A Hebraic Inkling: Motivation

In Chapter 7 of, "The Great Divorce," Lewis meets the Hard-Bitten Ghost. A (now dead) man who beleived that the world was run by a cadre of Management, the World Combine. In his ravings to Lewis, he mentions, "or the same Firm, which is behind the Jews and the Vatican..." A friend of Brazier had apparently read this particular passage and assumed that this demonstrated Lewis was an anti-semite and (presumably) believed the canard of the Jews running the world. 

Of course, as Brazier quickly notes, such an association is the complete opposite of Lewis' intention. This man was in hell, and will always stay there, due to his beliefs that everything is just a set up. Everything is out of your control, you are powerless and since there is nothing you can do to build up, you are left with simply debunking everything else. Lewis addresses these people head on in Abolition of Man. These are people for whom truth is there own feelings, and one's feelings can never be wrong. Truth, wonder, and beauty are exactly the opposite. They demand the stirring of awe and reverence. They motivate man to do better, and they call on man to overcome his present problems because there is a bright future for those who walk in God's path. 

Brazier identifies the Hard-Bitten Ghost in the British Labor party of the early 2020s and, unfortunately, too many people today. People who, enamored with their own feelings, would rather find a scapegoat than address the very real problems facing them.    

Brazier contrasts this character with Sarah Smith of Golders Green in the same book who he identifies as Jewish (more on that later). She is a saintly figure who has achieved paradise but journeys down to continue helping others. Certainly Lewis, were he an anti-semite, would not suggest such a character could be a Jew! However, this mistaken characterization of Lewis is what motivated Brazier to explore further Lewis' views on "Judaims and the Jews, the ancient Hebrews and the Jewish Bible (the church's "Old Testament"), supersessionism, replacement theology, identity politics, and Israel, and therefore the status before humanity of God's chosen people..."

I would like to add, that throughout Brazier's treatment he demonstrates that Judaism directly repudiates the Hard-Bitten Ghost. Judaism forces the confrontation with the transcendent and divine and calls upon you to work to raise the level of the world. Judaism insists that you have the choice to be as righteous as Moses or as evil as Pharaoh. Most importantly, Judaism insists on truths in beliefs, in actions, and in an ultimate vision. God demands reverence, His Creation reflect His glory and call on you to feel awe and come to fear and love Him, and His seal is truth. 

With this motivation, Brazier goes on to Aims and Goals. We'll take a look at that next time.