I consider Niceness one of the most dangerous substitutes for the gospel in our age. Every era has its own difficulties, its own heresies, its own temptations. Garrison Keillor captured it well. When he spoke about the Dark Lutherans, he couldn't help but drag the Happy Lutherans as well. We used to be Lutherans, and Happy Lutherans are where the stereotype of "Minnesota Nice" comes from. Not that the German Catholics or the various Brethren didn't pick it up quickly, but the white-hot center of Niceness is Scandinavian.
We are seeing it on display more than ever recently, this Potemkin Christianity, but I won't try and explain to you why it is an imitation. You likely already sense it, and rereading Mere Christianity, I saw that Lewis had done so far better than I ever could.
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis is available as a PDF in a few places. It depends on what appearance you like. I want you to focus for a bit on one of the last chapters, "Nice People or New Men." Chapter 10 in Book III, "Beyond Personality."
NTS Library p 98
Google docs p 226
Internet Archive p115
Not sure if you've talked about it elsewhere, but politics aside, what's the difference between Niceness and Kindness?
ReplyDeleteNice etymology is from "know nothing", kind comes from kin. Robert M. Pirsig has a thread about it in Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Deletehttps://english.stackexchange.com/a/31421
"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way."
ReplyDeleteHmm. From time to time I've been called a nice guy.
Sometimes a balance of defects and vices can look a bit nice.
Off the top of my head, I would call Kindness a midpoint between Niceness, which can be largely social graces, wanting to get along and not cause trouble, and Love (Christian Charity) which can seem harsh at times. Kindness would be a step up, but maybe not the whole way there.
ReplyDeleteThere is also an audio book: https://primeaudiobooks.club/mere-christianity-audiobook/
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDelete