Reviewed by
Terence Kam
Edited by
Ann Ring
Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? How do we cope with the problem of suffering and the inevitability of death? What is happiness? What does it mean to be happy? Is there such as thing as evil? Does God really exist? How do we find meaning and purpose in our lives? How do we reconcile conflicting claims of love and sexuality?
Since time immemorial, people throughout the world have been asking these questions pertaining to the meaning of life. Some have chosen the path of atheism and some chose theism. Others cannot be sure which path to embark on.
On Wednesdays, September 15-22, 2004, 9:00-11:00 pm EST, a two-part dramatic program airing in PBS explored the emotional and intellectual journeys into the meaning of life through the brilliant minds and personal struggles of two of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century- Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis. The former, the typically described father of psychoanalysis, chose to reject religious beliefs and the latter, the Oxford professor of Medieval and Renaissance English, embraced faith grounded on reason. This program is based on a popular Harvard course taught by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, author of the book The Question of God.
Curiously, though the paths of these two great influential thinkers of the 20th century never crossed, their writings and works are so remarkably parallel that they seemed to speak to each other. Put them together and you can see one of them raises an argument while the other attempts to answer it. One seems to be the primary spokesman for the secular worldview of contemporary culture while the other seems to be the primary spokesman for the spiritual worldview.
“It may be that Freud and Lewis represent conflicting parts of ourselves,” Dr. Nicholi notes. “Part of us yearns for a relationship with the source of all joy, hope and happiness, as described by Lewis, and yet, there is another part that raises its fist in defiance and says with Freud ‘I will not surrender.’ Whatever part we choose to express will determine our purpose, our identity, and our whole philosophy of life.”
Through dramas, visual reconstructions, interviews with historians and biographers and dynamic discussions in a panel of seven men and women from diverse walks of life, Freud and Lewis are brought together in a debate so as to bring about understandings of the two completely opposing worldviews. The significant moments and emotional crossroads of these two great lives that led to such conflicting worldviews provide an impetus for the deepest question of human existence: Does God really exist?
Below are the outlines of the two programs:
First Program
- The early life experiences of Lewis and Freud are explored.
- Panel discussion 1: How much do our early childhood experiences shape our worldview?
- At University of Vienna, Freud, even though he had some influence from the theistic arguments of philosopher Franz Brentano, chose scientific materialism worldview over the spiritual worldview.
- Panel discussion 2: Is the scientific method incompatible with the concept of revelation?
- Early life experiences of Lewis led him to reject his nominal childhood faith in God for atheism.
- Freud, on the other hand, chose the path of atheism through an intellectual process. Through his exploration of the minds through his patients, Freud discovered “unexpected, powerful unconscious desires” and “concluded that the wish for an all-powerful father-figure forms the basis of religion.”
- Panel discussion 3: Do our early relationships colour our attitudes in later life toward the concept of an ultimate authority?
- The program then narrates the transformation of Lewis from a staunch atheist to an outspoken believer.
- Panel discussion 4: Does the persistent human longing for God prove that He exists?
- Panel discussion 5: How would Jesus Christ be received if he lived now?
Second Program
- What is happiness? Freud believed that it is just a model of sexual love whereas Lewis maintained that true happiness could only be found in a relationship with God. Though both agreed that much happiness could be found in our relationships with others, they disagreed on their understanding of love.
- Panel discussion 6: Can we really love our neighbour as ourselves?
- The First World War and widespread anti-Semitism led Freud to dwell on the ‘dark side’ of humanity. Freud believed that in addition to the sex drive, human beings are also driven by a destroying drive called the “death instinct.”
- Panel discussion 7: How can one explain the evil in the world?
- During the Second World War, the BBC asked Lewis to speak about the spiritual worldview, which later got compiled into the best selling book, Mere Christianity. In that book, Lewis began the examination of the existence of a Moral Law, which transcends all time and cultures, which everyone is under. The existence of such a law implies a Moral Lawgiver and that our conscience points to a creator.
- Panel discussion 8: Where do we get our concept of right and wrong?
- Both Lewis and Freud endured life suffering. Freud struggled for 16 years with oral cancer, endured the death of his daughter and experienced anti-Semitism. Lewis lost his wife to cancer. Suffering led to both of them having to face their own deaths.
- Panel discussion 9: How do you equate an omnipotent, all-loving being with what we’ve come to expect and experience in our lives?
Recommended Downloads:
- Discussion Guide for The Question of God: Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis
Recommended Purchases:
- The Question of God: Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis on book.
- The Question of God: Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis on DVD.
- The Question of God: Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis on videocassette.
Recommended Web Site:
- The Question of God: Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis at PBS.
