In chapter two, CS Lewis goes on to expand the topic of the Law of morality or decent behaviour. The innate sense in us that help guide our decisions about what is right and what is wrong. Is this an instinct or is it something completely different? A definitition of instinct pulled from The Free Dictionary is:
1. An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli: the spawning instinct in salmon; altruistic instincts in social animals.
2. A powerful motivation or impulse.
3. An innate capability or aptitude: an instinct for tact and diplomacy.
Wikipedia stated that: Some sociologists argue that humans have no instincts, defining them as a "complex pattern of behavior present in every specimen of a particular species, that is innate, and that cannot be overridden." Said sociologists argue that drives such as sex and hunger cannot be considered instincts, as they can be overridden. This definitory argument is present in many introductory sociology and biology textbooks,[6] but is still hotly debated.
Make a list of instincts and let's do some comparisons:
-self preservation (the desire to stay alive)
-greed
-sleeping
-sex
-aggression
-fight or flight
-herding
-mothering
So how does moral law factor into instinctive behavior? Is it in and of itself and instinct or is it some other key component in our human nature. CS Lewis argues that moral law is another part of human behavior, in effect our conscience that helps guide and control our instincts appropriately. He used the example of a person drowning and calling for help. Self preservation instinct would keep us away and on "safe" ground, yet our herding instinct will produce the desire to assist and help the person. Moral law will guide the impulses to what is correct and right in that situation at that point in time.
So is moral law just a form of education or social convention that we have learned over time? We do learn things from people that are around us and our culture does mold us. But think about it.... when we compare one culture to another culture, we are measuring them against each other and one may or may not come up lesser or greater then the other. Therefore, we are measuring them against a common standard in order to make that decision.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Let's go back to the very beginning....
And when I say let's go back to the very beginning, I mean the very beginning. Currently, I am reading a book titled "Mere Christianity", by CS Lewis (famous author of the Narnia series....) and he goes all the way back to the beginning also to look just at the root of humanity. Not a single person, not a single thing just humanity in general.
The book was written during World War II and was actually presented as topics of conversation on the radio. Reading it can be a little more tedious then I thought but in general, I am really impressed with what I am learning.
In the forward, a few things stood out to me. One: Lewis wrote this book in order to help us see religion with fresh eyes, as a radical faith whose followers are like underground groups gathering during a time of war, hoping to hear messages of hope because evil seems to have the upper hand. Two: He also discusses that christianity in and of itself is a way of life, not a philosophy, theology, something to be talked about, discussed and then tabled to return to later for follow up discussions. No, Lewis was once quoted as saying that, "It (Christianitiy) is a way of life, one that challenges us always to remember. There are no ordinary people and it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit." (Just dwell on that thought a little longer.... gives me a little different view of the people that I see every day...)
The first section of the book is titled: Right and Wrong, a clue to the meaning of the universe.... He goes over in detail how we as humans have a standard code of conduct, a way in which is understood as right and proper, or a intuitive understanding of what is right and what is wrong. It's in our human nature, we don't have to really think about it, it's just part of us. Think of how many times a child has said, "that's not fair..." Really?!? How so? Has the child been told what is fair and what is not fair? No. The child instinctively and intuitively knows what is right and what is wrong. This is our basis of human nature. In some people, this intuition is repressed or overshadowed by other issues (think of manic depressive people, schizophrenia, multiple personalities, etc). We as a human race have a common belief of what is right and what is wrong. I loved the illustration that Lewis gave of people running away from war. Do we admire them? Hold them in high esteem? No, it is the soldiers who selflessly give their lives so that we can maintain freedom, that we admire. Someone who is selfish is not deserving of admiration and is usually turned into an example of how not to behave. So instead of thinking so broadly, lets turn the tables onto ourselves... How many times in one day, have we as humans been impatient, irritable, and on edge but instead of stating that we are in the wrong, we continue to shift the blame and excuse ourself as being tired or hungry. In essence finding a reason or scapegoat that our behavior is in some effect excusable and not our fault.
Questions of the day.... (or maybe I should term it homework).
What are the two points that CS Lewis is emphasizing throughout the first chapter? In his opinion, there are two facts that our universe is built on and the foundation of all clear thinking.....
The book was written during World War II and was actually presented as topics of conversation on the radio. Reading it can be a little more tedious then I thought but in general, I am really impressed with what I am learning.
In the forward, a few things stood out to me. One: Lewis wrote this book in order to help us see religion with fresh eyes, as a radical faith whose followers are like underground groups gathering during a time of war, hoping to hear messages of hope because evil seems to have the upper hand. Two: He also discusses that christianity in and of itself is a way of life, not a philosophy, theology, something to be talked about, discussed and then tabled to return to later for follow up discussions. No, Lewis was once quoted as saying that, "It (Christianitiy) is a way of life, one that challenges us always to remember. There are no ordinary people and it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit." (Just dwell on that thought a little longer.... gives me a little different view of the people that I see every day...)
The first section of the book is titled: Right and Wrong, a clue to the meaning of the universe.... He goes over in detail how we as humans have a standard code of conduct, a way in which is understood as right and proper, or a intuitive understanding of what is right and what is wrong. It's in our human nature, we don't have to really think about it, it's just part of us. Think of how many times a child has said, "that's not fair..." Really?!? How so? Has the child been told what is fair and what is not fair? No. The child instinctively and intuitively knows what is right and what is wrong. This is our basis of human nature. In some people, this intuition is repressed or overshadowed by other issues (think of manic depressive people, schizophrenia, multiple personalities, etc). We as a human race have a common belief of what is right and what is wrong. I loved the illustration that Lewis gave of people running away from war. Do we admire them? Hold them in high esteem? No, it is the soldiers who selflessly give their lives so that we can maintain freedom, that we admire. Someone who is selfish is not deserving of admiration and is usually turned into an example of how not to behave. So instead of thinking so broadly, lets turn the tables onto ourselves... How many times in one day, have we as humans been impatient, irritable, and on edge but instead of stating that we are in the wrong, we continue to shift the blame and excuse ourself as being tired or hungry. In essence finding a reason or scapegoat that our behavior is in some effect excusable and not our fault.
Questions of the day.... (or maybe I should term it homework).
What are the two points that CS Lewis is emphasizing throughout the first chapter? In his opinion, there are two facts that our universe is built on and the foundation of all clear thinking.....
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Roman's Road
I found this on the internet and it's a really good reminder for me. Especially right now as Easter is almost here about what really happened on the cross and what Jesus has done for us.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.
We were born under the power of sin's control.
- Admit that you are a sinner.
Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."
Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.
- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.
Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.
- Ask God to forgive you and save you.
Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"
When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life. He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!
- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change. His love bought you out of being a slave to sin. His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership. God loves you!
Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"
- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!
Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door, ask Him to come into your heart.
Jesus said, Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."
- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?
Believe in Him.
Ask Him to come in to your heart by faith,
and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
Open the Bible to the Gospel of John and read what God says about Jesus,
about you, and about being born again.
God will help you. He loves you.
You need to look for a local church where
God's word is preached. The Bible says that we are to desire
God's word like a newborn baby desires mother's milk.
Aren't you hungry to know the truth?
Water baptism is one of the ways you first show that you have been joined to Jesus. This is an action, and actions will not save you. However, it is an act of obedience and a symbol of commitment.
The symbolism is this:
When you go down in the water you show that
You have been crucified and buried with Him,
And when you come up out of the water you show that
you have been raised to walk with Him in newness of life.
(See Romans chapter 6)
You have been born again.
(See John chapter 3)
Your body has become God's temple.
Your heart is where He lives.
Forgiveness is yours in Jesus.
And you belong to Him.
You were sin's slave.
But now...
You are a child of GOD!
John 1:12
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name!"
The ROMANS ROAD....is a pathway you can walk.
It is a group of Bible verses from the book of Romans in the New Testament. If you walk down this road you will end up understanding how to be saved. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.
We were born under the power of sin's control.
- Admit that you are a sinner.
Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."
Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.
- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.
Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.
- Ask God to forgive you and save you.
Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"
When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life. He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!
- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change. His love bought you out of being a slave to sin. His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership. God loves you!
Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"
- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!
Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door, ask Him to come into your heart.
Jesus said, Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."
- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?
Believe in Him.
Ask Him to come in to your heart by faith,
and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
Open the Bible to the Gospel of John and read what God says about Jesus,
about you, and about being born again.
God will help you. He loves you.
You need to look for a local church where
God's word is preached. The Bible says that we are to desire
God's word like a newborn baby desires mother's milk.
Aren't you hungry to know the truth?
Water baptism is one of the ways you first show that you have been joined to Jesus. This is an action, and actions will not save you. However, it is an act of obedience and a symbol of commitment.
The symbolism is this:
When you go down in the water you show that
You have been crucified and buried with Him,
And when you come up out of the water you show that
you have been raised to walk with Him in newness of life.
(See Romans chapter 6)
You have been born again.
(See John chapter 3)
Your body has become God's temple.
Your heart is where He lives.
Forgiveness is yours in Jesus.
And you belong to Him.
You were sin's slave.
But now...
You are a child of GOD!
John 1:12
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name!"
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