Man or Rabbit?

This essay caught me a little off guard, as Lewis has a tendency of doing. The question Lewis addresses is "Can't you lead a good life without believing in Christianity?" This is a question I have thought to myself a few times before. I think, how can anyone lead a good life without Christ? How can anyone even attempt to have joy? Lewis knocks this question out of the park.

Lewis first comments that the person asking this question is not searching for the truth of the universe. The person asking this question is simply wondering whether or not a "good" life can be lead without Christianity, they really do not care to know whether or not Christianity is true. Christianity, if true, to them would be a burden that they would have to either carry, or run away from. But, ironically enough, by simply asking this question they are not being "good."

Let me explain. There are many different dimensions in which a person could be "good." Many different ways. As believers, we know that God is good, and that everything good is from God. Lewis put it very well in his essay, The Poison of Subjectivism by saying, "God is not merely good, but goodness; goodness is not merely divine, but God." What I want to hit on with this thought is that ignoring, or not pursuing, the truth is in and of itself not good. So by asking this question, someone is asking if they can be "good" while forfeiting the truth, which I would respond to that (and I believe Lewis would as well) by saying: no.

Lewis goes a little deeper in this thought by addressing the concept of honest ignorance and dishonest ignorance. Asking about Christianity ultimately would mean that you know about Christianity, or at least that it exists. And if you know about it, and do not attempt to seek the truth, you cannot plead honest ignorance. People who truly have honest ignorance towards Christianity would not be able to ask this question because they would not know about Christianity. And, perhaps, (as Lewis suggests) these men could lead a good life, and perhaps, on the final day of judgment they could know God.

In Christ,

Ben