Session 2 - What's Behind Our Sense of Right and Wrong.

Words.

Apologetics.

Apologists. The name esp. given to the Christian writers who (c. 120–220) first addressed themselves to the task of making a reasoned defence and recommendation of their faith to outsiders.

Contingencies.

Dictionary of Theological Terms (Contingent Events)

CONTINGENT EVENTS - Based upon what came before.

Events whose immediate causes are (1) indeterminate or uncertain to us—e.g., as the throwing of dice; or (2) the act of a free moral agent—e.g., of the men who crucified Christ.Those under (1) are not uncertain to God, nor are those under (2), for He foreknows them as contingent in their cause, i.e., dependent upon the will of a free agent (1 Sam. 23:11, 12; Acts 2:23; 15:18; Isa. 46:9, 10). From Scripture, such as Mark 14:21, 30, we learn that actions which depend upon the will of a free agent are divinely decreed and therefore certain to come to pass.

Summary.

Law of Human Nature.

Mere Christianity (Chapter 4: What Lies behind the Law)

The Law of Human Nature, or of Right and Wrong, must be something above and beyond the actual facts of human behaviour. In this case, besides the actual facts, you have something else—a real law which we did not invent and which we know we ought to obey.

Mere Christianity (Chapter 1: The Law of Human Nature)

just as all bodies are governed by the law of gravitation, and organisms by biological laws, so the creature called man also had his law—with this great difference, that a body could not choose whether it obeyed the law of gravitation or not, but a man could choose either to obey the Law of Human Nature or to disobey it.

“… liberty of humanity...”

Wesley Study Bible, NRVS 2009, p.7

Abingdon Press

Prevenient Grace.

prevenient grace. The species of actual *grace which, as an illumination or inspiration of the Holy Spirit, precedes the free determination of the will. It is held to mark the beginning of all activity leading to *justification, which cannot be achieved without it, but its acceptance or rejection depends on man’s free choice.

Play DVD - Session 2.

University College - Oxford England

Eric Metaxas.

Clyde Staples Lewis

At 17 wrote he believed in no religion. No proof.

At 32 he wrote he believed God expressed Himself in Real Things.

Incarnation.

Crucifixion.

Resurrection.

‘Joy”

Something enjoyable but beyond his grasp. Where did this longing come from? He couldn’t see it, taste it, smell it or touch it. Nothing in this world would satisfy it.

Dr. Jerry Root - Author/Editor/Associate Professor Wheaton College Illinois

Contingencies - What lies outside of them? Before them?

Materialist Approach. (Matter)

It’s always been there. It’s eternal. Neither created or nor destroyed.

Begs the question “Where do ideas, justice, love, … come from?

Lewis said he did not believe reason was just cerebral chemistry.

Bring in Quadrilateral

Religious / Super-naturalistic Approach.

Lewis rejected Materialistic (Chemical) approach. Contingencies which we see also come from things we can’t see. These immaterial contingencies come from God.

Atheist->Agnostic->Theist->Christian.

When a Theist.

Lewis felt he could not know God any more than a book character could know the book’s author. He realized an author could insert himself into a character in the book he was writing.

Then he realized, “That’s what God did! He inserted Himself into the universe by putting Christ on earth (Incarnation).

Humility - Be Honest.

Shortcomings.

Growth brings failures.

His Forgiveness makes it possible for us to grow. We all know we fail. But God loves so much he will forgive us when we stop.

Morality/Fair-Play.

We all have it. We know what is moral and what is fair. When we see immorality or unfairness in others we quickly point it out. When others point out ours we make excuses and rationalizations.

How does it (Faith in Humanity) work for Us?

It leads to humility and Freedom to grow through our failures and God’s Forgiveness.

Forgiveness. (Humility. Gratitude. Magnanimity.)

Lewis, knowing God’s gifts, was willing to share them with others.

Magdalen College - Oxford England

“I wish you Joy” the Vice-President of Oxford, said as C.S. Lewis was admitted into Oxford University as a Fellow.

At 26 (1925) Lewis becomes a Fellow of Oxford University’s Magdalen College.

Little did Lewis know how powerful “Joy” would become in his life in so many ways.

Session 3.

Alternative Explanations.