This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 6, 2013 - An atheist psychoanalyst and a Christian writer walk into a ... well, not a bar, but a lively discussion in The Rep’s “Freud’s Last Session," running through Nov. 24. In a fictionalized meeting, Sigmund Freud (Barry Mulholland) and author C.S. Lewis (St. Louis native Jim Butz) spar over religion, love, sex and science just before Freud’s death and the start of World War II.
As Lewis (known for “The Chronicles of Narnia,” among other books) and Freud pummel each other with barbs, Bible stories and jokes, the pair remains polarized, as so often happens in today’s world. When you isolate their comments, it’s often obvious who said what -- but not always. See if you can match each line below with its proper character: Freud or Lewis. (For answers, scroll down past the information about the play and subsequent photo.)
- “The God of the Bible is a bullying busybody.”
- “Would you like a seat?” (gesturing to the couch)
- “A warrior’s greatest ally is always God.”
- “I question my beliefs daily.”
- "One of us is a fool. If it is me, you will be able to tell me one day. If it is you, then neither of us will ever know."
- “The greatest problem with Christianity are Christians.”
- “We cannot survive without enemies; they are as necessary as air.”
- “Maybe I should have closed my eyes so the Germans won’t see us.”
- “I always consider what people tell me less important than what they cannot.”
- Lewis
- Lewis
- Freud
- Lewis
- Freud
- Lewis
- Freud
- Lewis
- Freud
