Book III: Chapter 4 Morality and Psychoanalysis Summary and Analysis

The difference between psychoanalysis and morality is psychoanalysis seeks to cure a disease of the mind, while morality involves the choices made by a healthy mind. Using this definition, Lewis argues sexual perversion is not a sin, and literally any bad behavior caused by a diseased mind is never a sin. However, once the sufferer of a mental disease is cured and is able to make sane choices again, then morality plays an important part.

Lewis then explains why Christian writers sometimes seem to overly condemn a small sin, while a huge sin is brushed off as something which needs repentance to set right. The touchstone is the piece of a human which makes the moral choices. This is the piece that goes on to Heaven or hell. So, if a...