The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life (Paperback)

~ Armand M. Nicholi Jr. (Author) "Although C. S. Lewis, a full generation younger than Sigmund Freud, embraced Freud's atheism during the first half of his life, he eventually rejected that..." (more)
Key Phrases: spiritual worldview, changed worldview, hallucinatory psychosis, New Testament, Oskar Pfister, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Of course we can never really answer the question of whether God exists. And of course it would have been highly unlikely for Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis to discuss this question in person, considering that they were born in different countries and a generation apart. Nonetheless, The Question of God allows readers to listen in on one of the most articulate debates possible by creating a virtual meeting of Freud and Lewis. For the past 25 years, Armand M. Nicholi has taught a similar course at Harvard, where he compares Freud’s atheist-based reasoning against the atheist-turned-believer C.S. Lewis. Both men were considered brilliant, highly educated thinkers who profoundly influenced 20th-century thought. And both men presented compelling arguments for and against the existence of God.

At the core is Freud’s assertion that God is a figment of the imagination (more accurately, God is an outcome of our deep-seated need for protection, stemming from the helplessness of early childhood). Lewis, on the other hand, did not see the belief in a higher power as a childish need for comfort. In fact, he wrote, "rendering back one's will which we have so long claimed for our own, is, in itself, extremely painful. To surrender a self-will inflamed and swollen with years of usurpation is a kind of death." Nicholi never take sides. Instead he gives both men a chance to eloquently answer the big questions of humanity: why is there suffering? What should be our guiding belief? How do we form a moral compass? Surprisingly, this debate turns out to be a fascinating page-turner, with most of the credit going to Nicholi. Because he understands these men's arguments so well and respects their beliefs so thoroughly, believers could begin to have doubts and atheists could start to wonder. Regardless of where you ultimately land on the question of God, this stellar book will deeply enrich your understanding of humanity. --Gail Hudson

Review

The Boston Herald Although there's no record of Freud and Lewis actually meeting...Nicholi makes readers wish they had in this earnest and thought-provoking volume. -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (July 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074324785X
• ISBN-13: 978-0743247856
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,992 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Philosophy of Religion
  #7 in	Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Religious
  #9 in	Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Modern

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding contrast!, November 18, 2003

By	Matt (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed exploring both the thoughts of Freud and Lewis through Dr. Nicholi's summary in this book. People who are not familiar with the writings of Lewis or Freud (or both) will find this a very readable primer on their basic worldviews.

I confess that I am puzzled at those who accuse Nicholi of "stacking the deck" in favor of Lewis, or merely feigning objectivity while actually casting Freud in a poor light. The thinly veiled assertion seems to be that Freud was actually very different than he is made out to be in this book, and that Nicholi either consciously or unconsciously skews Freud's real positions and ideas. I found that far from the truth.

First, Nicholi readily acknowledges that no one is truly objective and dispassionate, particularly on such fundamental questions as the meaning of life and existence of God. But I believe he does an excellent job of not injecting his own bias into the equation. Second, Nicholi takes pains to point out many of the (rather substantial) contributions Freud has made to modern thought, particularly in his field of psychoanalysis. Finally, Nicholi's text is historical. Where people may have encountered frustration (particularly supporters or Freud's wordlview) is when Nicholi attempts to look at the actual EFFECT of each man's worldview on his life; a perfectly appropriate tactic given the goal of the book. Nicholi cites nothing but historically verifiable facts about these two men. Whether one believes in God or not, the rather dramatic nature of Lewis' conversion is undeniable -- one may debate the cause(s) of his change, but not the existence of the change. The same holds true for the despair and lonliness that Freud freely acknowledges experiencing in heavy doses. If Nicholi omitted important information about Freud, then critique him as a poor historian and offer factual backup. But do not simply react against the picture he paints merely because of how it looks.

I, for one, am categorically not an adherent to Freud's worldview. But I actually came away from Nicholi's book feeling like I now understand and appreciate Freud far more than I did before.

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars let the chips fall where they may., November 29, 2003

By	Cipriano "www.bookpuddle.blogspot.com" (Planet Claire) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Prior to reading this book I knew very little about Sigmund Freud, and already quite a bit about C.S. Lewis. To be honest, my initial interest in purchasing and reading the book was based on my shameless/addictive quest to own and read everything I possibly can, about LEWIS.
Having said that though, I am glad to have learned so much about Freud in the process. I think that the author does a good job of presenting the viewpoints of each man, with respect to their opinions on such topics as Creation, Conscience, Religious Conversion, Happiness, Sex, Love, Pain, and Death.
Big issues. Worthy of big, deeply felt convictions. And each man had them.
So many reviewers here have speculated that the author does not write this book from a disinterested stance, that he in fact, favors Lewis, and presents him as being a more consistent and (for lack of a better word) healthy individual. I agree that Lewis does come off as being such. But what is most important to me (as a reader of the information) is... is it TRUE? Is this slant toward Lewis as a more self-actualized person fair? Or is it fabricated? Is it manufactured? Is Lewis deliberately favored?
Hmmm...
Dr. Nicholi has studied the philosophical writings of both men for over twenty-five years, and teaches a course at Harvard based on an examination of these two worldviews. Somehow, I do not imagine this present book as some latent "hate-on" for Freud finally making itself known in printed form. It did not appear that way for me, although yes, Lewis does come across as being someone who lived a more personally fulfilled, whole life.
I believe that the quotation marks speak for themselves. This is a well-researched book, I do not feel that Dr. Nicholi is really putting words or ideas INTO the mouth and mind of either figure. Over thirty-five pages of endnotes! In my opinion, this is one of those "let the chips fall where they may" type things!
As is stated in the Prologue, the philosophical speculations (the worldviews, if you will) of these two men are not at all ambiguous. "One of them begins with the basic premise that God does not exist, the other with the premise that He does. They are, therefore, mutually exclusive - if one is right, the other must be wrong. Does it really make any difference to know which one is which? Both Freud and Lewis thought so. They spent a good portion of their lives exploring these issues, repeatedly asking the the question 'Is it true?'"

Both men are presented as having troubled childhoods... both being touched with profound losses, alienations, disillusionments, etc. One of the main things that becomes clear in this book is that one of these men discovered the possibility of transcending this pain and disconnectedness experienced in childhood, and the other, quite frankly, did not.
Neither of them were ever perfect, and neither of them were ever perfect[ed]. Both men made great contributions to the fields for which they were formally trained (English Literature / Psychology)... yet both dabbled in these philosophical areas where they each OUGHT to have been out of their depth. This is what makes them so interesting to us.

My one criticism of TQOG is that there is a bit too much repetition of previously mentioned actual stories and/or quotes. But overall, I was impressed with the wealth of information and the dovetailing of ideas. It really IS as though these dudes are debating. I agree with Peter Kreeft, who said "It is as exciting as a novel, and we must supply the ending."

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling Way to Tell These Stories, October 19, 2004

By	Stacey M Jones (Conway, Ark.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Though the pioneer of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud and theologian Lewis never met (at least there is no record of such a meeting), the author, a clinical psychiatrist and an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, thought it would be interesting to position Freud's "materialist" views against Lewis's later Christian beliefs -- as well as the effects on their lives. The book grew out of Nicholi's "popular course" at Harvard on the two men's
philosophies.

Nicholi uses letters and the published writings of Lewis and Freud and his own conclusions drawn from their lives to show the differences in a life in which the person chooses faith and belief and the life of someone who chooses not to believe. He traces the courses of their lives in tandem from childhoods, through adulthood, careers, marriages, families and even how they approached death (one of the most fascinating details was what Lewis read right before he died versus what Freud read -- Homer and Les Liaisons Dangereuses for Lewis and Balzac's The Fatal Skin for Freud). The biographical information on both
men is fascinating, and it obviously focuses on the evolution of their belief systems. Both Lewis and Freud were atheists as young men, and the author posits that it was a reaction to authority. While Freud flirted with belief in God as a young man, he adopted a firm stance against the existance of a god.
Lewis, reacting to his unsatisfactory relationship with his father after his mother's death when he was still a school boy, chose atheism for a time, and then had a conversion experience, partly brought about by a long talk with colleagues, including J.R.R. Tolkien.

The book does take a position on the issue and points to faith as a help and support in life's troubles, highlighting the difference in relationships between Lewis and Freud (Lewis had lifelong friendships; Freud's friendships usually came to conflict and ended abruptly) and the way they faced their own deaths (Lewis wrote to a friend, "When you die, look me up ... It IS all rather fun--solemn fun--isn't it" (p. 237). Freud was anxious, depressed and sad about his pending death.)

The book is deeply enjoyable and rewarding, and its portrayal of both Lewis and Freud as complex human beings is unexpectedly touching. It made me want to read more about Lewis, and I have put books about him and his autobiography, as well as his book about the death of his wife Joy (portrayed in the movie "Shadowlands") on my wishlist. As a Christian, I was rewarded by the position of the book, but I don't think atheists would agree. However, regarding both men's life and work, the author makes very clear the contributions each made to our world, including the bearing that Freud's theories have had on things we just accept as true today.