Psychoanalysis & Morality - Mere Christianity Book 3 Chapter 4 - Episode 17

We're talking which is making a better human: Christian morality or psychoanalysis on this episode of our chapter-by-chapter study of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity.

...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...

1 Peter 3:15

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Transcript

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Hello and welcome to the Reason Why podcast. I'm Dana, and this is where we break down what Christians believe, why they believe it, and how to know whether it's true or not. Today we are continuing our chapter-by-chapter study of C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. We have begun book or part three that's all about Christian behavior. And this episode on chapter four, we are talking about psychoanalysis and morality. Now, I want to start off with getting us on the same page of understanding today's topic because this is one where things have changed since the original writing a bit. So I don't want the overall point to get lost or overshadowed by getting too into debating and discussing the difference in and developments of modern psychology. Just a quick history tour. The study of the mind has been around for millennia, but up until the late 1800s, it was always within the realm of philosophy. The first psychology laboratory was opened in 1879 in Germany. From there, the study was disentangled from philosophy and became a science with empirical experimental data. This move brought new thinkers into the field, and within about 20 years, Sigmund Freud broke away from his previous processes and began more clinical work and developing his theories of the mind. This is the world in which Lewis is basing his thoughts and opinions on psychoanalysis. Some of what he calls psychoanalysis has developed into our modern practice of psychology. But please remember, I'm not an expert in anything really, except maybe my husband and children. So if I get some of this psychology talk wrong, I apologize. I highly respect the field and I utilize it myself. Not Freud, though. He's different. Many of his conclusions and methods are now widely challenged and some full-on rejected. Lewis does refer to Freud, but let's remember that that was who was the face of the science at that point, and Freudian psychology was really reaching its pinnacle during Lewis' lifetime. His overall point for this chapter, though, is still valid. With that context in mind, Lewis starts with a question that he wants to address and start to tackle for this chapter, and that is, what is a good man? In that he means keeping with his human machine analogy, what is the best working human machine? He says that Christianity claims to do best at making the machine run right, but so does psychoanalysis. While psychology is the broad study of the human mind, encompassing areas from neuroscience to social dynamics, psychoanalysis specifically looks at the inner or unconscious mind and its motivations, very often examining and investigating childhood experiences and deep-rooted traumas and patterns. Lewis states right up front that psychoanalysis does not contradict Christianity. They can and do work well hand in hand. But the philosophies of Freud and others add to it does quickly contradict the biblical worldview and its morality. So we start by considering what is actually involved in making a choice. Any choice. Lewis says that there are really only two things considered when we make a choice. We might think that it's just the act of choosing, but if we peel that back just a little, we will discover that there is what he calls the raw material of the person that is also associated with making that choice. Now, that raw material can be either the normal or common to all people, thoughts, motivations, reactions, instincts, habits, temperaments, or can be things that have gone wrong for a variety of reasons. For example, there's a normal, healthy caution around a cat's claws and sharp teeth. But if someone has panic attacks just seeing or thinking of a cat, then something's gone wrong. Both psychoanalysis and morality want to remove this abnormal fear. Where they differ, though, is where psychoanalysis wants to remove the fear and make the person brave. Morality wants to go beyond simple bravery and make him selfless, a transformation of the whole person. Lewis explains that morality is concerned with free choice, whereas psychoanalysis is concerned with curing the thing that has gone wrong, which is not a bad thing. But it is the distinction between the two. Going back to the bravery example, Lewis gives us three men to consider. These men are off to war. And let's remember that Lewis's world at the time of these morality talks and writings was at war. And sadly, so are we. These three men, they're all crippled by fear, which honestly is natural. Both psychoanalysis and morality can and will work to remove the obstacle of fear and make him brave at the end. But where the therapy will end at making him not afraid, morality, specifically Christian morality, will go further and instill fortitude. Remember, we talked previously about fortitude being bravery in the face of danger. He will now be brave and what to fight in this war to protect his fellow citizens' freedom and safety, or in other instances, to run into a burning building to save someone's life or step up and in when someone is being abused or taken advantage of. But the other two men who received help only from psychoanalysis, there is the equal possibility of one of them feeling brave and desiring to go and fight, while the other is brave but only cares about protecting himself, therefore abandoning the fight. All three have ended up brave on the outside, but only one has been changed on the inside. Psychoanalysis is a science focused on identification, hypothesis, experimentation, and result. Again, not a bad thing. Morality is part of a worldview based on living for and in connection with the all-good and loving creator of the world. And that brings transformation. Here, Lewis makes a really good point about how some people make very poor choice of their better raw material. Some people really do start life with a harder set of cards. Whether it's genetics, trauma, or environment, some internal battles are just heavier. And others, they're naturally more easy-going, more stable. And Lewis is saying, if that's you, don't take it for granted. Because for someone else, just getting it together today might be a victory you'll never see. Whether it's a genetic predisposition towards certain issues, inescapable childhood trauma, or some other factors that cause some to have bigger internal struggles than others. Don't forget, we live in an invaded world broken by evil. None of us is getting this life on easy mode. We all struggle, even if it looks different. So let's be patient and gracious with each other. Lewis's second point in this chapter was to dispel the misconception that morality is some type of bargaining chip to get on God's good side. If I keep all these rules and perform well, then God will reward me. We haven't gotten too much into the theological workings of salvation, but if I haven't said it already, I'll say it now, and then we'll discuss more when Lewis gets into it. We can't earn what God freely gives. His love and forgiveness are offered, not achieved. We are affected by our choices and decisions, whether we like it or not. Lewis says that better, more moral choices transform you into a better creature, one with joy, peace, knowledge, and power. That is what God not only wants for us because he wants what's best for us, but he helps us to do it. Other option, Lewis says, is to make worse choices, which lead to madness, horror, idiocy, ouch, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Now, if you're like Lewis, aka Jack here, and are puzzled by the Christians' care of morals, how they say that not only our actions, but even our thoughts matter just as much, but in the same breath, just say, repent of that murder you committed and you'll be forgiven. Maybe you're getting whiplash, trying to make sense of it all. Hopefully you can come to understand, like Lewis did, that what truly matters is the heart, soul, and mind of the person being transformed to Christ. Because if that's the case, then yes, it all matters. The big and the small and everything in between, the outward sins and the inner ones of thought and intention, because they all leave a mark or twist on the man and his soul. Lastly, Lewis comes back to a previous point and explains a bit more. Earlier, he said that right moral choices lead to peace and knowledge. Well, he explains that people who give in to bad choices don't actually understand evil very well. Just like a drunk person doesn't understand sobriety, but a sober person understands both. In the same way, someone pursuing what's good can recognize both good and evil more clearly. So to recap, psychoanalysis isn't bad, but it doesn't go far enough. We all carry different struggles. So lead with grace. Morality isn't about earning, it's about transforming. And the more we pursue what's good, the more clearly we see reality. Next time we are going to talk about the moral chastity and its distinction from modesty. Thank you so much for being here today. I really hope it was helpful. If you found it insightful at all or thought-provoking, please share it with a friend because you know that the truth is worth knowing and sharing. Don't forget that you can find more resources on my website and Instagram, Facebook at Seek Truth here. I'll see you next time, guys. God bless it.