Page 1 of 1

What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: October 24th, 2005, 2:31 pm
by Michael Gaul
In the preface to Mere Christianity, Lewis refers to the "H.C.F" but does not explain what it means. Does anyone know?

re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: October 24th, 2005, 9:16 pm
by Sven

Re: re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: October 24th, 2005, 9:55 pm
by Stanley Anderson

re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: October 25th, 2005, 12:23 am
by Michael Gaul

Re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: November 2nd, 2009, 6:54 pm
by brhoads
Actually, in this context H.C.F. does not mean highest common factor, but Holy Catholic Faith. Lewis was talking about the aspects of Christian faith that we all have in common ("catholic" meaning universal, not the specific sect). We know this because of his deliberate use of capitalization.

Re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: November 2nd, 2009, 8:44 pm
by Sven
Welcome, brhoads.

I admire your ability to create a 'fact' out of thin air.

Re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: November 3rd, 2009, 12:32 am
by Paul F. Ford

Re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: November 3rd, 2009, 3:48 am
by brhoads
I have no investment in my answer and am open to what others say. It simply seemed, from the context of writing about the faith of the apostles, that HCF would mean that faith, ie the holy catholic faith. I would like to know the arguments for highest common factor. Simply listing one's qualifications, as impressive as they may be, doesn't shed any light on the issue. It must have been something that Lewis felt his audience would just know.

Re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: November 3rd, 2009, 11:35 am
by agingjb
Looking at the context:

"In that way it may possibly be of some help in silencing the view that, if we omit the disputed points, we shall have left only a vague and bloodless H.C.F. The H.C.F. turns out to be something not only positive but pungent; divided from all non-Christian beliefs by a chasm to which the worst divisions inside Christendom are not really comparable at all."

I think that it's fairly clear the Lewis meant Highest Common Factor. I do wonder why he did not expand the abbreviation, and also why he used a mathematical term. I suppose it was in common use as an analogy.

Re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: May 4th, 2010, 5:52 am
by jayaresee
He also uses H.C.F. in the section on myth in [u]An Experiment in Criticism[u]. In the context from that work is certainly is for highest common factor

Re: What does H.C.F. stand for?

PostPosted: August 12th, 2010, 2:45 am
by donand lil
Lewis uses H.C.F. in the third chapter of The Abolition of Man: "What is now common to all men is a mere abstract universal, an H.C.F...." He also makes it clear in the larger context of the book that he is not speaking about the Christian Faith in this text. I take it from the context that his meaning in every instance where he uses the abbreviation is more likely Highest Common Factor rather than Holy Catholic Faith.