Believe Quote by C. S. Lewis
“... believing in a God whom we cannot but regard as evil, and then, in mere terrified flattery calling Him 'good' and worshipping him is a still greater danger... The ultimate question is whether the doctrine of the goodness of God or that of the inerrancy of scripture is to prevail when they conflict. I think the doctrine of the goodness of God is the more certain of the two. Indeed, only that doctrine renders this worship of Him obligatory or even permissable.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis, 1940
When God's goodness and scriptural authority clash, the belief in a benevolent God should guide worship, even if scripture seems contradictory.
In simple terms: Choose belief in God's goodness over literal scripture when they conflict.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize divine goodness over textual literalism.
Themes
theology
faith
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- church teaching
- ethical decision making
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Divine goodness
scriptural authority
dilemma
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile conflicting religious teachings?
- What role should scripture play when it appears to contradict divine goodness?
A Different Perspective
This view may overlook the importance of scriptural integrity for many believers.
