Bethel Book Club discussion

Welcome to the Book Club conversation – Week 1 covering pages 3-20.

What I feel is happening in this first section of the book is that Lewis is building a foundation to argue a point later on. I have not read ahead to confirm this and it has been way too many years since I first read this book to remember.

He seems to be setting the table to debate human philosophy vs Christian theology (even though he has yet to mention Christianity specifically) on the way things are in life – either there is a moral standard based on an absolute truth or everything is subjective and open to feelings and opinions as the source of decision making. Interesting that he sees this in 1952 (the copyright date of the book) and yet we are still wrestling with this issue in 2019. Current social divisions on gender, sexuality, and rights of the unborn are many times centered on this same tension between what is right and what people “feel” is right. As Frank Turek often points out, if there is no objective truth beyond man, then everything is simply a matter of opinion and the choices of people like Hitler cannot be judged worse than the choices of people like Mother Teresa. But even deep in the heart of the most rigid opponent of Christianity screams the truth that assessment is incorrect. They may try to suppress it, ignore it, numb it with some form of chemical, but their conscience will fight them over that truth.

What are your thoughts on this first section and what spoke to your heart – please add to our conversation!

I thought he was talking about choices of what is right or wrong and what you believe in

Since this is written after World War 2 I cant imagine what the thought process in the world must have been . People in shock over what happened in Europe and Japan so I think he took on the arguement of humanity as indicated in the first paragraph.

What I kept thinking of is a toddler and how when they’re about to do something wrong, you see that look on their face. The “I’m kinda sure this isn’t right” look.
Maybe it’s stuff they’ve picked up on in their first year of life but maybe not. Idk. Seems like my dad always told me I was born with a sinful nature and that’s why he had to spank us. Lol.
This book is deep.
Eeeeeek.

This reminds me of college philosophy study so far. I’m keeping with it as I trust there is a message that is important in growing my ongoing relationship with God. 🌺

I definitely have the feeling a foundation has been set. He is slowly peeling away the arguments. Pretty amazing to think most if this came from radio broadcasts. It would be like having this info on prime time tv! People were hungry.

I agree that he is laying a foundation for the remainder of the book. I found it interesting how he distinguished between the law of nature and other laws, like the law of gravity. I also found the discussion about instincts interesting as related to the Law of Nature. He also makes the point that the Law of Nature comes from something above and beyond. This seems to be laying the groundwork for differentiating God from the world - and God’s power from worldly power.