About a month ago I posted an article about my disliking to the C.S. Lewis book "Mere Christianity" you can read that post here.
and for the first time in a long while I'm going to repost a comment left by one of you lovely readers. so without further ado, here's Joel.
Hey Ryan,
I don't read your blog, but Rady tagged this post. I'm a huge CS Lewis fan, mainly from the standpoint that I'm a reason/logic guy and most of his writings use that approach.
Your points are solid. I've been reading his work for a long time and thought I might offer a perspective on some of this that comes from reading his other works as well.
1. He can be very long winded. Just because he's held in high regard doesn't mean he says things simply. I do often read his books when I intended to fall asleep. I still learn a great deal from him.
2. The Apostle Paul wasn't married either, and in fact uses much the same disclaimer in 1 Cor 7 when speaking about such things. We would still consider his teachings very thoroughly (God's Word afterall, right?).
3. I've long disagreed with CSL on his stance of evolution. The Problem Of Pain is another great work of his. But he says some really outlandish things that really end up sounding more like a man searching for truth while confidently stating things he isn't really sure of. After considering this for a while I realized that he was born in an era when science really was starting to take off. Creationism was being challenged, and there really wasn't an antidote or clear response from the Christian community. He was a man of logic and to that point his scholarly friends and influences were bringing seemingly logical arguments for which there was no better, more "logical" Christian response. He was bound by the limits of the knowledge he had to work with. I wonder if he'd have a much different view of things if he were alive today.
4. Lastly, to your point about scripture. He rarely ever uses scripture to back up his arguments, especially in Mere Christianity. I liken this to someone using the color green to describe the color green to someone who has never seen green. If you are an atheist or a "normal person" and you don't believe the validity of the Bible, using scripture to describe truth is going to seem really inadequate, and maybe even comical. He uses other approaches to reveal that the Bible, more importantly God, is who He really is. If you want solid Biblical teaching to back up what you believe, there are many many other authors who approach things from a scriptural context. He doesn't often intend to reach the reached. His writing, as I've viewed it, is intended to reach those who view scripture very skeptically.
So overall, I don't disagree with your observations. He was after all just a man. He was flawed. I see a lot of his approach in myself. I often times must make a "confident" argument known to then begin disassembling it in my own mind to make sure it can be stated as confidently as I originally presented it.
Showing posts with label Marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marriage. Show all posts
Friday, April 17, 2009
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Marital Bliss
So I was thinking this afternoon about what I could post, since the one advice question I was asked has been answered ( that’s what we call a subtle hint to all you laymen out there.) After reviewing what I had planned this weekend, I came up with a few different things that I’ll post over the upcoming days and weeks.
First of all let me say congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Greg Meredith. By the time anyone reads this they’ll have been married for a few hours. A few weeks ago Greg and I had breakfast and he asked what he needed to know to be a new husband. In honor of the newlyweds, I’ll share the quips and wit I bestowed upon him to you all now.
1. Sacrifice - the first thing you’ll learn about being married is that you are the most selfish person on the planet. You quickly come to the conclusion that your own wants and desires come second to your wife’s. No longer are the days of staying out until 4 kickin it with your buddies and makin midnight runs to the waffle house, then stopping by wal-mart to buy a 360 game for no reason. You stay home all the time hanging out with her watching TV or a movie and you’re in bed by 10 (or in Megan’s case 7 jk) you plan to go to the grocery like it’s such a chore, but reschedule it because you’re too lazy to go.
But the truly unique thing about all of this is that you don’t care. One of my wife and I’s favorite activities is what we call NO SHOWER SUNDAYS. It consists of getting up whenever, reading post secret, watching Veronica Mars (one of the best shows ever made, Netflix it). Then we go upstairs to play Lego star wars. Grab lunch, head back down stairs to watch TV or a movie (maybe get a little coital) , and generally just waste the day away. But you know the best part, I love it. The day flies by, but there’s no one I would rather spend it with.
2. Examination - the second thing you’ll start to do is examine your relationship. You’ll do everything in your power to make your wife happy. I’d rather lose a finger then have my wife pissed at me. You’ll start doing dumb stuff you would never consider doing for another woman to please her. Of all the things you do for your wife, 95% of it will go unnoticed ( at least visibly or orally anyway), but you can’t complain because you know damn good and well she goes out of her way for you and you never notice either. Always do little things to show your wife you love her. She was dumb enough to marry you, so edify (praise- your big word of the day) her constantly. Last night I left a card for her in her car, so that when she got in the car this morning she would have a little surprise. It took hardly no time to do, and she knows that your thinking of her.
3. Xylophone - now, you may be asking yourself what does the most oddly spelled instrument on the planet have to do with having a healthy marriage. Take a moment to look at the whole page. Really let your eyes relax and you see the hidden message. The hidden message is a vital part of a healthy marriage. I had to keep that on the DL. Whoever finds the hidden message, post it in the comments, and you’ll win a prize, a for real prize.
I would like everyone to do me a favor, copy the link to the site up above, and post it somewhere on the net, whether that be in a message board signature, your myspace or face book, or your own site, I want this thing to grow, but I need your help.
L'Chayim,
-Ryan
First of all let me say congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Greg Meredith. By the time anyone reads this they’ll have been married for a few hours. A few weeks ago Greg and I had breakfast and he asked what he needed to know to be a new husband. In honor of the newlyweds, I’ll share the quips and wit I bestowed upon him to you all now.
1. Sacrifice - the first thing you’ll learn about being married is that you are the most selfish person on the planet. You quickly come to the conclusion that your own wants and desires come second to your wife’s. No longer are the days of staying out until 4 kickin it with your buddies and makin midnight runs to the waffle house, then stopping by wal-mart to buy a 360 game for no reason. You stay home all the time hanging out with her watching TV or a movie and you’re in bed by 10 (or in Megan’s case 7 jk) you plan to go to the grocery like it’s such a chore, but reschedule it because you’re too lazy to go.
But the truly unique thing about all of this is that you don’t care. One of my wife and I’s favorite activities is what we call NO SHOWER SUNDAYS. It consists of getting up whenever, reading post secret, watching Veronica Mars (one of the best shows ever made, Netflix it). Then we go upstairs to play Lego star wars. Grab lunch, head back down stairs to watch TV or a movie (maybe get a little coital) , and generally just waste the day away. But you know the best part, I love it. The day flies by, but there’s no one I would rather spend it with.
2. Examination - the second thing you’ll start to do is examine your relationship. You’ll do everything in your power to make your wife happy. I’d rather lose a finger then have my wife pissed at me. You’ll start doing dumb stuff you would never consider doing for another woman to please her. Of all the things you do for your wife, 95% of it will go unnoticed ( at least visibly or orally anyway), but you can’t complain because you know damn good and well she goes out of her way for you and you never notice either. Always do little things to show your wife you love her. She was dumb enough to marry you, so edify (praise- your big word of the day) her constantly. Last night I left a card for her in her car, so that when she got in the car this morning she would have a little surprise. It took hardly no time to do, and she knows that your thinking of her.
3. Xylophone - now, you may be asking yourself what does the most oddly spelled instrument on the planet have to do with having a healthy marriage. Take a moment to look at the whole page. Really let your eyes relax and you see the hidden message. The hidden message is a vital part of a healthy marriage. I had to keep that on the DL. Whoever finds the hidden message, post it in the comments, and you’ll win a prize, a for real prize.
I would like everyone to do me a favor, copy the link to the site up above, and post it somewhere on the net, whether that be in a message board signature, your myspace or face book, or your own site, I want this thing to grow, but I need your help.
L'Chayim,
-Ryan
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