The Cardinal Virtues
by C. S. Lewis
Before reading the chapter and answering the following questions, please number your paragraphs 1-9 (paragraph 9 is separated into 4 different sections, not paragraphs).
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According to Lewis there are 7 major virtues. They are split up into 2 categories. What are the names of those 2 categories?
What is the difference between the 2 sets of virtues? (The first category would partially make up what Lewis earlier called The Law of Human Nature.)
How is the word "cardinal" used in the label "cardinal virtues"?
What are the 4 cardinal virtues according to Lewis?
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How does Lewis define the virtue "prudence"?
According to Bertrand Russell, the great English philosopher of the 20th century, prudence is the virtue which separates the barbarian from the civilized man. The civilized man thinks about the action he is about to take and what will be outcome or result of that action. The barbarian, the caveman gives no thought for the future.
According to Lewis many Christians misunderstand this virtue. What error do many of them make with regards to prudence?
Lewis gives 2 responses to this misunderstanding. What are those 2 responses?
In order to illustrate how prudence works, Lewis uses the example of giving to the poor (charity)? How would prudence operate in this area?
It IS important that we care for the poor, especially the poor Christian. Jesus in Matt. 25 basically teaches: "Neglect the poor Christian and go to hell." However, even in helping the poor, we need to be prudent. For this reason it is prudent not to give to a person begging for money on the highway or in the street. Local organizations, like the church, know who the people are who come to them for money. There is accountability whenever charity is local. These local organizations can really help those who need help, and not be taken in by scammers.
How much of our common sense does God want us to use?
Instead of adopting the following motto--"Be good, sweet maid and let who can be clever," what motto does Lewis want us to adopt?
What kind of slackers is God fond of?
Although Lewis says that Christianity demands that we use our brains, he goes on to say that a person does not need a special education in order to be a Christian. Why?
What is the premier proof that an uneducated man can actually make a tremendous impact for Jesus?
That person is John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, considered one of the 10 books that changed the world. It tells the story of Pilgrim who leaves the City of Destruction and journeys to the Celestial City (heaven). It's a classical story explaining the life of the Christian. God loves an educated mind that is committed to Him (Paul is the best example). However, although God will not dispense with commitment, He is not restricted to working only through people who have received a formal education.
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According to Lewis the virtue "temperance" has lost its original meaning. In the minds of most people what does temperance mean?
When originally coined, did temperance refer strictly to drinking alcohol?
Instead of referring to "abstinence," what does temperance refer to?
This discussion unnerves a lot of conservative Christians. Whatever else is true in this discussion, we must admit that 2 of the greatest Christians of all time (conservative Christians) smoked or smoked and drank. They were Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist, and C. S. Lewis. When asked if his smoking cigars did not hurt his testimony, Spurgeon replied, "Only if I smoke excessively." When asked what he meant by smoking excessively, Spurgeon replied, "Smoking 2 cigars at the same time!" (Whether he's right or wrong, that remark is hysterical!) When another lady told Spurgeon that she thought it was despicable that he stuck his cigar between his 2 fingers, he replied: "Where do you want me to stick it?"
What religion is the teetotal religion?
When should a Christian abstain from drinking?
Some people will claim that drinking or smoking hurts a person's witness. Why though do these hurt their witness? Because some misinformed Christians have told the world that good Christians don't smoke and drink. Therefore, these misinformed Christians have made an issue out of a non-issue. They have made smoking and drinking the point while all along the cross and Jesus' death are the main point. The solution is not for Christian to quit smoking and drinking; the solution is for Christians to speak the truth about smoking and drinking. The Bible demands temperance, not abstinence.
The grape is one of the best things God ever made. It is a great oxidant which fights against cancer. Our pastor wrote an article in the Biblical Illustrator which shows you that yeast is natural to the outer skin of the grape. Once the grape is crushed, fermentation automatically kicks into gear. Fermentation then preserves the grape juice; otherwise, it would ruin. It was not until Welch discovered a way to keep grape juice from fermenting and from ruining that people started drinking non-alcoholic grape juice.
I loved the t-shirt I saw one lady wearing the day some friends and I went to hear the Kildaires play in concert. The lady was dancing around having the best time. On the back of her t-shirt was written: "I know that God loves me because He gave me beer to make me happy." In case you don't think that that is theologically correct, read Ps. 104:15.
Instead of condemning people who drink, what attitude should the Christian have towards people who drink and can handle alcohol?
What is the mark of a certain type of bad man?
Lewis mentions an instance of a Christian taking the wrong turn. What has this Christian done which has led him to make a wrong turn?
I am not defending nor attacking drinking. It is a non-issue spiritually and morally. It is a health issue for some people though. When it is all said and done, when does a man discover that he has problems with alcohol? When he is hauled to his first AA meeting or when he stands before the judge for a DUI. Then it's kinda little too late. Some claim that alcohol and cigarettes keep you out of heaven; the truth is that they may send you there sooner than later.
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Because people have restricted temperance only to drinking, what mischief have they caused?
What are some other areas a person can be intemperate in beside drinking?
According to Lewis what is the difference between intemperate with alcohol and being intemperate with cards, or golf, or dominoes, etc.? Does this difference matter to God?
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Instead of referring to what goes on in the law courts, what does the term "justice" refer to?
What all does fairness include?
What 2 kinds of courage does fortitude include?
When you practice one of the 4 virtues for very long, which virtue must come into play before very long?
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Lewis claims that there is a difference between a just or temperate action and a just or temperate man. How does tennis illustrate this principle?
If Molly will ever play tennis with me, I will make some good shots. The only reason though is that I will be lucky. She is a lean, mean tennis machine though. The reason she makes that many good shots is that she has really trained herself in tennis. The same needs to be true about us in the area of morality.
What will a man who perseveres in doing just actions get in the end?
When speaking about virtues, are we speaking about particular actions or a quality?
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If we stress action over quality (character), we will encourage 3 wrong ideas. What is the FIRST wrong idea we will encourage?
What is the problem of doing the right thing for the wrong reason?
What is the SECOND wrong idea we will encourage whenever we stress actions instead of character?
What is the THIRD wrong idea we will be encouraging?
According to Lewis what helps determine what kind of people we are going to become in our future life?
Will God refuse you entrance if you don't quite focus enough on character in this present life?
No, but it may be a close call about whether or not you get into heaven. God judges us on the basis of our works because our works reveal us for who we really are. If we perform Christian works, these works reveal that we are truly Christian. If we don't, then most likely we're not a Christian. Now we might not perform Christian works and still get into heaven; however, that is going to be a close call. What's the problem with close calls? (They can go either way. Judgment Day is not the time I want to be facing a close call.)
If people do not have at least the beginnings of those qualities inside them, what external conditions will make heaven "Heaven" for them?
The answer: "Nothing!" If the environment is all you need for a wonderful life, then nobody in Switzerland would ever commit suicide; however, Zurich, Switzerland, one of the most beautiful places in the world, is the hub of all kinds of drug abuse. Becoming like Jesus is what our experience here on earth is to be about. If we don't become like Jesus here on earth, what makes us think that heaven is going to be great when heaven is all about Jesus?
Lewis has a wonderful illustration of this in Book 7 of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle. In it some dwarves who are neither good nor bad get into heaven. Yet when they get there, they don't quite get it. Although it is full day, they think it is night because their eyes are closed spiritually. Although they are given the most delectable foods to eat, they hate the foods because their spiritual taste buds are non-existent. That is probably going to be an accurate picture of the way some people experience heaven.