Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Right and Wrong





I'm glad I don't have to give a synopsis of the whole chapter (all FOUR pages), because every paragraph he writes says a mouthful! (though so far, not difficult at all to understand).   Take parts of these two paragraphs.

" I know that some  people  say the idea of a Law  of  Nature or decent
behaviour known to all men is unsound, because different  civilisations  and
different ages have had quite different moralities."
"But this  is  not  true.........for  our present purpose I need only ask the reader to think what a totally different
morality  would  mean. Think of  a country  where  people were admired  for
running away in battle, or where a man felt proud of double-crossing all the
people who had been kindest to him. You might just as well try to imagine a
country  where  two  and  two made five. Men have differed  as regards what
people you ought to be unselfish to-whether it was only your own  family, or
your  fellow  countrymen, or everyone. But they have always agreed that you
ought  not to  put yourself  first. Selfishness has never been admired. Men
have differed as to whether you should have one wife or four. But they have
always agreed that you must not simply have any woman you liked."

All people will agree  "What is mine is mine."   We all feel entitled to our property.  The question is whether what is yours is negotiable...   I suppose Lewis would say the answer to that is dependent on whom "you" are in various cultures.   Are you my family or friend?   My neighbor?  My protector?   Different cultures may differ as to who gets treated with unselfishness, but not about what constitutes the rights of the chosen. 

I find his take refreshing compared to the “truth is relative” nonsense we hear so much in our own culture.  

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good thoughts, Helen. Jesus answered that question of 'who's your neighbor' with the good Samaritan. Like your take! Thanks for adding to the discussion.

Duane Scott said...

I agree, C.S. Lewis' take on it is refreshing.

And he's such an old guy!

Which tells me the Truth will always stand.

HisFireFly said...

I agree with you - I am quite tired of gray when God painted some lines in stark black and white!

Unknown said...

Truth is relative...

Relative to Jesus alone: I am the Truth...

:) Glad to have you on this journey with us.

Glynn said...

Truth isn't relative - and we all know it -- every one of us. Good post, Helen.

Jerry said...

Well said you. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

he really "does" say a lot in that little chapter.

Steph said...

We're suppossed to be relatable and relevant but the Gospel truth is not relative. I believe Christians need to bear through the conversations of "the truth being relative" and live a life that's so infectious, others want to know The Truth, Jesus.

Thanks for your comment on my blog yesterday! (I LOVE SCL too!)

Billy Coffey said...

C.S. Lewis is my hero, and I agree with you completely. Very, very refreshing.

Sarah Salter said...

Helen, I totally agree with you and I love the comments the others have left here. Not sure what else I can add except THANK YOU for joining our discussion! You're a blessing and we love having you!