Book III: Christian Behavior

I. The Three Parts of Morality

Lewis proposes three concerns of morality

1. Fair play and harmony between individuals. According Lewis' ship analogy, why is it not useful to stop with the first concern of morality?
2. Harmonizing the things inside each individual. How is the second morality achieved? What causes differences between people in regards to the second concern of morality?
3. The general purpose of human life as a whole. Why is the idea "as long as I don't hurt others, what I do is OK", a non-Christian philosophy?

II. The "Cardinal Virtues"

Lewis discusses what he calls the cardinal virtues.

1. Lewis says that according to old writers, there are seven virtues. Four of the virtues are called cardinal and the other three are theological. What are the four cardinal virtues?
2. Does being child-like mean that a Christian can be foolish?
3. Does temperance apply only to drinking? Does it mean complete abstinence?
4. What word does Lewis use to describe justice?
5. Fortitude is described in two ways, what are they?

III. Social Morality

A discussion of morality between man and man and what a society would be like if it were completely Christian.

1. Lewis states that Christ did not preach anything new in regards to morality. The real job of every moral teacher is...?
2. Why can Christianity not have a political program to apply the golden rule to a particular society at a particular time?
3. "The Church ought to give us a lead" is a legitimate statement if by Church we mean...?
4. Lewis speculates that if we were to visit a Christian society, we would come away with a curious impression. What is this curious impression?
5. Lewis states that three great civilizations have condemned the very thing we have based ours on. What were the three civilizations and what is the thing they have condemned?
6. Lewis states that charity (giving to the poor) is an essential part of Christianity. How can we gage our level of charity according to Lewis?

IV. Morality and Psychoanalysis

The Christian specification for the human machine

1. According to Lewis, psychoanalysis and Christianity are not in contradiction. How does psychoanalysis affect a persons ability to make moral choices?
2. How is a man who is in a position (due to anger) to kill thousands similar to a man who's anger only causes laughter?

V. Sexual Morality

A discussion of the Christian virtue known as chastity.

1. How is Christian chastity different than social rules of modesty?
2. Lewis uses an analogy with food to prove that our sexual instinct has gone wrong. Describe the food analogy.
3. In regards to sex, does Christian philosophy contradict the following statement: "There is nothing to be ashamed of in the fact that the human race reproduces itself in a certain way, nor in the fact that it gives pleasure."?
4. Do you think that our sexual instinct has been corrupted?
5. Do you think that Christian chastity is impossible? According to Lewis, what is the most fatal thing we can do when faced with this seeming impossibility?
6. Is unchastity the supreme Christian vice? If not, what is?

VI. Christian Marriage

A discussion of Christian marriage and its many implications..

1. The sexual impulse in man works best in ...
2. The words "one flesh" could be translated _ _ in modern English.
3. Using another food analogy, Lewis compares the isolation of sexual pleasure with...
4. All Christian denominations agree that divorce is more like having both legs cut off than...
5. According to Lewis, the most common reason for people who get married in church as a mere formality is...
6. According to Lewis, living together outside of marriage causes one to be guilty on two accounts which are...
7. According to Lewis, what does the passion of love impel two people to do?
8. Why does ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love?
9. Why is Lewis against forcing the laws of Christian marriage on people through government regulation?
10. What example does Lewis site to support the idea that the headship of man over women is natural in marriage?
11. Why is a man better suited for dealing with the family's foreign policy?

VII. Forgiveness

A discussion of forgiveness and its difficult relative: loving your enemies.

1. One of the most terrible duties of Christianity is ...
2. What are the two things we can do to make loving our enemies easier?
3. How did Lewis come to accept the straw-splitting distinction of hating what a man did and not hating the man himself?
4. Does loving your enemy mean not punishing him?
5. In Lewis' mind, why is the command 'Though shalt not Kill' not a moratorium against fighting in war or the death penalty?
6. Is giving up hatred as hard for you as giving up beer or tobacco?

VIII. The Great Sin

Lewis describes the great sin as one in which no man in the world is free, which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in another, and which hardly any people except Christians ever confess to being guilty of.

1. Have you ever recognized the great sin in yourself?
2. What is the virtue that is opposite of pride?
3. What is Lewis' suggested method to test how proud you are?
4. What part does competition play in pride?
5. What is another word that can be used to describe pride?
6. According to Lewis, what is the real test of being in the presence of God?
7. What are the 4 misunderstandings which Lewis discusses concerning pride?
8. What is the first step to acquiring humility?

IX. Charity

A discussion of the part of charity known as "alms" or giving to the poor.

1. Is having a cold temperament a sin?
2. What is one of the great secrets about cultivating charity?
3. What is Lewis' advice for a person who has no feelings of love toward God?
4. What is the great thing to remember about God's love for us?

X. Hope

Lewis describes hope as one of the Theological virtues.

1. Lewis mentions some accomplishments of men who left their mark on earth because their minds were set on heaven. Can you name these accomplishments and some others?
2. What are some symptoms of real desire for Heaven that are present in all of us?
3. Although we may experience some of the greatest gifts in life, still something has evaded us. What are the two wrong ways of dealing with this? What is the one right way?

XI. Faith

Lewis discuses the two levels of Faith.

1. Lewis admits to being puzzled by the concept of simple belief being a virtue. How did he resolve this puzzlement?
2. Lewis defines Faith as ...
3. How does one train the habit of Faith?
4. Before discussing the second level of Faith, Lewis returns to cultivating humility and suggests that one try to live the Christian life for a while. One will then discover by failure that ...

XII. Faith, level II

Lewis discuses the two levels of Faith.

1. An understanding of the second level of faith comes only after a man has ...
2. What is a way of thinking which identifies a man who is not in a right relationship with God?
3. Lewis states that a man who watches himself to see when he will fall asleep is very likely to remain awake. How does this relate to growing in faith?
4. In handing ourselves over to Christ, we desire to obey him. But we must obey in a new way of obedience. What is this new way?
5. What are the two parodies of truth which Christians have been accused of believing?
6. You have come to the end of Book III
7. Now is a good time to fill out the MCSG Form.