Theology Flashcards
In Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis makes an argument that minor sins may sometimes be better at corrupting a soul than major sins. What is his argument?
C.S. Lewis argues that minor sins can corrupt more than big sins (Screwtape Letters). Small bad actions pile up and slowly lead us away from good, making us selfish without even noticing it.
- C.S. Lewis writes in Screwtape Letters, “You must have often wondered why God does not make more use of His power to be sensibly present to human souls in any degree He chooses and at any moment.” How does Lewis explain why God refrains from this explicit action most of the time?
Lewis says that God’s will allows humans free choice, even if they choose sin. Evil exists because humans have free will. God allows this freedom, even though it sometimes leads to bad choices
C.S. Lewis says that before his conversion, he objected to the claims of God being a just divinity because the world was so rife with injustice. How does he respond to this objection?
Lewis realized that calling the world unjust meant he had an idea of justice. This sense of justice, he believed, must come from God. Without God, there wouldn’t be a standard of justice.
C.S. Lewis proposes the following question: “Is this state of affairs (Our world full of sin and pain) in accordance with God’s will, or not? If it is, He is a strange God, you will say: and if it is not, how can anything happen contrary to the will of a being with absolute power?” How does he respond to this inquiry?
Lewis explains that God’s will allows humans free choice, even if they choose sin. Sin and pain aren’t what God wants, but He lets them happen because He values freedom.
God benefits nothing from our praise. Why then does he demand it? Explain the reasons that Lewis provides.
Lewis explains that God doesn’t need praise, but humans need to give it. Praising God helps people connect with Him, grow spiritually, and enjoy His goodness. It completes their joy and relationship with God.
What is an example of an intrinsic impossibility? Provide an example and explain how it differs from a miracle.
An intrinsic impossibility is something that can never happen, like a square circle. It’s a contradiction. A miracle, however, is something unlikely, but possible, like walking on water.
How does C.S. Lewis use this distinction to explain why there is evil in the world?
Lewis says God can’t do intrinsic impossibilities, like making free creatures who always obey. Evil exists because humans have free will. God allows this freedom, even though it sometimes leads to bad choices.
The paradox of petitionary prayer is that we tell an all knowing God something he already knows and ask an all good God for something that he should already want to give us. How does Lewis resolve this problem? In your answer explain the meaning of the following quote by Pascal.
C.S. Lewis says prayer isn’t about telling God new things but building a relationship. Like Pascal said, prayer helps us recognize we depend on God, even though He knows everything already.
