C. S. Lewis And Sigmund Freud Debate God

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Nicholi’s book, “The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life” brings to light insightful perspectives from both Freud and Lewis that are based on their Atheistic (Freud) and Christian (Lewis) worldview. Throughout the book, I discovered an overarching theme of defining a meaningful life that was projected into their overall view. This being said, while both individuals had very different view points, there seemed to be a continued desire to outline key aspects of what constitutes a life worth living. Two aspects of life that I believe uniquely coincide with each other to form purpose in life are happiness and pain (suffering). In confronting these topics, it is essential to recognize that one cannot happen without the other. Why do people do what they do? The question that is the main driving force for psychology. According to Nicholi the answer is happiness, “no aspect of life is more desired, more elusive, and more perplexing than happiness” (pg. 97). I believe it is safe to say that life as it is, is centered around happiness, and people will do whatever it takes to obtain this goal of ‘becoming happy’. Freud and Lewis agree that happiness is the …show more content…

This simply validates the general pessimistic view that Nicholi mentions throughout the book. In his discussion, there is a point in which Freud brings religion into the debate, “(Religious faith) an attempt to procure a certainty of happiness and a protection against suffering…” (pg. 102). I can admit that this exact thought has crossed my mind even as a Christian. This concept that mankind has simply imagined God in order to cope with the various demands that life presents, can be challenging as a believer. This is where faith comes in, and faith to Freud was simply pronounced as

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