Lewis was an amazing writer, his literature was such an important part of my story as a christian, even as a believer I was so impressed with how much I still had to learn about life. His way of translating the hard and difficult truths of christianity was a gift.
CS Lewis was phenomenal. I've read some of his works and it continues to amaze me how sharply relevant and intellectually stirring they remain even in today's world.
Thank you so much for writing this! I had forgotten that I read one of the most important Lewis works, The Abolition of Man, in undergraduate studies. That book was part of the syllabus in my history of science course work.
At that time, the history of science context was about the medieval world view and alchemy and the rise of science. I also applied this work in my primary academic focus, which was environmental science, ecology, and a critique of technology (this was before slogans like "sustainable development" and "green").
I recall how so much of the ecological activist movement embraced the kind of ethical and spiritual work that CS Lewis pursued. We've lost so much intellectual and moral ground since then,
BTW, I hit the link and took the 6 hour course by Hillsadale College. While I strongly disagree with their politics, the Lewis course was high quality intellectual material. I'm proud to say that I got a 87 average on the 7 quizzes and a 100 on the final exam! This was not a light lift, but challenging material. Thanks again, I learned a lot.
He was admired by both Christians and non-Christians alike, even with deeply rooted Christian values woven into his writing—a rare and remarkable feat. It’s a testament to how masterful storytelling can transcend boundaries and connect with all kinds of people.
C.S. Lewis was one of those people who themselves are proof that God exists. People who were born to say and write exactly what they said and wrote. He know the human soul inside out and uses this knowledge to speak to every reader.
What a beautiful overview — Lewis remains one of the few thinkers who could synthesize logic, myth, and longing without losing the poetry of any. I think part of his genius was showing that faith isn't the suspension of intellect, but the completion of it.
What resonated most for me was your unpacking of “joy” — not as a fleeting happiness, but as an ache for home, for something eternal. That line — “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy…” — was my gateway too. Lewis didn’t argue me into belief. He named what I already knew but didn’t yet have words for.
Also love the mythic lens. For Lewis, Christianity wasn’t the rejection of story — it was the true myth, the one that all others dimly echo. In a time of sterile debates and tired apologetics, he gave us something deeper: enchantment with a backbone.
Would love to see a follow-up post on how Till We Have Faces explores disordered love — especially Psyche vs. Orual — and how it ties into Lewis’s ideas about idolatry and the pain of self-deception.
Thank you for keeping this flame lit. There’s real hunger for this kind of writing right now.
Where can I find the expanded weekend piece referred to here? I am a paid subscriber and receive Sat emails but I found no piece on Tolkien and Lewis. Thanks
I’m a reader and I’ve been enjoying reading your work and this piece on Lewis. I’m interested enough to have looked at the Hillsdale College course that you advertise/suggest here.
Because I am a reader, I read first about Hillsdale College. Hillsdale College is on the advisory board for Trump’s genuinely fascist Project 2024. The college defends itself and the Project by saying the reaction to it is hysteria.
Because I am a reader I have read Project 24. It *is fascism, laid out, not exactly easy to read, but quite legible as such.
Nice overview. I’ve been meaning to read some of his work since I’ve often encountered C.S. Lewis quotations in books by Timothy Keller.
Lewis was an amazing writer, his literature was such an important part of my story as a christian, even as a believer I was so impressed with how much I still had to learn about life. His way of translating the hard and difficult truths of christianity was a gift.
Not much criticism for a culture critic. Looks more like proselytism. Ever considered that Lewis might have been a tad delusional?
CS Lewis was phenomenal. I've read some of his works and it continues to amaze me how sharply relevant and intellectually stirring they remain even in today's world.
Thank you so much for writing this! I had forgotten that I read one of the most important Lewis works, The Abolition of Man, in undergraduate studies. That book was part of the syllabus in my history of science course work.
At that time, the history of science context was about the medieval world view and alchemy and the rise of science. I also applied this work in my primary academic focus, which was environmental science, ecology, and a critique of technology (this was before slogans like "sustainable development" and "green").
I recall how so much of the ecological activist movement embraced the kind of ethical and spiritual work that CS Lewis pursued. We've lost so much intellectual and moral ground since then,
BTW, I hit the link and took the 6 hour course by Hillsadale College. While I strongly disagree with their politics, the Lewis course was high quality intellectual material. I'm proud to say that I got a 87 average on the 7 quizzes and a 100 on the final exam! This was not a light lift, but challenging material. Thanks again, I learned a lot.
He was admired by both Christians and non-Christians alike, even with deeply rooted Christian values woven into his writing—a rare and remarkable feat. It’s a testament to how masterful storytelling can transcend boundaries and connect with all kinds of people.
Is this text sliding just over the surface on purpose? I might be missing something but where are the lessons, the reasoning, the plot of the text?
C.S. Lewis was one of those people who themselves are proof that God exists. People who were born to say and write exactly what they said and wrote. He know the human soul inside out and uses this knowledge to speak to every reader.
What a beautiful overview — Lewis remains one of the few thinkers who could synthesize logic, myth, and longing without losing the poetry of any. I think part of his genius was showing that faith isn't the suspension of intellect, but the completion of it.
What resonated most for me was your unpacking of “joy” — not as a fleeting happiness, but as an ache for home, for something eternal. That line — “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy…” — was my gateway too. Lewis didn’t argue me into belief. He named what I already knew but didn’t yet have words for.
Also love the mythic lens. For Lewis, Christianity wasn’t the rejection of story — it was the true myth, the one that all others dimly echo. In a time of sterile debates and tired apologetics, he gave us something deeper: enchantment with a backbone.
Would love to see a follow-up post on how Till We Have Faces explores disordered love — especially Psyche vs. Orual — and how it ties into Lewis’s ideas about idolatry and the pain of self-deception.
Thank you for keeping this flame lit. There’s real hunger for this kind of writing right now.
Where can I find the expanded weekend piece referred to here? I am a paid subscriber and receive Sat emails but I found no piece on Tolkien and Lewis. Thanks
From the day I picked up Mere Christianity, I have not been okay.
Typos on above comment: Project 2025, of course.
I’m a reader and I’ve been enjoying reading your work and this piece on Lewis. I’m interested enough to have looked at the Hillsdale College course that you advertise/suggest here.
Because I am a reader, I read first about Hillsdale College. Hillsdale College is on the advisory board for Trump’s genuinely fascist Project 2024. The college defends itself and the Project by saying the reaction to it is hysteria.
Because I am a reader I have read Project 24. It *is fascism, laid out, not exactly easy to read, but quite legible as such.
Are you aware of Hillsdale College’s stance?
Hillsdale is a far right political and ideological advocacy outfit, more than a real academic institution (at least judging by their on line course).
But this right wing ideology did NOT influence the CS Lewis course. The Oxford professor was not an ideologue.
But Check out their politics of the "left" course for a gross example of exactly what you criticize.
If you’re directing your comment to me, Bill, I wasn’t aware that I had criticized anything.
What? You correctly criticized Hillsdale's ideology and Project 2025!