Analysis of Mere Christianity and the Abolition of Man

BUS520A

Kailan Huang

Analysis of Mere Christianity and The Abolition of Man

When it comes to Christianity, goodness and evil exist side by side and they are always a significant question in Christianity. In this regard, C.S. Lewis mentioned the most natural thing in the world that can make human distinguish between goodness and evil of the moral law. After Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, hence god added The Moral Law to human being so that human know what is the shame of good and evil, how to distinguish vulgarity and elegance also ignoble and noble. In Mere Christian, C.S. Lewis mentioned the Law of Nature, there are two different views. One of views is belong to materialism, they think all things on earth are natural and nobody knows where it is generated but existed. On the other point of view is belong to religion, they think there exist something behind the universe goes well beyond human consciousness.

God brings the truth to human life which guided by the Law of Nature. For instance, an apple falls from the tree and it falls on the ground instead of flying in the sky because that’s what gravity does. The connection between electricity and magnetism by deflecting a magnetic needle with an electric current is another example. All in all, the Law of Nature existing everywhere and control of the world in order. As if those laws demonstrate the role of right and wrong, the person if he/she killed other people then human will censure and criticize the murder and people thought he/she should be made criminal offenses. As C.S. Lewis said in Mere Christianity, “The Law of Human Nature, or of Right and Wong, must be something above and beyond the actual facts of human behavior…a real law which we did not invent and which we know we ought to obey.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 1952, page 21.) This is what human know about right and wrong. This is the role of the moral law as well and this is the connection of “cause and effect”.

C.S. Lewis reflected on education with special reference to the teaching of English in high schools. In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis can distinguish the things rationally as well as humanistic feelings. He contradicted a wrong point of view from The Green Book, “We appear to be saying something very important about something: and actually we are only saying something about our own feelings.” (C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man, 1943, page 2-3.) He criticized the author of The Green Book and take them as an example of all “traditional” authors. It cut the connection of appetites and reason from the negative impact of The Green Book and leads human be “Men without chest”. Also he named the criticism is innovator. The most important concept is Tao what is many theories in common of the world and the belief of objective values. It’s a way to go through the truth. Just like Lewis’s conclusion about the Tao, “…is not one among a series of possible systems of value. If it is rejected, all value rejected. If any value is retained, it is retained.” (C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man, 1943, page 43.) It’s demonstrated he realized the understanding of education and nature as an educator. It’s not only use value to discuss education but also take education rules as key point to discuss value.