"This elegantly written and compelling comparison of the worldviews of Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis provides a riveting opportunity to... read full description
reviews
Mar 14, 2008
Erinina Marie
rated it: 
Always a touchy question, there were probably never two more notably opinionated scholars to debate it. Overall, the author uses his research into their letters, lives and published writings to try to formulate a debate on the main topics of love, sex, death, pain and how to live life from a materialist vs. spiritual worldview.
Saving the author’s notably biased conclusions for your own perusal, I found the work enlightening not only on topics of spirituality and psychoanalysis, but a More...
Saving the author’s notably biased conclusions for your own perusal, I found the work enlightening not only on topics of spirituality and psychoanalysis, but a More...
Sep 25, 2008
Paul
rated it: 
Like comparing apples and rocks. Freud's the apple from the nonexistent Tree of Knowledge, and C.S. Lewis the unfortunately all-too-prevalent Christian apologist whose arguments take rocks in the head to accept.
Consider this paraphrased example, which Lewis uses to explain the beginning of his career in helping people better deceive or come out of the wisdom of doubt into into the molesting hands of faith:
~~~ I felt joy. Therefore, a place for joy must exist. Therefore More...
Consider this paraphrased example, which Lewis uses to explain the beginning of his career in helping people better deceive or come out of the wisdom of doubt into into the molesting hands of faith:
~~~ I felt joy. Therefore, a place for joy must exist. Therefore More...
Apr 06, 2008
David
rated it: 
I'm a bit conflicted about how I feel about this book. It was for sure worth the read; I learned a lot, and I went through different emotions as I read it and thought both about the material in the book and how the ideas fit into my life. The book is flawed, in my opinion, but could of the bias it takes on the side of Lewis. It's main argument boiled down to: Freud had a depressing life and was an atheist, Lewis had an enjoyable life and was a believer, ergo, believing is the right way to go. I
More...
2 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 18, 2008
Kevin
rated it:
A fantastic, if somewhat academic, look into a couple of the most influential minds of the 20th Century. This book is essentially a post-humus debate about religion, the existence of God, and the relevance of God in our lives (with respect to morals, death, sex, etc.). Critical reading for any individual who is a fan of EITHER C.S. Lewis or Sigmund Freud. I would also recommend it to anyone who has struggled with this debate themselves (i.e. whether or not there is a God, and what it means in my
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 16, 2009
Jonathan
rated it: 
An incredible read. This book compares the lives of Lewis and Freud from a fairly psychoanlytic perspective, that is how their signficant relationships and upbringing shaped their theology, philiosophy, and psychology. Its clear from reading this book why one chose to believe in God and the other saw it as a form of neurosis. This book tackles the important topics of Love, Sex, Friendship, God, Pain, & Death. I just re-listened to the unabridged audio and its a great book. The author is cle
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Aug 12, 2011
Shauna
rated it:
The Question of God is based on Harvard Professor Armand Nicholi's course comparing two great historical figures and their worldviews. CS Lewis represents "the spiritual worldview", while Freud represents "the materialist, atheist worldview." Professor Nicholi argues that everyone falls somewhere in one of these two worldviews. Nicholi tries to be neutral on the question of who's right and who's wrong and let the reader come away with their own answers and questions after h
More...
Aug 09, 2011
Autumn
rated it: 
I couldn’t even finish this book because the author’s extremely apparent bias was getting in the way of everything (despite his claim in the introduction that this is an “objective and dispassionate” venture). The premise is intriguing but I quickly realized that the way it’s set up here is all wrong. First of all, Freud discusses religion where Lewis discusses Christianity. Nicholi’s proposal that these are equivalent topics says all you need to know about where he’s coming from. Secondly, Lewi
More...
May 12, 2011
Clint
rated it:
This was a really good book, despite the author. If it weren't for the author, I'd have given in 5 stars, because both Freud and Lewis are such interesting people, or at least wrote interesting things. But my god, this writer was so... argh!!!!
First: There should not be debates between atheists and Christians. Christianity is too specific. There should only be arguments between atheists and theists. The details of theist should be left for later.
Second: CS Lewis is o More...
First: There should not be debates between atheists and Christians. Christianity is too specific. There should only be arguments between atheists and theists. The details of theist should be left for later.
Second: CS Lewis is o More...
Apr 23, 2011
Lee
rated it:
A great book. I hated it.
This isn't really a "debate;" it's a biography of three men: the pre-conversion Lewis, and the post-conversion Lewis, and Freud. Nicholi does a great job of portraying both Lewis and Freud, perhaps two of the greatest minds of the last century.
Could any two men have needed religion more than Freud and Lewis? Both experienced suffering, as do we all. Freud was a noted atheist his entire life, yet the question of God continued to preoccupy him More...
This isn't really a "debate;" it's a biography of three men: the pre-conversion Lewis, and the post-conversion Lewis, and Freud. Nicholi does a great job of portraying both Lewis and Freud, perhaps two of the greatest minds of the last century.
Could any two men have needed religion more than Freud and Lewis? Both experienced suffering, as do we all. Freud was a noted atheist his entire life, yet the question of God continued to preoccupy him More...
3 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 19, 2010
Recommended by Dale Mouritsen. Dale wrote: This volume grew out of a class taught by Dr. Nicholi at the Harvard School of Medicine in an effort to help students cope with the theodicy dilemma. It draws on the writings of Lewis and Freud as prominent representatives of faith and agnosticism and creates an imaginary debate between them. Compelling.
One book reviewer wrote: The Question of God is based on Nicholi's popular Harvard course comparing the two men and their worldviews. Lew More...
One book reviewer wrote: The Question of God is based on Nicholi's popular Harvard course comparing the two men and their worldviews. Lew More...
Oct 26, 2009
Ted
rated it:
This was somewhat worthwhile, but mostly because of the insight into the personal lives of Freud and C.S. Lewis - while the author purports to make the book appear to be an objective look at their (generally opposing) views on various philosophical topics, it quickly becomes clear that the author leans fairly heavily toward Lewis' opinions and away from Freud's. This in itself isn't that bothersome, so long as you realize it - the thing that bothered me the most was that the author seemed to la
More...
Apr 29, 2009
Judith
rated it:
When you have a title like this, written by an author who is a Harvard professor, how can you go wrong? By pretending to present an unbiased intellectual presentation while having an agenda so blindly biased that it is almost offensive. Here is one of my favorite parts. The author conducted a research project of Harvard University students who experienced a religious conversion and he published his results stating that ". . . each student described 'a marked improvement in ego functioni
More...
Oct 22, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
Despite the way one might understand the title, the book does not set out to answer the question of whether God exists. But "The Question of God" does allow readers to listen in on a type of virtual debate made possible by creating a virtual meeting of Freud and Lewis through their writings. For the past 25 years, the author of the book, Armand M. Nicholi Jr., has taught a similar course at Harvard, where he compares Freud’s atheist-based reasoning against the atheist-turned-believer C
More...
Mar 17, 2011
Claire
rated it:
Six years after reading this I don't remember much about the particular arguments made on each side, but I do remember that Nicholi repeatedly stressed that C.S. Lewis (the Christian) was a happy man who died peacefully while Freud (the atheist) was never content and died slowly and painfully. That THIS is what I remember is certainly a reflection on me more that the author, but maybe it's not just hazy perception that Nicholi, rather than discussing the "Question of God", was really a
More...
Jul 03, 2010
Spanakos
rated it:
Based on his course on Freud, Nicholi writes this book as something of a conversation between 2 of the 20th century's most influential nonbelievers (atheist) and believers (Christian). Nicholi tries to show how each has very different ontologies and epistemologies and how these are reflected on their ideas of pain, love, sex, and death. This is very good for people not terribly familiar with either thinker and it is a great way to run a course. My suggestion is that the believer/non-believer dis
More...
May 23, 2011
Bigmg
rated it:
Vivid. that’s what first comes to mind; "producing a strong or clear impression on the senses". Nicholi kept my attention from the prologue. By building a basic picture of Freud & Lewis, starting with their stated worldview, Nicholi takes the reader into the mind of each through letters written, books published, and candid remarks by close associates.
The hardest part of this book, and the mark of a great book, is that each paragraph caused me to ponder deeply the impact th More...
The hardest part of this book, and the mark of a great book, is that each paragraph caused me to ponder deeply the impact th More...
Dec 21, 2011
Seth
rated it:
Though I had already watched the corresponding video series that came out shortly following the arrival of this book, I had never actually read it.
Dr. Nicholi's approach to contrasting these men's answers to the central questions in all of our is a compelling one. Freud's personal life often seemed to contradict, or at least to wrestle with, his ability to honestly hold the beliefs that he did. This seemed to be true of Lewis as well, until he became a Christian, and then everything chan More...
Dr. Nicholi's approach to contrasting these men's answers to the central questions in all of our is a compelling one. Freud's personal life often seemed to contradict, or at least to wrestle with, his ability to honestly hold the beliefs that he did. This seemed to be true of Lewis as well, until he became a Christian, and then everything chan More...
Apr 25, 2011
John
rated it:
Nicholi does a very good job of comparing the worldviews of Freud and Lewis. He shows how both were influenced by traumas in life, how they responded to them, and ultimately how Freud remained an atheist while Lewis became a Christian. Some of the material is repetitive, as the same quotes appear throughout the book, but overall he does a great job of comparing and contrasting their philosophies, but also their lives.
I found especially fascinating Freud's inconsistent, and doubtful More...
I found especially fascinating Freud's inconsistent, and doubtful More...
Sep 30, 2009
Adena
rated it:
Although I would have never thought to compare the lives and philosophies of Freud and Lewis, Nicholi does. And, he sides with Lewis and God on most issues, which begs the question, how in the heck has not been fired as a professor at an "elite" college AND remained in the field of psychology? Most interesting was learning about how Lewis was a much happier, fulfilled, peaceful human being after accepting God, while Freud remained conflicted and bitter, withering from the acidity of
More...
Dec 08, 2008
Jodi
rated it:
I was hoping for an unbiased book with intelligent debate and was sorely disappointed. The author obviously favored Lewis' worldview, which should be expected I guess since Lewis was a level-headed intelligent human while this book furthered my belief that Freud was nothing more than a bitter, depressed nutcase who, in his desperate quest for recognition and purpose, used his theories of psychoanalysis to explain his dysfunctional upbringing. Few of his theories fit any model but his own persona
More...
Sep 26, 2011
Patricia
rated it:
Honestly this book wasn't what I had expected when I started to read it. The book's description promises a debate, but my issue with this debate is that it is far too biased towards C.S. Lewis and that somewhat turned me off a bit. I also wasn't really expecting to read a biography of both authors when I started reading. I mean during the first chapter I thought it was OK for the introduction of the debate but the debate is basically based on how they lived their lives, so it turns out being thi
More...
Jan 08, 2011
Gina
rated it:
So thoroughly fascinating, I cannot sing the praises of this book enough.
By way of explanation: this book is actually written by Armand Nicholi. He uses the words of Freud and Lewis to explain their points of view and present both sides of the argument. He takes their words from essays they wrote, interviews they gave, transcripts of speeches they made, books (not novels) they wrote and their personal correspondence. Lewis is one of the great public champions of Christianity, and Freu More...
By way of explanation: this book is actually written by Armand Nicholi. He uses the words of Freud and Lewis to explain their points of view and present both sides of the argument. He takes their words from essays they wrote, interviews they gave, transcripts of speeches they made, books (not novels) they wrote and their personal correspondence. Lewis is one of the great public champions of Christianity, and Freu More...
Feb 06, 2012
Kathy
rated it:
This was an interesting contrast between the atheist world view and the christian world view. Both men wrote extensively on their perspective. Interesting to me is that although Freud preached open sex, he was faithful to his wife and family. Lewis never married. Freud went from a christian belief to an atheist and died a very unhappy man. Lewis never married, went from an atheist worldview to being a christian. He died a happy man. Something for thought!
Oct 03, 2008
Mark
rated it:
This is just another example of a book where the author sticks his nose too far into the issue he is showing. This book was suppose to be a debate on god by just Lewis and Freud. Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, without any sense of reservation, twists Freuds arguements and undeniable sides with every counter statement Lewis makes in the book. The book is not a debate between C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Frued,but an unfair ambush of Freud, where Freud is outnumbered and misrepresented. Lewis's (and I will incl
More...
Nov 21, 2009
Laura
rated it:
Thank you, Emily, for finding this gem! Appreciate even more, your excellent review of it. I found it interesting to read about the personal lives of both of these giants of the 20th century. I agree with you that Lewis obviously came through his experiences with life and with God in way better shape than Freud did. This read was extremely enlightening and I am grateful to be reminded about a writer who is much loved due to his Christian beliefs and who I need to revisit soon. This may well
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 07, 2012
Catherine
rated it:
While I am intrigued by the possibility that these two men might have met, I was disappointed by this book. I did enjoy reading it, but, part way through, I realized that what I was getting the most from were the direct quotations from the works of the authors in question. The juxtaposition of their thoughts was certainly interesting, but I cannot shake the feeling that I would have been better off just reading their works...
Sep 18, 2009
Emily
rated it:
This book is genius! Nicholi takes the letters and writings of both C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud and debates the existence of God. It is extremely well done. The reader sees the incredible torture that Freud put himself through because of pride and stubbornness. On the other side, we see the joy experienced by Lewis as he humbled himself and began to believe in a higher power than his own intellect. Nicholi is brave to even write a book like this, but even more courageously, he comes down firmly
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 10, 2010
Stephanie
rated it:
What I learned from this book: C.S. Lewis was a talented, interesting individual. Freud was an angry atheist. Both were incredibly intelligent people and made many valid points. I'd hope to come away with some sort of enlightenment, it didn't happen, but I discovered two very fascinating historical figures that I want to know more about.
Mar 01, 2009
Dave
rated it:
Constructing a post hoc / post mortem debate between one of the most famous advocates of atheism and one of the most famous advocates of rational religious apologetics strikes me as fascinating. I know just enough about each man to be misinformed, though I have read more of Lewis' actual writing.
I found the book fascinating. It gave context for the ideas of two great thinkers and helped me fill in more in the ongoing debate about human nature, the meaning of live and the universe More...
I found the book fascinating. It gave context for the ideas of two great thinkers and helped me fill in more in the ongoing debate about human nature, the meaning of live and the universe More...
Nov 28, 2010
Austin
rated it:
Freud and Lewis never actually met but this is comparing their ideas as if they did. The thing about this book that gave me the most insight was how the author spent so much time and energy to include the personal lives of each of these men following their stance on a certain issue. Fantastic.
