THE FOUR LOVES
C. S. Lewis
Introduction & Likings and loves for the Sub-Human
Overview & discussion questions
Introduction
“God is Love…”1 John 4:8
 Gift-Love - - gives and sacrifices for the good of the other without repay
God’s love for us
 Need-Love - - we are born helpless in everyway; physically, emotionally,
intellectually
Our experience of God’s/another’s Love
-Divine Love is: God giving Him self and our receiving
-Human Love: our giving of our self and the other receiving
-Our need for God can never end, but our awareness of that need can end.
 Nearness-by-likeness; “Every Christian would agree that a man’s spiritual health is
exactly proportional to his love to God.”
 Nearness-by-approach; “Man approaches God most nearly when he is in one sense
least like God.”
-the incarnate God, Jesus is our model in both aspects
-Man grows closer to God both in ‘gift’, in giving himself and in ‘need’, by
acknowledging his need and thereby being freed to receive from God.
“Every human love, at its height, has a tendency to claim for itself a divine
authority.” “Our loves do not make their claim to divinity until the claim is plausible.
It does not become plausible until there is in them a real resemblance to God, to love
Himself.” “Our Gift-Loves are really God-Like.”
“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to
God. Then they become gods: then they become demons.”
Likings and Loves for the Sub-Human
“We must begin with pleasure…”
What is the difference between liking and loving?
 Need –Pleasures – food, shelter, basic necessities
-Need-pleasures are not bad, legitimate needs are met
Why is it necessary to avoid disparaging Need-pleasures and Need-love?
What is ‘disinterested’ love?
 Appreciative-Pleasures – luxuries (super-added), purely for the enjoyment
-the starting point of our whole experience of beauty
-it is impossible to distinguish from sensual and aesthetic pleasure
What happens when these pleasures go bad?
 Appreciative- Love -a third element; admiration, worship (quote from page 16-17)
Why does he say so much about nature?
Why so much on patriotism?
MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Body Needs (Physiological) such as air,
warmth, food, sleep, stimulation and
activity. The Body needs are biological.
These needs can be very strong because if
deprived over time, the person will die.
Security Needs (Safety) such as living in a
safe area away from threats. This level is
more likely to be found in children as they
have a greater need to feel safe
Social Needs (Love and Belongingness)
such as the love of family and friends
Ego Needs (Self esteem) such as healthy
pride The Ego needs focus on our need for
self-respect, and respect from others.
Self Actualization Needs (Fulfillment) such as purpose, personal growth and
realization of potentials. This is the point where people become fully functional,
acting purely on their own volition and having a healthy personality. The SelfActualization is described by Maslow as an ongoing process involved in a cause
outside their own skin. People on this level work at something very precious, call it a
vocation or ‘calling’. These people are very fine, healthy, strong, very smart and
creative. Maslow included saintly people on this level.
My addition: Spiritual Needs I would contend that saintly people have needs not listed
by Maslow. Those with spiritual needs have a need of the love of God, deep spiritual
purpose and the divine direction. The people who feel the need of God can overcome all
other needs and desire nothing else.