Mere Christianity - Bk 1 - Ch 1 - The Law of Human Nature

On August 6, 1941, C.S. Lewis broadcast his first BBC talk.  He called it "Common Decency." When Mere Christianity was published in 1952, it was called "The Law of Human Nature."

Though Lewis began to explain Christianity, he opened with the common experience of people quarreling.  According to one account, a bartender, upon hearing this, suddenly stopped in the process of serving a drink,  in order to hear this out.  Lewis wanted to point out that the common experience of quarreling indicated a that people used a usually common standard of right and wrong - of morality - to support their arguments.

Lewis said that while this higher standard used to be called the Law of Nature, he thought it should be called the Law of Human Nature, so as not to confuse it with natural laws such as gravity, etc. While we have no choice whether to observe gravity, or other natural laws, we do have a choice whether to follow the Law of Human Nature, the common morality most observed  for ages.

Lewis said some said different civilizations and ages had different moralities.  Lewis responded that a

true comparison showed most had very similar moralities.  He asked readers to imagine what vast differences would mean - a country where a soldier was admired for running away - or where another was admired for double-crossing those kindest to him.  He compared it to a country where two and two made five.

Lewis acknowledged that not everyone agreed with this view.  But he noticed that those who disagreed usually tended to insist the next moment on a standard of right and wrong to call attention that they had been wronged on some matter or other.

Next, Lewis pointed out that we all know we don't keep the moral law, whatever you might call it.  We know we have not completely kept the moral law we expect others to observe, and tend to accuse others of not keeping.

Lewis summarizes this as the basis for all clear thinking.  First, almost everyone believes others ought to behave in a certain way - the Law of Human Nature - and Second, that everyone who faces the truth has to admit they do not completely observe this standard - and, in fact, have disobeyed it.

Mere Christianity - Preface
Mere Christianity - Overview
Bk. 1 - Ch. 2 - Some Objections

Mere Christianity - Preface

Lewis added a Preface when Mere Christianity was published in 1952.  It wasn't part of the original BBC broadcasts during WWII, nor part of the original three books based upon those broadcasts.

Up front, Lewis discusses the radio broadcasts and the three books it generated, which I discussed in the Overview.  He also discusses the difference between giving a radio address and the modifications he made for book publishing.

More importantly, Lewis describes what he means by "Mere Christianity," a term he had not used during the radio broadcasts, nor in any of the three books initially published from those broadcasts, and only introduced in bringing those 3 books together afterwards in 1952.  He freely admits to borrowing the phrase from someone else.

Lewis makes it clear that he is no help to someone who is trying to decide between any Christian denomination.  While an Anglican, he disavows trying to persuade anyone to that position.  In addition, he freely admits he is no expert about the points which tends to divide denominations.  In addition, he observes such discussions tend to deter those who might want to enter into Christian communion.

He describes Christianity as a hallway with several rooms.  He says he is only attempting to describe the hallway.  The rooms, an analogy of various Christian traditions, is where you go to get warm and comfy by the fireplace, something you cannot do in the hallway.  He wants to describe the hallway, and invite people there, but he hopes they find their way into the rooms, the various Christian traditions, where they will get warm and cozy by the fireplace with tea and all.  But its up to them to find their way from the hallway to those cozy rooms.

Lewis also talks about the word "Christian," and compares it with the word "gentleman."  At one time, "gentleman" meant a man who owned land and had a coat of arms.  Later, the word gentleman came to mean a good man.  For Lewis, when this occurred, the word gentleman lost all meaning, since you could always just say a good man as a description of a good man.  For Lewis, the word Christian means someone who accepts the teachings, the doctrines, of the apostle.  If it is instead used to simply describe a good man, then it has lost its meaning to describe something other than simply a good man, a phrase that already has a good descriptive meaning.

Mere Christianity - Overview
Bk. 1 - Ch. 1 - The Law of Human Nature
Bk. 1 - Ch. 2 - Some Objections