Lesson 2 - Mere Christianity (a) Flashcards
What does Lewis mean by rival conceptions of God? How does this influence worldviews?
Rival Conceptions of God: the major ways people in the world generally conceive of that Someone/Something behind the universe.
- ) Believe in God(s) vs. Not believe in God(s) (Atheists)
- ) Pantheists (God is beyond good and evil) vs. Monists (God is righteous and involved)
- ) Pantheists (God is with the universe) vs. Christian (God made the universe)
- ) Problem of Evil: The Invasion (Liberal vs. Permanent Christianity)
- ) Christianity vs. Dualists
What is Lewis argument for the existence of God?
- ) Clue to the meaning of the universe
- ) The law of nature: the moral law
- - moral experience (what people talk about)
- - leads to moral God (what they don’t talk about) - ) 2 Clear points:
- - We all have moral/universal law: believe in right and wrong
- - We all break it
How is Christianity the shocking alternative in Lewis’ Theology?
How is there evil in the world and a good God?
Shocking alternative: free will after the fall of mankind
Shocking alternative: Jesus Christ as the forgiveness of sin (Liar, Lunatic, Lord)
How does Lewis follow and reinterpret Thomas Aquinas and Augustine in apologetics and Christian virtues?
- Aquinas had 4 virtues: prudence, courage, temperance, justice
- Augustine said that these virtues are “splendid vices” without God and true religion.
- Lewis talks about how Aquinas 4 are needed for the flourishing of the individual and the society, but without faith, hope, and love you have nothing.
What is Lewis view of the person and work of Christ?
- Person (Liar, Lunatic, or Lord; claimed to forgive sins)
- - Work (atonement) - Christ death has put us right with God and given us a fresh start
What are the distinctions between permanent Christianity and liberal Christianity?
Liberal Christianity doesn’t take Christianity seriously because it waters down the faith and doesn’t take evil, sin, judgment seriously.
