13 June 2010

Mormon Favorite C. S. Lewis on Marriage Equality

I just ran across this insightful statement by C.S. Lewis, who so many Mormons are fond of quoting as an "almost Mormon." Well, fellow Saints, if you like him in so many other areas, you're going to love this one (which I've amended slightly so the point is clear):

I should like to distinguish two things which are very often confused. The Christian conception of marriage is one: the other is the quite different question — how far Christians, if they are voters or Members of Parliament, ought to try to force their views of marriage on the rest of the community by embodying them in the divorce [or marriage] laws. A great many people seem to think that if you are a Christian yourself you should try to make divorce difficult for everyone [or try to impose your own model of marriage on everyone].

I do not think that. At least I know I should be very angry if the Mahommedans tried to prevent the rest of us from drinking wine. My own view is that the Churches should frankly recognise that the majority of the British [or Mormon] people are not Christians [or Mormons] and, therefore, cannot be expected to live Christian [or Mormon] lives. There ought to be two distinct kinds of marriage: one governed by the State with rules enforced on all citizens, the other governed by the Church with rules enforced by her on her own members. The distinction ought to be quite sharp, so that a man knows which couples are married in a Christian sense and which are not.

4 comments:

Laurent said...

The two marriages idea is worth taking a look at...even a majority of Mormons would support it, I would think.

Chase said...

Oh "Brother" Lewis is just confused. I mean he wasnt a real Mormon, he only had some truth.

Anonymous said...
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Allen said...

I used this in a discussion with my dad recently. I linked back to you in my blog post about it. you can read it here

http://allen-theotherside.blogspot.com/2011/06/and-i-wish-you-could-see-it-my-way.html

Thanks for posting.