A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
There have been men before now who got so interested in proving the existence of God that they came to care nothing for God Himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the danger of losing touch with the essence of faith while trying to prove it.
C. S. Lewis suggests that in the pursuit of validating the existence of God, some individuals may become so consumed with the intellectual exercise that they overlook the personal and spiritual relationship with God. This serves as a reminder to balance belief with genuine connection rather than mere proof or argumentation.
Themes
FaithGodBeliefSpiritualityRelationship
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon discussing the nature of faith versus evidence, one might use this quote to engage the congregation.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes →I enjoyed my breakfast this morning, and I think that was a good thing and do not think it was condemned by God. But I do not think myself a good man for enjoying it.
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Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
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Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
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I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
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