From: muehlhau@en.ecn.purdue.edu (John Muehlhausen)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: C. S. Lewis and his mystery bus trip
Date: 14 Apr 92 00:14:38 GMT
Distribution: talk
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <SJE.92Apr13182307@xylos.ma30.bull.com> sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com writes:
>
>	An occasional social custom in the US is to organize a weekend
>mystery bus trip.  A mystery bus is a bus chartered by an appointed
>member of a social group for a trip to some undisclosed point of
>interest.  The logistics of of renting, driving, and returning the bus
>are all done by the appointed member in advance so as to not burden
>the riders with bothersome details.  This is just as well because of
>the traditionally large amount of alcoholic beverages enjoyed by the
>riders on the trip.  Part of the fun of the trip is guessing where the
>destination point is located.  Kept secret, it's location may also be
>a matter of dread if it might not exactly be what the riders had in
>mind.  An example of this is the occasional news report about a police
>sting operation where wanted criminals are awarded a free mystery bus
>trip; it turns out to be a one way journey to the local jail.
>
>	The typical talk.religion.misc reader can easily see where
>this discussion is going.  The mystery bus is the conveyance to the
>afterlife; the choice and nature of the destination is uncertain,
>although most expect it to be a one way trip.  The bus driver knows
>the route but refuses details until it's too late.
>
>	The Christian apologist C. S. Lewis wrote a fascinating
>novella about this particular mystery bus.  The story is entitled _The
>Great Divorce_ and was written about 1946.  I will not spoil the
>reader's fun by divulging the plot details; however, I would make two
>comments:
>
>	First, the fate of each individual is decided solely by that
>individual.  Instead of going into a long and boring expository, Lewis
>crisply states that those on the heaven bound bus are the ones who say
>to God: "Thy Will be done"; those on the less pleasurable path are the
>ones whose rejection of God has caused God to say to them: "Thy will
>be done!" and so it is.

Let me first say that I too think that this is an awesome book, along
with every other book I have read by C.S. Lewis.

>	Second, Lewis offers the view that residence in Hell is not
>necessarially permanent.  This idea is repeated in other works
>including the 1970s SF novel _Inferno_ by Niven and Pournelle.
>Indeed, the offer of an ultimate rescue is one exacting an incredible
>individual cost, yet results in an even more incredible reward.
>Furthermore, this offer doesn't necessary contradict the Bible saying
>"The damned will reside in Hell for Eternity" (or somesuch wording).
>If divine salvation is truely stronger than Hell, then even the damned
>may gain it, although at a cost far higher than would be paid by a
>living individual.  For if this final salvation may be gained, then
>the damned are no longer damned but saved; as such they are no longer
>held in separation from God.

I got the impression that Lewis was saying that although people are given
a route to heaven from hell, their ability to accept it at this point is
negligible.  Quite a thinker though.  The last image of the book really
gets ya!  Of course it is only effective if you read the whole thing...
I recommend "Mere Christianity" and "The Screwtape Letters" as well.

John M.
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc