The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life Throughout the ages, many of the world's greatest thinkers have wrestled with the concept of -- and belief in -- God. For more than twenty-five years, Armand Nicholi has taught a course at Harvard th
Open Library Books
| Title | : | The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.90 (311 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 074324785X |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2003-08-07 |
| Genre | : |
Throughout the ages, many of the world's greatest thinkers have wrestled with the concept of -- and belief in -- God. It may seem unlikely that any new arguments or insights could be raised, but the twentieth century managed to produce two brilliant men with two diametrically opposed views about the question of God: Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis. They never had an actual meeting, but in The Question of God, their arguments are placed side by side for the very first time. For more than twenty-five years, Armand Nicholi has taught a course at Harvard that compares the philosophical arguments of both men. In The Question of God, Dr. Nicholi presents the writings and letters of Lewis and Freud, allowing them to "speak" for themselves on the subject of belief and disbelief. Both men considered the problem of pain and suffering, the nature of love and sex, and the ultimate meaning of life and death -- and each of them thought carefully about the alternatives to their positions
Editorial : Of course we can never really answer the question of whether God exists. And of course it would have been highly unlikely for Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis to discuss this question in person, considering that they were born in different countries and a generation apart. Nonetheless, The Question of God allows readers to listen in on one of the most articulate debates possible by creating a virtual meeting of Freud and Lewis. For the past 25 years, Armand M. Nicholi has taught a similar course at Harvard, where he compares Freud’s atheist-based reasoning against the atheist-turned-believer C.S. Lewis. Both men were considered brilliant, highly educated thinkers who profoundly influenced 20th-century thought. And both men presented compelling arguments for and against the existence of God.
At the core is Freud’s assertion that God is a figment of the imagination (more accurately, God is an outcome of our deep-seated need for protection, stemming from the help
But Lewis can get close to it and Nicholi exposits it clearly and with passion.
This book is a brilliant reminder of the choices life offers and the two fascinating personalities of the 20th century who personified the options there are only so many, maybe only these two.. Inside it is always some kind of chase; the chase of self-love that never brings satisfaction.
Lewis' philosophy is at the other end of the spectrum. Overall, I enjoyed the author's ability to negotiate the lives and teachings of Lewis and Freud. Turk, Rodeo Ben, and Nudie to date. A stupendously well researched and produced catalogue. His nihilism was always a little unsettling, but being unsettled is often the norm in the college years. Armand does a great job organizing the views of these men into categories that can be easily followed. Dr. (Christians love it, Athiest don't believe it, Academics are trying not to pull their fingernails out, and for the rest - they realize that it is all beau
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