C.S. Lewis: His Theology and Philosophy - Lesson 32

Dr. Michael Peterson 
C.S. Lewis: His Theology and Philosophy 
ap530-32 
The Great Divorce (Part 2) 
Lesson Transcript

Well, I hope you got a taste of what a good piece of work that documentary is. I think it is. And in addition to the sort of group discussions and in addition to the little individual vignettes that follow the group discussions, there's material at the end as well. And a lengthy I think there's a lengthy interview with Jerry Root and Wheaton College, and there's, of course, a major collection of Lewis's work there. And we sort of talked with a, you know, major expert on Lewis. I don't know what to say about whether you could ever get that for your own purposes in a church or some kind of other ministry project you might be involved with, but you might check with Christian Student Fellowship UK and see if they can somehow make it available through a link or whatever. Be very helpful. And what our church, I often do adult electives. I've done a few on Lewis, and Lewis always draws a crowd. So, you know, maybe you can find this kind of thing to be useful and helpful. I don't have anything all that profound to say at this point, other than given what you've read of the book, The Great Divorce, given any thought you've had or in interaction with anything that's been said in the documentary. Do you have any comments or observations? Do you like to share? Yes. When the. Yep. But. Part of that goes together with the other part where. So someone is. But one cannot understand the true relation between education. So. You want to go? Yeah, actually, I was going to go there if time permitted. I think maybe the most puzzling part of the book is the end. I mean, there is this parade of ghosts and their different personalities or different hang ups.

There are different ways of resisting joy. There are different ways of refusing to come into reality. Capital are and they're all worthy of more discussion than we have time for all the different themes and there are more themes than we saw in the doc here in the documentary that I just had to skip because I'd turn it off for time's sake. But I think the more, the more puzzling part of the book is right there at the end where Louis himself is waking up from this dream and but within the dream that he's having, he hasn't quite waked up yet. Is this image of the chessboard and all of that. Where issues of time, eternity, choice, destiny are all kind of at play in that final part of the book? What I personally what I don't think is there is a real official metaphysic that eternal souls are fully formed human beings and that our earthly selves are just chess pieces being moved. But I wouldn't make a lot out of that. I think it's much more about understanding the significance within the scope of total reality, the significance of our orientation toward God and the the necessity of coming to grips with with making that orientation of our selves toward God. And it's a great image. And I do think I do think around the edges of that. Questions of freewill versus divine solve or not versus divine sovereignty. But what is the relationship of free will and divine sovereignty? And Augustine was wrestling with that, and Lewis knows that, of course. Unfortunately, with Augustine, I see sovereignty as being too heavy and free will ultimately not being not given its full weight. I think that's that's the way I see Augustine. And there's a whole line of thought issuing out of Augustine that tends that way.

So even those issues are there, the relation of time and eternity. But as he's waking still coming more and more true to alertness and consciousness, the issue is turn on the Dreamers own choice. He. The sun is coming up. The day is dawning. And he's kind of been washed in this whole realization of the need to make a choice. And so it brings, I think, to that and that that came out in some of the discussions that the book keeps turning toward. What will you do? Can you not see yourself positioned, contextualized within the scope of these great issues? So then the dreamer awakes and we don't know what happens. Just like we don't know what happens with most of the ghosts. Did you? My favorite person probably in the book is Sarah Smith. Who's that one earthly individual who. I'm making a transition here just before we run out of time. She her example goes to make an enduring point we've brought up a couple times. She comes and she I mean, Sarah Smith is a pretty ordinary name. So not like Ezekiel. Not the people are naming their children. You know that. That's top on the list of names, the name of children Ezekiel anymore, but it's pretty common. Comes from a common little village. And it says so, you know. But she's coming with quite an entourage and a lot of glory. And she's pictured, I think, is being extremely close to the heart of God. And there's a whole page in the book where she gives a hymn to the Trinity. Remember that the Blessed Trinity is my home because the situation with her husband could upset her. And she's saying ultimately, the kind of happiness I have, the kind of joy the frame's my existence is blessed, the Trinity is my home.

And it even by things that happen that shouldn't happen, didn't go right in my life. Even relationships in my life that are broken. The Blessed Trinity is my home and it goes on many lines down the page of a kind of a hymn to the Trinity, which again makes the point that heaven is the life of God. Participating in that life is heaven for us. Everything else would be at a trivial definition of heaven. It would miss the essence of heaven. I think we could officially say we're done. Are there any sort of procedural things, questions about wrapping up the course? Like, could we break your leaves for extra credit? Yes, of course. We like a bright spirit coming to help. My guest is not hurt your feet, by the way. It's very interesting. Yes. Yes. Citing examples from one theory five. And that's for the grief. But what theory of love did you say? It says under the category. Great cause. Is that question. Okay, That's what I should say. Great. Cause, you know, I don't know. Well, would you type an email? Yeah, about that question. And when I get home tonight and work my second shift because we're empty nest, there's nothing else to do. So with grandkids, work a second shift. That's the you go. So I'll. I'll respond to everybody in case that question, maybe there was a cut and paste job that I did and I didn't get the right word in there. Maybe it is the great divorce. We're not seeing it in front of me. I can't say. Oh, you got it. Okay. Oh, super. Can I put on my eyes? Citing examples from the book What Theory of True Love can you identify? Oh, yeah, I get it.

Now it's under the heading of the Great. It'd be great divorce. Do you think that'll work? We could always ask for any book. What Theory of love? Well, I think that works. Makes sense that I would have done that. I think so. I think so, too. Yeah. Well, Theory of True love. Because you see some warped examples of dysfunctional. Well, I appreciate that. I, uh. I can respond to that. Though I won't be mailing any of you. Estimates that from December to what that blowing I can barely here is the due date which is what would it be like next Wednesday or Thursday? See. Finals is next week, right? That's right. And I hate the pressure on you all for finals week. I really do. So here's my theory, and I'm sticking to it, is that I try to hold off as late as I can to receive work so that you can kind of organize your life. What's more pressing? What do I need to do now for some really bad professor who's very demanding, you know, and has a really arbitrary due date? Here, here's where the grace flows. And usually it's about the Wednesday following that. Maybe it's like the Wednesday or Thursday following finals Wednesday. And C, that gives me the Wednesday night and all day Thursday, two grade turning grades Friday. So so that's my theory. I always try to wait as late. I love that one of my professors, all of our grade is doing everything that makes the third grade. Oh, my. Another paper. Everything looks great. Yeah, I'm pretty old dog. And everybody, you know, different subject matters kind of. They're taught better certain ways than others. But I'm pretty old dog on pedagogy and what I think works.

And my goal is long term understanding. And the more pressurized you are that works against long term understanding it that I just live with it. Think about it. It'll be better in the long run. So I'd rather not to my convenience, I'd rather have the stuff sooner. But you know, that's that's me. But I'm good with this and this is my way. And and I think it'll work for you. So this has been great fun. I guess I'll see you all in the science course in j term or the suffering course in in the spring. And we can build our relationship in a relational universe. Have a good Christmas, and we will see you sometime.