Sunday Series — Mere Christianity: A Conversation for the Common Hall – Book Three, Chapter Eight: The Great Sin

Episode 304 examines C.S. Lewis’ claim that pride is the central Christian vice: the “Great Sin.” Lewis explains why pride is fundamentally competitive, how it creates enemies, and why it ultimately puts us in opposition to God.

Lance Smith walks through Lewis’ practical test for recognizing pride, the difference between healthy pleasure in praise and sinful self-exaltation, and the danger of using religion to convince ourselves that we are better than others.

The episode closes with Lewis’ surprisingly simple first step toward humility: recognize that we are proud. True humility isn't constantly thinking less of yourself: it’s learning to stop making yourself the center of the universe.

Next week, the discussion continues with Lewis’s treatment of charity, the opposite of the Great Sin.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne, 2001. Available at: https://a.co/d/0eXcvERk