Christianity Quote by C.S. Lewis
““The idea . . . that Christianity brought a new ethical code into the world is a grave error. If it had done so, then we would have to conclude that all who first preached it wholly misunderstood their own message: for all of them, its founder, His precursor, His apostles, came demanding repentance and offering forgiveness, a demand and an offer both meaningless except on the assumption of a moral law already known and already broken.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis, 1942
Claims that Christianity did not create a new moral law, but rather presupposes an existing one
In simple terms: Christianity builds on pre‑existing moral ideas
Key Takeaway
Question the origins of moral codes
Themes
theology
ethics
history
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal belief
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
religious criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do all cultures share a common moral law?
- How does this view affect religious tolerance?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes universal moral knowledge
