New Dimensions
Philosophy
The Question of God by Dr. Armond M. Nicholi, Jr.
To finish our unit on philosophy, we will be debating the existence of God. To give you more
food for thought, read the book The Question of God, which presents the views of Freud, an
atheist, and C.S. Lewis, a Christian. Dig into the book! Question each side! Question yourself!
After reading, please choose THREE of the following questions and respond. Each response
should be typed and should not exceed one page. Come ready to discuss on January 7th!
1. On page 36, Nicholi gives us one of Freud's quotes about God: "'The very idea of 'an idealized
Superman' in the sky--to use Freud's phrase--is 'so patently infantile and so foreign to reality that . . . it is
painful to think that the great majority of mortals will never rise above this view of life.'" The young C.S.
Lewis agreed with Freud, yet changed his beliefs to become a devout Christian. Respond to the quote
above, citing at least three quotes from the book.
2. On page 58, Nicholi says the following: "An important difference between the view of Freud and
those of Lewis concerns epistemology, the source of knowledge. Freud wrote, 'there are no sources of
knowledge of the universe other than carefully scrutinized observations--in other words what we call
research--and along side it no knowledge derived from revelation.' [...] Lewis strongly disagrees. . . . 'But
why anything comes to be there at all, and whether there is anything behind the things science observes
. . . this is not a scientific question.'" Which epistemology do you embrace? Why? Cite at least three
quotes from the book.
3. In Chapter 5, Nicholi discusses happiness from both Freud's and Lewis's perspective. With whom do
you agree? Cite at least three quotes from the book.
4. In Chapter 7, Nicholi says, "for Freud, the great commandment to 'Love your neighbor as yourself' is
absurd." How does Lewis counter this statement? With whom do you agree? Why?
5. The issue of pain and suffering was difficult for both Freud and Lewis. Compare and contrast the
ways in which each man address pain and suffering, quoting the book at least three times.
6. Respond to this quote: "The answer to the question of God has profound implications for our lives
here on earth, both Freud and Lewis agree. So we owe it to ourselves to look at the evidence, perhaps
beginning with the Old and New Testaments. Lewis also reminds us, however, that the evidence lies all
around us: 'We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded
with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always easy to penetrate. The real
labor is to remember to attend. In fact to come awake. Still more to remain awake.'" In your response,
cite the book at least three times.