The Problem of Pain

Christian doctrine teaches that the first sin committed is recounted in the biblical book of Genesis, when Adam is placed in the Garden of Eden and given both animal companions and a human helpmate, Eve. Adam, who has free will, is instructed not to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but, tempted by Satan (in the form of a serpent) who misdirects Eve, Adam eats this fruit. In doing so, Adam disobeys God and is banished (along with Eve) from the Garden of Eden. This sin of disobedience and willfulness is passed down from Adam and Eve to each of us, meaning that all humans are forever seeking to be restored to God, and to the state of innocence that existed in Eden. This is the story of the Fall, when humans “fell” from grace and good standing with God.

Lewis returns repeatedly to the story of the Fall, the doctrine that resulted from it, and the symbolic separation between man and God that resulted from Adam’s exercise of free will. Lewis sees pain as a means of being restored to the pre-Fall state, when humans had not yet placed themselves above the will of God.