Morality & Psychoanalysis
(as per C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity)
I just wanted to discuss this chapter with...myself I guess.
To provide background or refresh of what this chapter is about: Lewis is talking about the similarities between Christian morality and Psychoanalysis. Lewis says that when a person makes a moral choice there are two components to this action. Firstly, there is the act of choosing and secondly the impulse which is based on normal or abnormal tendencies. Psychology is related to the second component. Then he goes on to elaborate about judgement of wrongdoing. Lewis talks about the tendency of humankind to judge one another by our results. We judge a person for a product rather than looking at the raw materials that particular individual had to work with. He illustrates this point by saying a perverted man who is taught from the beginning that cruelty is the right thing and chooses to refrain from cruelty is perhaps viewed by God as more meaningful than a person like me who sacrifices my life for a friend. Finally, Lewis states that each choice we make changes the very core within us. The outcome is peace and knowledge for those who choose to be moral.
I like 3 things about Lewis’ discussion:
1) Choice: He stresses that we have a measure of control of our outcome while acknowledging that we are functioning with the cards we are dealt with.
2) Not to judge results. Not to make premature assumptions based on incomplete information.
3) Reminds me that God is not satisfied with my goodness. He wants more from me. That I made a general choice to be moral is not good enough. He wants me to change the very core within me one choice at a time.
Which leads me to introspection – I am grossly unjust towards my peers who don’t fill their boots (as the expression goes). I despise those who cannot inspire me with their perseverance, independence, and ingenuity. I’m sick of people my age raised in upper middle-class Christian families who complain that they were dealt a bad hand. However, perhaps their present state of mind is already a far cry with what they had to begin with. Lewis’ writing reminds me that I have no idea what they have gone through – what cards they were dealt. The focus should be on my own progress and not the progress of others.
Life is too short to be mediocre. Make a choice to be moral. Judge oneself and not others. Fight daily to be a better Christian.
Cheers to Clive Staples Lewis for reminding me that I am a warrior.
(as per C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity)
I just wanted to discuss this chapter with...myself I guess.
To provide background or refresh of what this chapter is about: Lewis is talking about the similarities between Christian morality and Psychoanalysis. Lewis says that when a person makes a moral choice there are two components to this action. Firstly, there is the act of choosing and secondly the impulse which is based on normal or abnormal tendencies. Psychology is related to the second component. Then he goes on to elaborate about judgement of wrongdoing. Lewis talks about the tendency of humankind to judge one another by our results. We judge a person for a product rather than looking at the raw materials that particular individual had to work with. He illustrates this point by saying a perverted man who is taught from the beginning that cruelty is the right thing and chooses to refrain from cruelty is perhaps viewed by God as more meaningful than a person like me who sacrifices my life for a friend. Finally, Lewis states that each choice we make changes the very core within us. The outcome is peace and knowledge for those who choose to be moral.
I like 3 things about Lewis’ discussion:
1) Choice: He stresses that we have a measure of control of our outcome while acknowledging that we are functioning with the cards we are dealt with.
2) Not to judge results. Not to make premature assumptions based on incomplete information.
3) Reminds me that God is not satisfied with my goodness. He wants more from me. That I made a general choice to be moral is not good enough. He wants me to change the very core within me one choice at a time.
Which leads me to introspection – I am grossly unjust towards my peers who don’t fill their boots (as the expression goes). I despise those who cannot inspire me with their perseverance, independence, and ingenuity. I’m sick of people my age raised in upper middle-class Christian families who complain that they were dealt a bad hand. However, perhaps their present state of mind is already a far cry with what they had to begin with. Lewis’ writing reminds me that I have no idea what they have gone through – what cards they were dealt. The focus should be on my own progress and not the progress of others.
Life is too short to be mediocre. Make a choice to be moral. Judge oneself and not others. Fight daily to be a better Christian.
Cheers to Clive Staples Lewis for reminding me that I am a warrior.
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