Tag: Mere Christianity

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: August 13th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

The second ever radio talk by Lewis was given today (8/13) in 1941. At the time it was called “Scientific Law and Moral Law” but is “THE REALITY OF THE LAW” in Mere Christianity.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“The laws of nature, as applied to stones or trees, may only mean ‘what Nature, in fact, does’. But if you turn to the Law of Human Nature, the Law of Decent Behaviour, it is a different matter. That law certainly does not mean ‘what human beings, in fact, do’; for as I said before, many of them do not obey this law at all, and none of them obey it completely. ”

2nd BBC Broadcast
(Given on 8/13/1941; Known as The Reality of the Law)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Complete the quote and name the source (3 words):
“If nothing is self-evident, nothing _____ _____ _____ .”
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

RETROSPECT: August 12th – 21st

William OFlaherty Special Feature

Highlights for August 12-21 include: A final series of radio talks, the concluding book of a series, two more talks from his initial broadcast series and a never before published essay by Lewis that became available in 1990.

The first scholarly book by Lewis was The Allegory of Love: A Study in Medieval Tradition. The theme of love in a broader sense is (obviously) of great importance to him and can be found in a large variety of his writings. So it is of no surprise that when Lewis finally agreed to return to the microphone for another series of radio talks this was the theme. These talks were recorded in London on the 19th and 20th in 1958, but they were not done for the BBC (as his previous radio work was). It was the Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation from the United States who had made the request. Eventually the material from these talks were extended to become The Four Loves.

C.S. Lewis Institute YouTube Channel

William OFlaherty Resource Spotlight

There are nearly an endless variety of free videos on just about any subject online. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look for them. One of the reasons I enjoy sharing about other places online to find material on C.S. Lewis is that you might not know where they are. Which is why I’m highlighting these videos from the C.S. Lewis Institute.

The C.S. Lewis Institute has more than the four video series I’m spotlighting, so be sure to check their other offerings. The ones I’m focusing on are about three that deal with Lewis’s books and one on a book about Lewis.

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: August 6th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

“Common Decency,” the first BBC broadcast by Lewis was given today (8/6) in 1941. It is better known as “The Law of Human Nature” in Mere Christianity.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Quarreling means trying to show that the other man is in the wrong. And there would be no sense in trying to do that unless you and he had some sort of agreement as to what Right and Wrong are.”

The Law of Human Nature
(First heard on the BBC on 8/6/1941)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Complete the quote and name the source (3 words):
“There is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious. It is too good to _____ _____ _____ .”
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

RETROSPECT: August 1st – 11th

William OFlaherty Jack in Retrospect, Special Feature

Highlights for August 1-11 include: Lewis’s first time ever on the radio, earning of a second First at Oxford and two more letters from Screwtape.

In one sense not a lot of events occurred in Lewis’s life over the years during the first week and a half in August; but then the most significant from this period is likely among the highest points in his entire life. It was on the 6th in 1941 that he stood before a microphone to kick-off the first of four scheduled talks about “Right and Wrong: A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe.” The place was the offices of BBC Home Services and the local time was 7:45 p.m. Over the next fifteen minutes he would speak on “Common Decency,” but later this first chapter of book one in Mere Christianity would be called “The Law of Human Nature.”

RETROSPECT: July 22nd – 31st

William OFlaherty Jack in Retrospect, Special Feature

Highlights for the period of July 22-31include: Lewis on the radio that wasn’t a part of the eventual Mere Christianity book, the U.S. release of The Four Loves and the publication of a friend’s landmark book that Lewis encouraged the author to write (hint: it has a “ring” to it).

When you consider a person’s life over the years (like this series has with C.S. Lewis), it’s no surprise that there might be a week or two were relatively little significant events happened. Such is the case for this time-period. However, there was a very meaningful moment in the life of a now more famous friend, J.R.R. Tolkien. In 1954 The Fellowship of the Ring was published at the end of July (the actual date is either the 24th or 29th, as I’ve seen both listed).

It’s not just because they were friends that it’s worth mentioning, rather

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: July 19th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

On this date in 1943 “The Anvil” (a BBC radio program) recorded its show with Lewis as one of the guests.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“The safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

The Screwtape Letters XII
(Published in The Guardian on 7/18/1941)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Before Mere Christianity was a hit, what was the book that came out this month that was released related to it?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Wade Center/Dr. Christopher Mitchell

William OFlaherty All About Jack

As this podcast episode is being repeated (with a new introduction), news of the death of Dr. Christopher Mitchell is less than a week old. This interview features Chris from a chat William O’Flaherty had with him in 2012 while he was still the Director of the Marion E. Wade Center. In 2013 he moved to teach at Biola University. While this conversation focuses mostly on the Wade, Chris also shares some of his favorite books by and about Lewis.

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: July 9th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

“Revival or Decay?” was published in the British weekly humor magazine Punch today (July 9th) in 1958.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“It costs God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things: but to convert rebellious wills cost Him crucifixion.”

Mere Christianity
(Published in 7/7/1952)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

Complete the quote and name the source (4 words):
“What you see and hear depends a good deal on _____ _____ _____ _____ .”
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)

Daily Lewis – Fact / Quote / Quiz: July 8th

William OFlaherty Daily Lewis

FACT OF THE DAY:

Lewis first used the term “Mere Christianity” in The Screwtape Letters #25; initially published 10/17/41 in The Guardian.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is His only Son.”

Mere Christianity
(Published in 7/7/1952)

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QUIZ OF THE DAY:

What non-fiction book was published this month that contained very little new material but is one of Lewis’s best known works?
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(Click “Read More” to SEE Answer)