We now come to the final chapter of Book II! In this chapter, C.S. Lewis draws to a conclusion “What Christians believe”. In previous chapters, Jack has explained that we receive New Life from Christ. In this final chapter he looks at how it is communicated to us. He principally focuses on belief, Baptism and Holy Communion.
Bishop Barron was recently interviewed by Dave Rubin on the Rubin Report. Dave is described as “a 39-year-old pro-choice, pro-pot, recently gay-married atheist with a strong allergy to organized religion”. As you can imagine, this led to a very interesting interview, which is available below in two parts:
The word “hypocrite” is used to describe Christians so regularly these days that it’s practically a cliché. What people intend to communicate when they describe Christians in this way is that Christians say one thing and yet do another.
In particular, they object to the fact that Christians say that one should not sin and yet they sin! As a result, some people think that the moniker of “hypocrite”is both justified and appropriate. Unfortunately, that’s not what the word means…
Some people say that God doesn’t exist because they don’t understand His actions. But then I have no idea what air-traffic controllers, earthworms or morris dancers are up to, and most people seem to think they all exist…
With the recent Chick-fil-A controversy, I now realize modern man is almost incapable of distinguishing between these four things:
1. The difference between “Approval” and “Implicit Condemnation”. Just because you support one thing doesn’t mean you’re viciously antagonist toward another (i.e. “anti-” the opposite.) If Dan Cathy supports traditional marriage between one man and one woman, that doesn’t mean he ipso facto “hates gay people” or is “anti-gay.”
2. The difference between “Disagreeing” and “Hating” I disagree with ideas all the time. This does not necessitate hating the person who proposed them. Your beliefs are not your identity.
3. The difference between “Beliefs” and “People”
This is somewhat similar to #2. Rejecting a belief does not equal rejecting a person. You can reject the validity of same-sex marriage on philosophical and social grounds while still profoundly loving people with same-sex attraction. I reject at least some opinions or actions from each of my friends (such as “double-rainbows are boring” or “playing the lottery is wise.”) They in turn reject plenty of my own. But we don’t hate each other. In fact, just the opposite is true. Our relationship is grounded on a communion of persons, not a symmetry of beliefs.
4. The difference between “Bigotry” and “Disagreement”
The definition of bigot is “one unwilling to tolerate opinions different than his own”–not “someone who disagrees with me.” Toleration doesn’t require agreement, merely recognition and respect. (Ironically, those quickest to accuse people of bigotry are often bigoted about their flawed definition of “bigot.”)
The solution to these failures is not more dialogue. It’s better philosophy, logic, and reason. Unfortunately, until two people are capable of making these distinctions, healthy, productive dialogue about same-sex marriage is almost impossible.
Bishop Barron was recently interviewed by Dave Rubin on the Rubin Report. Dave is described as “a 39-year-old pro-choice, pro-pot, recently gay-married atheist with a strong allergy to organized religion”. As you can imagine, this led to a very interesting interview, which is available below in two parts:
