PHILOSOPHICAL WRITINGS
MERE CHRISTIANITY
CHAPTER 11: The New Men
Before starting, number your paragraphs 1-15
Paragraph 1:
What example from nature does Lewis use to make the same point?
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Although Lewis does not just come out and say that evolution is true, the way he writes this chapter leads us to assume he does. Lewis was not in the habit of questioning experts in other fields of knowledge. He accepted their findings and then determined how they related to Christianity. Even if you don't believe in a God-led Evolution, you must admit that there has been a serious development of species.
Evolution teaches that all life came from lower forms of life. What consequently are people wondering?
What do some imaginative writers come up with?
"But supposing the next step was to be something even more _____________ from the earlier steps than they ever dreamed of?"
What has happened in the past which just might be a clue to the future?
"The next step was not only going to be different, but different with a new kind of ___________________."
Instead of flowing in the direction it was flowing, what did evolution do?
Paragraph 3:
What cannot Lewis help from thinking?
"I should expect the next stage in Evolution ___________ to be a stage in Evolution at all: should expect Evolution itself as a method of producing changed will be ____________________."
What else would Lewis NOT be surprised at?
Paragraph 4:
Instead of this change making us brainier men, what change has it made in us?
Who and when was the first instance of this change?
Why was this change NOT a part of evolution?
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Paragraph 8:
What does Lewis hope is true about all the divisions among Christians?
What has the world thought was going to happen to Christianity over and over again, and yet it has been totally disappointed?
Why does the world hate us?
Paragraph 9:
What makes the present moment so critical?
How is all this like being birthed and how is it NOT like being birthed?
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What are examples that it has happened?
What are some pieces of evidence about these people which show that they HAVE already become sons and daughters of God?
To become holy is like joining what?
Paragraph 11:
Why do we think that all these sons and daughters of God will be exactly the same?
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What two illustrations does Lewis use to show us that even though we are all becoming sons and daughters of God, we are still going to be different?
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Why is true about Christ that makes millions and millions of Christians all different?
There are too few of us to do what?
When I refuse to give myself to Christ, I become the meeting ground of what?
When I refuse to give myself to Christ, what happens to my wishes?
What will be the true origin of my political beliefs if I do not give myself to Christ?
When do I finally begin to have a real personality of my own?
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Where is "sameness" to be found?
Who are all monotonously alike and who are all gloriously different?
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Instead what must you do?
How do trying to make a good impression and trying to be original in art and literature apply to this principle?
When do you truly become original?
What principle runs through all life from top to bottom?
What will you find if you look for yourself?
What will you find if you look for Christ?
Book Four
Chapter 11
What point is Lewis trying to emphasize when he uses the image of us being changed from mere horses to winged horses?
What theory does Lewis use to illustrate his point (not all educated men believe in this theory)?
What mistake do most people make about the future and evolution?
If you care to talk in these terms, what is the Christian view?
Not only does this change come from outside the system (which is very much UNLIKE evolution), it differs in 5 other ways as well. What is the first way it differs from evolution?
What is the second way this new change differs from ordinary evolution?
What is the third way this new change differs from ordinary evolution?
What is the fourth way this new change differs from ordinary evolution?
What is the fifth way this new change differs from ordinary evolution?
On this view what thing has happened?
What must you NOT imagine about these new men?
What happens to us whenever we get "ourselves" out of the way and let Him take over?
At the first Lewis said that there were Personalities in God. What does he say which takes this statement even further?
Will it work if you go to Christ looking for this "new" personality?