Quote by C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
People often think of Christian morality as a kind of bargain in which God says, 'If you keep a lot of rules I'll reward you, and if you don't I'll do the other thing.' I do not think that is the best way of looking at it. I would much rather say that every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven: that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.
Summary
This quote by C.S. Lewis challenges the common misconception that Christian morality is merely a transactional agreement with God. Instead, Lewis suggests that every choice we make has the power to shape our inner selves. Over the course of our lives, each decision either molds us into a being that embodies harmony, love, and unity, or pushes us towards a path of conflict, hatred, and isolation. Being the former leads to a state of bliss, while the latter manifests as anguish and despair. Lewis highlights the importance of recognizing that every choice matters as it determines our ongoing progression towards one of these two states.
Topics
Morals
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