“Can a mortal ask questions which God finds unanswerable? Quite easily, I should think. All nonsense questions are unanswerable.”
Image credits：Aronsyne,”Lewis, age 48″,CC BY-SA 4.0,C.S.-Lewis – C. S. Lewis – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963
- Born in Ireland
- Writer, scholar
- Had a major influence on fantasy literature and religious thought through his many works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and The Poetics of Christianity
Quote
“Can a mortal ask questions which God finds unanswerable? Quite easily, I should think. All nonsense questions are unanswerable.”
Explanation
In this quote, C. S. Lewis humorously addresses the idea of human limitations when it comes to understanding God’s nature. He suggests that while humans may think they are asking profound or difficult questions, there are certain types of questions—those that are nonsensical or illogical—that cannot be answered by anyone, including God. Lewis points out that a nonsense question is unanswerable not because of the limits of knowledge, but because the question itself is flawed or meaningless. This highlights Lewis’s belief that the pursuit of truth requires both clear thinking and an understanding of what is rational and coherent, and that asking questions that do not have a sound basis is ultimately unproductive. He suggests that while God’s wisdom is infinite, there are still questions that are outside the scope of meaningful inquiry.
Historically, Lewis often wrote about the importance of reason and logic in understanding faith and theological matters. In Mere Christianity and other works, he stressed that faith is not a rejection of reason but an integration of reason with mystery. Lewis saw nonsense questions as attempts to evade clear thinking, often driven by confusion or a lack of clarity about the issues at hand. This quote reflects his belief that while faith and reason can coexist, meaningful questions must be grounded in the ability to think logically and coherently. The idea that God can be stumped by nonsense is, to Lewis, a misunderstanding of both the nature of God and the nature of thoughtful inquiry.
In the modern context, this quote serves as a reminder that meaningful questions require a certain level of clarity and rationality. In a world where questions about faith, morality, and existence are sometimes framed in ways that are illogical or self-contradictory, Lewis encourages us to pursue questions that are grounded in truth and reason. Rather than getting caught up in unanswerable questions that stem from confusion or misunderstanding, we are invited to ask questions that are thoughtfully crafted and that reflect a sincere desire for understanding, not merely intellectual curiosity or speculation. This helps maintain a balance between faith and reason, both of which, for Lewis, are essential for a deeper understanding of God and the world around us.
