Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Week 11: Book II, Chapter 5 — The Practical Conclusion
Read Book II, Chapter 5 of Mere Christianity ('The Practical Conclusion').
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Lewis closes Book II by asking the practical question: given all this, what are you supposed to *do* with it?
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.Lewis describes three ways Christ's 'good infection' (as he calls it) is passed on: through baptism, belief, and the Lord's Supper. He doesn't ask us to fully understand *how* these work, but to use them. What is the analogy he draws to eating food without understanding nutrition? Do you find this analogical approach helpful?
2.He introduces the concept of 'pretending' — acting as if you are a Christian before you fully feel like one, and finding that the pretense gradually becomes reality. This sounds like it could be hypocrisy. How does Lewis distinguish healthy pretense from hypocrisy?
a.Can you think of a time when 'acting as if' led to genuine change in you — in relationships, habits, or faith?
b.How is Lewis's 'pretend' different from the modern advice to 'fake it till you make it'?
3.Lewis says that when we try to be good on our own, we are at best making the best of a bad job. The new life Christ offers is a different kind of life altogether — not improved natural life but supernatural life. What is the difference, in practical terms?
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