Problem of Pain

I was very intrigued by Lewis’s ideas in the Problem of Pain. What I find so fascinating is perspective Lewis draws on, to formulate his ideas on the subject. I really like how Lewis begins the chapter on human pain. We often wonder why God would do something or how God could let something happen. What Lewis reminds us is that God did not create or author the pain we feel and experience. Like Lewis states prisons, bombs, and guns are vices of humanity exploiting the understanding of pain. If feel like Lewis’s incite has so much to offer us in this piece, not only for his philosophical and scholarly brilliance, but also because of his personal experience with such a traumatic experience with his wife. Lewis was able to look not only “along” death and the worst sense of human pain, but he also was able to look “at” pain, as he watched his wife slowly slip away to the woes of cancer. I also really enjoyed Lewis’s continuation of Newman’s idea that we are not only imperfect creatures, but we are stubborn imperfect creatures. We are like soldiers who must lay down our weapons.
The idea of mortification was also a powerful idea touched on by Lewis. I think the idea that our self-will must be constantly broken for us to truly learn things is a eye opening and profound way of thinking. I especially enjoy Lewis’s comparison of our will to new children in school, who stubbornness must be broken by their teachers. I also love how Lewis realizes in his life that he truly has only one treasure, and that treasure is Christ. Lewis describes the joys in his life as simple toys. Like Lewis states day by day we continue to become more and more dependent on God, and this is such a true once you realize he is your only treasure and truth.