Often it is asked what differs us humans from other animals (for we are, after all, animals too). There are various answers to this question, some more obvious than others. For one, we are capable of free thought in a way which animals are not. Looking at it theologically, we are created in the Imago Dei, the image and likeness of God, and animals are not. Spiritually speaking, we are capable of sin and animals are not. Like I said, there are many answers to the question of what differs us from other animals. C.S. Lewis’s “Man or Rabbit,” one of his more interesting essays in my opinion, poses yet another answer to this question. Lewis explores the idea that it is humans’ desire to know and learn simply for the sake of doing so which differs them from animals, in other words, a man vs. a rabbit. In this essay, Lewis also addresses various misunderstandings of Christianity and seeks to prove why they are false. As we will come to see, these egregious misreads of Christianity are precisely why Lewis’s writings on this matter are so important, as they effectively address and disprove these dangerous beliefs in a way that most, if not all, of Lewis’s readers can understand. Now, on to the content of “Man or Rabbit.”  

Lewis begins by pointing out one misinterpretation of Christianity which has been pervading society for the past several decades and that is particularly disheartening and dangerous, the belief in what is known as “moral therapeutic deism.” This belief affirms that religion, in this case Christianity, exists simply to help us through life, to benefit society, and to make us feel good about ourselves. In other words, moral therapeutic deism effectively makes God out to be nothing more than the ultimate therapist, with Christianity serving as His prescribed self-help methods. At the root of this belief is a lack of desire to learn about and engage with Christianity on a deeper-than-surface level, as the only thing moral therapeutic deists care about (when it comes to religion, that is) is making oneself feel good, comfortable, and happy. Now, none of these things are inherently bad in and of themselves, but when they become the sole focus of one’s life, let alone of one’s spiritual life, therein lies the problem. When your mind is solely preoccupied with feeling a certain way, it leaves little room to desire anything else. But the reality of Christianity is anything but feeling good. Quite the opposite, in fact. We are called by our Lord to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him. Often it is asked what differs us humans from other animals (for we are, after all, animals too). There are various answers to this question, some more obvious than others. For one, we are capable of free thought in a way which animals are not. Looking at it theologically, we are created in the Imago Dei, the image and likeness of God, and animals are not. Spiritually speaking, we are capable of sin and animals are not. Like I said, there are many answers to the question of what differs us from other animals. C.S. Lewis’s “Man or Rabbit,” one of his more interesting essays in my opinion, poses yet another answer to this question. Lewis explores the idea that it is humans’ desire to know and learn simply for the sake of doing so which differs them from animals, in other words, a man vs. a rabbit. In this essay, Lewis also addresses various misunderstandings of Christianity and seeks to prove why they are false. As we will come to see, these egregious misreads of Christianity are precisely why Lewis’s writings on this matter are so important, as they effectively address and disprove these