C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

C.S. Lewis's 1960 work The Four Loves is to my mind Lewis's most profound apologetic work. It engages with the concept of love that he wrote upon as a scholar decades previously (The Allegory of Love, 1936), but also in more mature works. We looked at in in The Great Divorce (1945) and Till We Have Faces (1956). It is arguably the scarlet thread that links Lewis's literary corpus.
And in that sense, Lewis is spending his life meditating on the centrepiece of the theology of St. Augustine, and for that matter of the great Renaissance poet Dante Alleghieri. The believe that 'God is love.' (1 John 4:8) This simple statement is nonetheless profoundly complex and confusing in the way it pulls together the various aspects of human life.
It is hard to do justice to such a rich and profound work, written at the height of Lewis's powers, and towards the end of his earthly life. But it is worth the effort.
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[@aktony6223]

This book blew my mind especially the Eros chapter. I kept on seeing Ungit and the shadow brute from “Till We Have Faces”. Surprising I am firsthand encountering Eros and Venus and see it in all its forms. Thanks again for the knowledge

[@eastlynburkholder3559]

Yes, The Four Loves is an important work. Love is not a feeling, is much more than love the warm fuzzy feeling. If the Sun fuels almost all life on Earth, love fuels our lives in a very similar way.

[@eastlynburkholder3559]

To love it for its own sake for its intrinsic qualities.

[@eternalacademy88]

Very good discourse, Scott! Thank you for that!!! Have you done any presentations on Vedanta philosophy?

[@LitProf]

No, and I am not up to that, I'm afraid. Would need to do research.

[@eternalacademy88]

@@LitProf Here is one of the best books: www.amazon.com/Vedanta-Treatise-Eternities-Parthasarathy-ebook/dp/B00I8D4ZFM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=vedanta+treatise&qid=1587217382&sr=8-1

[@AleArek]

Its baffling that man with such comprehension of things, such wisdom as C.S.Lewis probably wasnt saved. Its a choice but if God wont choose us there is no way we can gain it even though we know so much and by human perspective are so close to knowing Him. Is it fair? Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

[@lindsayrebecca6268]

God chooses everyone He "wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth" 1 Tim 2:4

[@AleArek]

@@lindsayrebecca6268 everyone can be saved and he wants everyone to be saved but its impossible because most dont want it, thats why Paul asks who are we to ask why He made us the way we are, with hardrock hearts, is it our choice or the way we are made. Probably both. Only God knows who will turn to him, who did it sincerely. Maybe Clive Staples Lewis turned to God successfully, I am not sure. Despite being surrounded by catholics and not knowing that its grace only not deeds. Only God knows that.