C.S. Lewis, who converted from atheism to Christianity, puts together various arguments about Christianity in his book Mere Christianity. There are two chapters in Book 2 that I found interesting and will analyze; Chapter 1, The Rival Conceptions of God and Chapter 2, The Invasion. Each chapter presents different views on Christianity with respect to good and evil as it relates to God and the universe. I will analyze how one chapter presented a weak argument on its premise and the other a strong argument.
In Book 2, Chapter 2 The Invasion, Lewis discusses how Christianity is not simple and compares its view with Dualism and how good and evil relates to the universe. Humans are led to believe that the universe is meaningless and bad because we are part of the universe and should be able to recognize these attributes.
Lewis compares Christianity with the concept of dualism which he says both are aware of the conflict that exist in our universe. Yet, dualism believes that there are two separate powers: good and evil. Christianity believes that the world is full of enemies and that there is no separation of which is more powerful.
Lewis believes dualism is flawed because if both see themselves on the same level as good then which one is truly good. Is being bad really being bad? Is it a choice we make or a choice we mistake as being good but is not? Lewis quotes: “But pleasure, money, power, and safety are all, as far as they go, good things.
The badness consists in pursuing them by the wrong method, or in the wrong way, or too much.” (Book2, Chapter 1) Achieving something good in the wrong manner is considered bad. Lewis goes on to discuss that good and bad power are a choice of what we should or ought to prefer. The good power is one that relates to our belief in God and the bad relates to the enemies. Lewis says “Goodness is, so to speak, itself; badness is only spoiled goodness.’ (Chapter 2, Book 2)
It is to say that evil only exist because the good has been spoiled by the actions taken to achieve the outcome of the bad. Lewis believes that people who do evil things believe they are doing good. In his mind evil can’t exist without good. It is not an independent force. While he respects the concept of dualism he doesn’t believe it separates powers on the same level.
Lewis makes a strong argument about Christianity not being a simple religion as compared to dualism. There is no easy answer to explain Christianity because it is broken down into different ways humans view this religion. Lewis believes evil is dependent on good. I agree that one relies on the other and are not separate powers.
People tend to do evil things and feel good about it. So how can doing bad be good? There is no separation of either of these powers because people tend to do things with different intentions. A good Christian is deemed a person who does something good with good intentions. Yet, when someone does something bad we look at the person as being a bad Christian. There are also instances when the person who did something bad feels they did something good.
This could be out of revenge, hate, or to teach someone a lesson. Lewis explains very well the difference between dualism and Christianity and makes great points. The complexity of Christianity lies between the choice of good and bad. These are choices that we as humans should morally make but blame the universe and God when all goes wrong.
A great point Lewis made was the fact that the bad was merely pursuing the good using the wrong method. Such bad choices bring many to repent because they go about getting what they want in the wrong manner. There should be no reason to repent if we do what we know we are supposed to do and not be drawn into the dark to carry out bad things which God does not approve.
In Book 2, Chapter 1 The Rival Conceptions of God, Lewis discusses whether God is good or evil and looks at Christianity and Pantheism to find the answer to this question. Lewis says that humans believe in different forms of God and have their views of God when it comes to good or evil. One view is the view of a pantheist who believes that there is a relationship between God and the universe and that there is no separation good and evil because God is the whole universe.
The other is the view of those who practice Christianity who believe that God is separate from the universe because he created the universe and believe things can be good or evil. They believe that God wants us to make the wrong things in the world right again. Yet the weak argument lies in proving if God made the universe and is good then how can anything be bad. Lewis believed that the universe is unjust.
Lewis’ argument about good and evil in this chapter is a weak argument. Lewis while agreeing that the universe is unjust tends to continue to side with Pantheism and doesn’t sound sure of himself if God is above the universe or not.
