The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
Week 2: "Learning in War-Time"
Read Essay 2: "Learning in War-Time" in The Weight of Glory. Key Scripture: Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Previewing Week 2 of The Weight of Glory
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 10-week guide when you’re ready.
Preached at Oxford in 1939, this sermon asks whether it is reasonable — or even moral — to keep studying literature, philosophy, and science when the world is at war. Lewis's answer is surprising, rigorous, and deeply relevant to anyone who has ever wondered whether intellectual work is a luxury the serious Christian can afford.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Lewis opens by acknowledging the apparent absurdity of continuing university studies while Europe burns. What is his essential answer to the question "Why study at all in wartime"? Summarize it in your own words.
2.Lewis argues that the war creates no new human situation — it only aggravates the permanent situation. What does he mean by the "permanent human situation"? How does this reframe the way we should think about urgency, mortality, and the life of the mind?
3.Lewis identifies three enemies of learning that the war intensifies: excitement, frustration, and fear. Which of these do you find most dangerous in your own intellectual and spiritual life — and why?