Ye gods! (LDS, bible, Christianity, God, Christian)

[Katzpur]

In his book, Mere Christianity, the noted Christian theologian, C.S. Lewis, said the following:

“The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were “gods” and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him – for we can prevent Him, if we choose – He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said."

What are your thoughts on this? What did Lewis really mean and do you agree with him?

[Finnyhaha]

I'd say why can't we make ourselves dazzlingly perfect and godlike? Why rely on some outside force?

[Runt]

I personally would rather not be perfect. I think much of the fun in life results from the exact opposite... I am NOT perfect, and neither is anyone else, and this imperfection creates many obstacles for me to overcome and generates many lessons for me to learn. Perfection would suck the challenge right out of existence and make that existence a deadly bore.

[Finnyhaha]

It'd be a stuggle to stay perfect, in my mind anyway, and that is challange enough for me. Mostly perfect wouldn't be so bad.

[Runt]

You know, I wonder if Lewis believes that women who achieve perfection will become goddesses... I know most of my LDS friends believe that MEN can become gods and women, at best, can become the wives of these gods...

[Ormiston]

Originally Posted by Runt

I personally would rather not be perfect. I think much of the fun in life results from the exact opposite... I am NOT perfect, and neither is anyone else, and this imperfection creates many obstacles for me to overcome and generates many lessons for me to learn. Perfection would suck the challenge right out of existence and make that existence a deadly bore.

I love this line of thinking! We are human. We are flawed. This IS our life. It's the beauty of it.

...and how would life as a human train anyone to be a God? I mean, you only get wiser as you grow older until a certain point. Then you get slower, clumsier, less aware, and less god-like. I don't know ANYONE I'd want to be a God...except, maybe my Grandma (but only cause she says I'm handsome ).

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Runt

You know, I wonder if Lewis believes that women who achieve perfection will become goddesses... I know most of my LDS friends believe that MEN can become gods and women, at best, can become the wives of these gods...

Well, either your LDS friends don't understand their own religion or else you have misunderstood them. Men and women and equal in God's eyes and every man who attains godhood will have a godess at his side.

[Finnyhaha]

We are human. We are flawed. This IS our life. It's the beauty of it.

By whose standards, pray tell, are we flawed?

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Finnyhaha

By whose standards, pray tell, are we flawed?

We are not perfect beings, anything that is not perfect must be flawed in some way.

Humans, for example, are flawed because;
1. We age.
2. We die.
3. We get ill.
4. We feel anger and hatred.
5. Our genes still mutate.
6. We must eat and drink to survive.
7. We're not all identical.
+ many more...

Are perfect being or race of beings would not have any of these aspects.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

We are not perfect beings, anything that is not perfect must be flawed in some way.

Humans, for example, are flawed because;
1. We age.
2. We die.
3. We get ill.
4. We feel anger and hatred.
5. Our genes still mutate.
6. We must eat and drink to survive.
7. We're not all identical.
+ many more...

Are perfect being or race of beings would not have any of these aspects.

Out of interest, Halcyon, how would you describe a 'perfect' being?