices we make have inevitable consequences. “Hamlet and Macbeth had choices. So did Charles and Diana. They made the wrong ones, with tragic results.” Reactions!! 2 Rivermont Presbyterian Church Book I: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe Chapter 4. What Lies Behind the Law 1 - According to Lewis, Science cannot be used to discover the mind behind the creation of the universe, why not? 2 - What is the one thing that is unique about man that is different than anything else a scientist can study? 3 - Why is there a universe? Why does it go on as it does? Has it any meaning? 4) Where should we start our search for the meaning of the universe? 5) Granted there is a Life Force behind the universe. But, why is this Life Force a sort of tame God? When you are feeling fit and the sun is shining and you do not want to believe that the whole universe is a mere mecahnical dance of atoms, it is nice to be able to think of this great mysterious Force rolling on through the centuries and carrying you on its crest. If, on the other hand, you want to do something rather shabby, the Life-Force, being only a blind force, with no morals and no mind, will never interfere with you like that troublesome God we learned about when we were children. The Life-Force is a sort of tame God. You can switch it on when you want, but it will not bother you. All I have got to is a Something which is directing the universe, and which appears in me as a law urging me to do right and making me feel responsible and uncomfortable when I do wrong 3 Rivermont Presbyterian Church THE MAN OF GOD Faith 1 Tes. 5:23,24 Love Intelect Justice Harmony Economy Justice Social Life Prov 4: 23; 23:26 Will Ps. 40:8 Language Ps. 119:11 Culture Heart Soul Thought Sent. Fil. 4:6,7 Mercy Feeling Biologic Life Energy Body Responsability Motion Competence Space Number 4