Chapter 11: The New Men

I. Not improvement but transformation
    A. The analogy to biological evolution
    B. Guessing the next step in mankind’s development
    C. Different in a different way
II. The Christian view of the next step
    A. The next step has already appeared in Christ.
    B. The next step is transformation of creatures of a God to sons of God.
    C. The next step differs from all previous evolutionary steps.
        1. It does not no level sexual reproduction.
        2. It is voluntary.
        3. It can only result from contact with Christ.
        4. It has occurred far more quickly.
        5. The differences are far greater and more significant than ever before.
    D. The new men are in fellowship all over the world.
III. The character of the new men
    A. The new men have the mind of Christ.
    B. The new men are not all alike but have distinctive characters: analogies of seeing light & salt
    C. Becoming ourselves
        1. With Christ, we can become the selves he made us to be, all different.
        2. Without Christ, we are totally subject to our natures, which are often drearily similar.
IV. Real personalities
    A. Only in God: wicked men are highly similar; saints are highly individual.
    B. A real personality can only come by giving up the self.
    C. Give up self and one will find the true self.
    D. Only that which has died can be resurrected.
    E. Turn away from self and seek Christ.

Discussion Questions: (pp. 218-227)
    1. Lewis points out how futile it is to look for the next step (or any clue to the future) by relying only on structures from the past. Apart from evolution, what other systems of thought exhibit that futility? (pp. 218-219)
    2. How can one give up self? (pp. 223-226)
    3. How is Lewis’ thought like Jesus’ in Matt. 6:33? or Paul’s in 1 Cor. 15:44? (p. 227)

Note: On p. 220, an “Irish bull” is a statement so absurd or contradictory as to be amusing or satirical, though sometimes revealing an underlying wisdom or truth.