Tuesday, August 24, 2004
I just read a book called The Question of God by Dr. Armand Nicholi. Great book, read it. The author compares and contrasts the world views of C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud. Lewis holds God and Christian teachings at the center of his world view, while Freud holds Atheism and psychoanalysis in the center. Much of the book is written almost as a biography, full of direct quotes from letters, books, and other writings from both men.
There are, of course, the obvious differences between Christianity and Atheism - like God and nothing. But the greatness of this book is that it explores all aspects of Lewis's and Freud's lives to unfold a full story of how their world views molded them as humans. The book explores each man's view on love, friendships, relationships, sex, marraige, the meaning of life, and death.
There is a whole chapter devoted to how Freud and Lewis approached their own deaths. Both men had a terminal illness and were well aware of their own mortality during the last months of their lives. Freud faced his death with depression, anxiety, and panic; Lewis embraced his death and spent his last days in a calm, cheerful mood, with almost 'anticipation'.
I thank God for C.S. Lewis. What a great man and a greater Christian. C.S. Lewis has made such a rock-solid case for Christianity through logic alone. His logical arguments for God and Christian teachings are sometimes overwhelming to me. As I read Lewis, I constantly have 'wow' moments, where another truth about God is revealed. Lewis not only wrote about it, he lived it, and died it. What a great Christian.
I pray that my life will have the same effect on those around me. There is true nobility in following our Lord Jesus Christ. Nobility is not the desired end result for which we live, but rather nobility is the by-product of a life lived for Christ.
There are, of course, the obvious differences between Christianity and Atheism - like God and nothing. But the greatness of this book is that it explores all aspects of Lewis's and Freud's lives to unfold a full story of how their world views molded them as humans. The book explores each man's view on love, friendships, relationships, sex, marraige, the meaning of life, and death.
There is a whole chapter devoted to how Freud and Lewis approached their own deaths. Both men had a terminal illness and were well aware of their own mortality during the last months of their lives. Freud faced his death with depression, anxiety, and panic; Lewis embraced his death and spent his last days in a calm, cheerful mood, with almost 'anticipation'.
I thank God for C.S. Lewis. What a great man and a greater Christian. C.S. Lewis has made such a rock-solid case for Christianity through logic alone. His logical arguments for God and Christian teachings are sometimes overwhelming to me. As I read Lewis, I constantly have 'wow' moments, where another truth about God is revealed. Lewis not only wrote about it, he lived it, and died it. What a great Christian.
I pray that my life will have the same effect on those around me. There is true nobility in following our Lord Jesus Christ. Nobility is not the desired end result for which we live, but rather nobility is the by-product of a life lived for Christ.
