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
The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all the other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques sexual intercourse outside of marriage, emphasizing that it separates sexual union from other vital forms of union.
C. S. Lewis highlights the complexity of human relationships, arguing that sexual intercourse should not be viewed in isolation but rather as part of a broader union that includes emotional, spiritual, and social aspects. He suggests that engaging in sex outside of marriage undermines the holistic nature of human connections, leading to a fragmented understanding of love and commitment.
Themes
Sexual IntercourseMarriageUnionRelationshipsCommitment
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on the importance of commitment in relationships.
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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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