Man or Rabbit

In a country and age when there is Internet access on our cell phones, instant access to ownership through cites like amazon.com, and constant noise from the music on our mp3 players, we could agruably be seen as more like animals now than when Lewis wrote God on the Dock, for no other reason than it has become easier to ignore God because of technology. (And ironic, considering most people would view technological advancements as a sign of an advancing people or civilization). It's much more fun to be entertained constantly by our gadgets than to sit in silence and listen for that still small voice.

But enough preaching. I find it interesting that he brings up the differences in points of view between Christians and Materialists: Materialists act to benefit society's institutions when they are trying to do good because individuals survive shorter periods of time than institutions do. Conversely, Christians would act to benefit people, because we are all of us eternal, and civilizations are not. I had actually never thought of this idea before. As an IDS major I am certainly concerned with individual people, but also with social institutions because they are the only tool I can use to better others. In this sense it's really hard to find a balance, and I'll probably do a lot more wrestling with this idea in the next few years.

I really liked Lewis's comments on good people who were not Christians, and yet benefitted society. He also says that he would hope God would show mercy on them and their innocent ignorance or honest error. I have heard rumors that Lewis was a Universalist. This is probably untrue, and yet his sentiments here hint of it. I can't say that that fact displeases me. I don't have God's plans worked out, but I certainly like the idea that God would show mercy on those who tried and yet couldn't find a way to His Truth. Mercy is a big part of God's nature, and I think that we as Christians have a tendancy to forget that as fallen people. "Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him!" My gut instinct is to be inclined to agree with Lewis about men who evade Christ for fear or shame or any such thing, and to stop searching for Truth because of those emotions, that is wrong. Of course, God has the ability to forgive this too, and Lewis was certainly a fan of the pursuit of knowledge, and thus biased in this matter. And so I think that as I think about this more, I'll probably wind up going against my first impulse.