A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it's there for emergencies but he hopes he'll never have to use it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote compares belief in God to a parachute, suggesting that faith is a safety net people rely on in difficult times, but hope to avoid needing.
C. S. Lewis uses this metaphor to convey the idea that many people view their faith in God as a last resort, akin to a parachute relied upon during emergencies. While they acknowledge its importance and potential to provide comfort or salvation, they often wish to live their lives without the pressing necessity to depend on it, indicating a preference for self-sufficiency in everyday life.
Themes
FaithGodEmergencySafetyParachute
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the role of faith in times of crisis.
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Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
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Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
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I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
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