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Saturday, April 2, 2022, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PMLocation: Newman Hall (downstairs)REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
Join fellow parishioners on Saturday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for St. Tom’s Lenten Workshop and an immersive discussion on “Mere Christianity,” the title of a book by one of the 20th Century’s most influential writers C.S. Lewis and the term used to describe the core Christian beliefs held through the ages by Catholics and Protestants alike.
About the Book
Published in 1943, Lewis’ book explores the common ground upon which all Christian faith stand together. (Amazon description): “Bringing together Lewis’ legendary broadcast talks during World War II from his three previous books, The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality, Mere Christianity, provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith.”
Facilitated by Men of St. Tom’s (MoST) and led by Prof. Christopher Yeomans, head of Purdue’s Philosophy Department and St. Tom’s parishioner, the workshop will examine portions of Lewis’ book. For an introduction to “Mere Christianity,” a seven-minute read of the chapter titled “Let’s Pretend” is available from Word on Fire Press. All participants will receive a copy of the book in advance and are encouraged to read it and review the workshop guide before the workshop.Workshop Schedule
Below is the workshop schedule along with the book sections and questions that will be discussed.
8:30 a.m.:Continental Breakfast9:00 a.m.: Morning Session Begins- Plan for the Day: Chris Yeomans, Purdue Philosophy Department Head
- Introduction to Mere Christianity: Fr. Tom McDermott, OP
Book 1: RIGHT AND WRONG AS A CLUE TO THE MEANING OF THE UNIVERSE
Chapter 1: The Law of Human Nature
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Why does Lewis think it noteworthy to pay attention to the underlying dynamics of quarreling, ¶s 1 and 2?
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Why is there good reason to believe that the idea of a universal law of human nature is a solid truth, ¶s 7 and 8?
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Lewis’s summary point is that while everyone believes in Right and Wrong, none of us is consistent in living that way, ¶ 11. How do you respond when someone points out your inconsistent behavior?
Chapter 3: The Reality of the Law
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As it refers to most of nature, the Law of Nature is descriptive—it describes how nature acts, ¶ 3. However, the Law of Human nature is prescriptive—it says how humans ought to act. What clues does this provide for understanding the world, ¶s 4 and 5?
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What clues do we have, in a culture committed to a material/naturalistic understanding of the world, that there is something “beyond,” ¶ 6?
10:30 a.m.: 15-minute Break10:45 a.m.: Morning Session ResumesChapter 7: Forgiveness
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Why might the Christian concept of forgiveness be even more unpopular than the Christian beliefs on sex and marriage, ¶s 1, 2, 3, and 4?
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How is the idea of loving one’s self the key to Lewis’s explanation of forgiveness, ¶s 5, 6, and 11?
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How is forgiveness central to the experience of eternal life, ¶s 7 and 10?
Chapter 8: The Great Sin
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Why does Lewis call pride the chief sin, ¶s 3 and 8? Not everything that goes by the name of pride qualifies as sin.
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True pride is not so easy to spot, ¶ 8. In what ways might you catch a glimpse of pride in those around you? What do you discover when you begin to look for pride in yourself?
11:25 a.m.: Break for Daily Mass12:10 p.m.: Simple Lunch1:00 p.m.: Afternoon Session Begins.Book 3: CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR
Chapter 10: Hope- Mere Christianity is filled with poignant phrases. One of the most famous is found in this chapter, “Aim at heaven, and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth, and you will get neither.” ¶ 1. Explain what he means.
- In our culture, why is it difficult for us to have a Christian hope of heaven, ¶ 2? How is it that the desire for heaven gives a good reason to hope that heaven actually exists, ¶ 5?
- Are you more inclined to the Fool’s Way, ¶ 3, the Disillusioned Way, ¶ 4, or the Christian Way, ¶ 5, of thinking about heaven?
2:15 p.m.: Afternoon Session ResumesChapter 11: Virtue of Faith
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How is faith, like love, a “feeling to be learned,” ¶s 3, 4, 5, and 6?
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Why is it foolish to think about faith as a bargain with God, ¶s 8 and 9?
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When you find your faith is weak, what can you do to strengthen it, ¶ 6?
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How has reading Mere Christianity so far strengthened your faith?
Chapter 12: Faith continued
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When making an effort to live a moral life, why should a Christian “leave it to God,” ¶s 5 and 6?
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In Book Three of Mere Christianity, Lewis has written about Christian virtue and values. Why is it important that we make every possible effort to live a moral life, ¶ 7?
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How does faith affect the way in which we live by Christian virtue and values, ¶ 7?
4:00 p.m.: Close WorkshopWhat will you take away about the Christian faith in your reading of Mere Christianity so far?
Note: Drinks and snacks will be available throughout the day and lunch. The cost is $15 for students ($5 without the book) and $25 ($15 without the book) for resident parishioners and the public.
