Man or Rabbit?

Another straightforward, thought-provoking essay by C. S. Lewis in which he, once again, makes me question my own intelligence.  I have thought, and even asked the question that he addresses in the essay: CAN'T YOU LEAD A GOOD LIFE WITHOUT BELIEVING IN CHRISTIANITY?  Unfortunately, I am not smart enough to write my feelings on the matter like he does, but I can say that I have answered the question in the same matter aloud...at least with the same emphases.  As Lewis eventually says, "The question before each of us is not 'Can someone lead a good life without Christianity?' The question is, 'Can I?...He is really asking, 'Need I bother about it? Mayn't I just evade the issue, just let sleeping dogs lie, and get on with being "good"? Aren't good intentions enough to keep me safe and blameless without knocking at that dreadful door and making sure whether there is, or isn't someone inside?'"

Lewis's point here is that the person asking this question, in reality, is more than likely interested in the makings of what might be, to him, God.  He is searching, and Christianity has aroused his mind.  Therefore, the answer to the question, as Lewis reluctantly says, is "Yes."  I say reluctantly because of course it is good for people to know God, and this fact trumps all objections that exert "no" for the answer.  The reason Lewis says it as if he is backed into a corner is that, for the person asking, the timing is a little off.  What I mean is, it would not be good for the man to 'become a Christian' so he could be say all the chants and learn the religion and have no actual heart.  We know that not everyone who goes to church really lives for God (I guess some could argue).  For the most part, the man who is drunk six out of seven days of the week and goes to church isn't necessarily 'living for God.'  Therefore, in the sense that the man asking the question is only looking at religion, the answer is no (I am not merely speaking in a literal sense).  The reason one could not respond "no" in this scenario is because the man would not be a Christian if he 'said the words' for the wrong reason.  Therefore the question of, "Is it good for me to be a Christian?" could only have an answer of 'yes.'

C. S. Lewis writes this in a way that assumes something of the asker, but I believe he is allowed to do this.  The only way someone else would seriously consider this question is a theologian, a good thinker, or a great thinker (a.k.a. C. S. Lewis).  Anyway, toodles...