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Ethan S. Macalalad November 16, 2021

The Unknown Theologian

C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis, the writer of the very popular Chronicles of Narnia stories, was also a
theologian. He was born as Clive Staples Lewis on November 29, 1898, in Belfast,
Ireland. He held various intellectual positions in English literature at Cambridge University
as well as Oxford University. One of his non-fiction Christian apologetics include Mere
Christianity. He is a “lay theologian” meaning he was not a trained theologian.
His father was Albert James Lewis (1863–1929), a solicitor, whose father, Richard Lewis,
came to Ireland from Wales in the course of the mid-19th century. Lewis's mother was
Florence Augusta Lewis née Hamilton (1862–1908), also known as Flora, the daughter
of Thomas Hamilton, a Church of Ireland priest, and the great-granddaughter of both
Bishop Hugh Hamilton and John Staples. When he was 4 years old, he wanted to be
called Jacksie (in commemoration of his dog with the same name), who was fatally hit by
a car. At first, he would respond to no other name, but later acknowledged Jack, the name
by which he was well-known to friends and family for the remainder of his life. When he
was seven years old, his family moved into "Little Lea", his childhood residence which is
located in the Strandtown vicinity of East Belfast. He was also interested in
anthropomorphous animals as a young boy. The word anthropomorphous simply
means human in form of nature, meaning he is interested with animals that have human
traits and behaviors. Beatrix Potter's stories fascinated him, and he often created and
illustrated his own tales. Along with his brother Warnie, he created the world of Boxen, a
fantasy land which was populated and run by animals. Lewis enjoyed reading at a young
age. His father's household was filled with books; he later wrote that finding something to
read was as easy as walking into a field and "finding a new blade of grass". Private tutors
educated Lewis until he was nine years old, when his mother passed away in 1908 due
to cancer. His father then directed him to England to reside and study at Wynyard School
in Watford, Hertfordshire. Lewis's brother had enrolled there three years previously. Not
long after, the school was closed due to lack of students, and the headmaster Robert
"Oldie" Capron was commended to a psychiatric hospital. Lewis then studied at Campbell
College in the east of Belfast just around a mile from his residence but left the institution
after a few months due to respiratory problems.
In September 1913, Lewis enrolled at Malvern College, where he stayed until the
following June. After departing from Malvern, he studied privately with William T.
Kirkpatrick, his father's former tutor who is also a headmaster of Lurgan College. As a
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teenager, Lewis has been wonderstruck by the songs and legends of what he called
Northernness, the ancient literature of Scandinavia maintained in the Icelandic narratives.
These legends strengthened an internal yearning that he would later on refer to as "joy".
He also grew to love the beauty of nature, which reminded him of the stories of the North.
His teenage works moved away from the tales of Boxen, and he started experimenting
using different art forms such as epic poetry and opera to try to catch his new-found
interest in Norse mythology and the natural world.
Upon returning to Oxford, C.S. Lewis completed his degrees before taking up a post
teaching English at Magdalen College, Oxford from 1925 to 1954. He was a creative
writer and formed a close friendship with other Oxford fellows who also became prominent
novelists such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Owen Barfield. They formed an
unceremonious group known as the ‘Inklings’. They would meet at pubs in Oxford such
as ‘The Eagle and Child’ where they would read portions of their novels. He encouraged
Tolkien as he wrote ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ C.S. Lewis became a prominent champion
for Christianity through publications such as the “Screwtape Letters”, ‘Mere Christianity”,
and other similar works. He concentrated on a more universal form of Christianity seeking
to steer clear of the denominationalism that was popular in Northern Ireland. He rarely
made any specific reference to a particular denomination of Christianity but sought to
reinforce the essential Christian values shared by all faiths. However, he always remained
an Anglican and, to the disappointment of Tolkien, he in no way converted to Roman
Catholicism.
Lewis’ Christian beliefs also inspired his more popular works such as the “Chronicles of
Narnia”. Though he also incorporates ideas of Roman and Celtic myths, there are
fundamental Christian concepts of sacrifice and Christ-like actions. He began writing The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe during World War II. He was somewhat encouraged
by three refugee children who came to stay in his home in Risinghurst (which is also a
neighborhood of Oxford). Lewis said the experience of the evacuee children gave him a
new perspective on the joy of childhood. Lewis also remarked he had had an image of a
Faun since he was about sixteen years old. All seven books were published per year from
1950 to 1956. They soon became a publishing success and have become a very
influential category of children’s literature.
Another opus of his is The Abolition of Man, which is not necessarily easy reading, but it
is short. In part, Lewis takes his signal from GK Chesterton, who wrote extensively on the
limitations of the purely scientific mindset in several books and essays. Lewis, like
Chesterton, emphasizes on the shortcomings and lapses of the outlook of Scientism.
Lewis was a strong and vocal opponent of Scientism, the idea that science itself provides
the only trustworthy knowledge about anything and everything. It’s natural that the
insistent nature of his attacks on what he considered to be an entirely doctrinaire semi-
religion would earn him bitter enemies. And the critics were as furious in their complaints
to Lewis, attempting to pay him in kind, but not entirely succeeding. The reason they didn’t
generally succeed is that many of them did not completely grasp the context of Lewis’
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objections, nor were they particularly careful in their responses. So, it was easiest for
some to tar Lewis with the “he hates science” brush, even though it never really applied.
There are valid objections to some of Lewis’ points, but those who say he despised
science simply miss the mark entirely.
CS Lewis was not at all in contradiction of science but what he was against was the
ignorant belief held by some that, “modern science supplies the only reliable method of
knowledge about the world” he was also contrary to the idea that scientists should dictate
public policy and religious and moral beliefs purely on the basis of scientific expertise.
Lewis cites the fact that many scientists of his day supported eugenics (selective genetic
modifications) something that most caring people today find objectionable.
But Lewis takes things a step further in his Space Trilogy (namely Out of the Silent Planet,
Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength) and implies that something evil lurks under the
Scientistic veil. This is where many people felt he got too personal and maybe he over-
reached. In his defense, Lewis was probably just resorting to the literary technique of his
good friend and mystic Charles Williams, going for a little neo-Gothic horror. But the
unimaginative members of his academic tribe at Oxford and in other parts of the English-
speaking world were neither entertained nor amused by Lewis’ veiled attacks. That
Hideous Strength in particular caused a bit of a disruption. Grudges developed, and it
may have been this resentment, more than his more general Christian apologetics, that
disqualified him from a sought-after professorship at Oxford.
After World War II in 1939, the Lewises brought child evacuees from London and other
related towns into The Kilns. He was only 40 years old when the war began, and he tried
to re-enter military service, offering to instruct various trainees; however, his offer was not
acknowledged. He rebuffed the recruiting office's suggestion of writing columns for the
Ministry of Information in the press, as he did not want to "write untruths" to deceive the
enemy. C.S. Lewis served later on in the regional Home Guard in Oxford. It was also
during the same period that he was summoned to become first President of the Oxford
Socratic Club in January 1942, a position that he enthusiastically held until he resigned
on appointment to Cambridge University in 1954.
Lewis later on corresponded with Joy Davidman Gresham, who is an American writer of
Jewish background, a former Communist, who converted from atheism to Christianity.
She was separated from her alcohol-dependent and sadistic husband, novelist William L.
Gresham, and arrived in England with David and Douglas, her two sons. Lewis at first
regarded her as an agreeable intellectual companion and personal friend, and it was on
this level that he agreed to enter into a civil marriage contract with her so that she could
continue to live in the UK. The civil marriage took place at the register office, which is
located at 42 St Giles', Oxford, on 23 April 1956. Lewis's brother Warren wrote: "For Jack
the attraction was at first undoubtedly intellectual. Joy was the only woman whom he had
met... who had a brain which matched his own in flexibility, in width of interest, and in an
analytical grasp, and above all in wit and a sense of pleasure.
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C.S. Lewis passed away on November 22, 1963, due to kidney failure, which was a week
before he turned 65 years old. His works are, and will continue to be, remembered by
many. Lewis’s life story, which is the focus of several biographies and works, is another
good reason to be more fascinated with him. We are interested in his works because of
his identity, faith, and how eloquent and delightful his words are. His works, including
Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, The Four Loves, and The Screwtape Letters, to
name a pertinent few Christian literature, for me, are some of his best contributions to
Christianity. It encourages people to think, reason, and decide for themselves on their
own religious faith, through various perspectives. His works make use of logic and critical
thinking, which perform a crucial role in contributing to the cognitive development of
everyone. He had also written an autobiography, Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My
Early Life in 1955. Let us now summarize some of his works.
Mere Christianity is about C.S. Lewis’ eloquent defense of Christian faith. It uses
reasoning, logic, and critical thinking to verify God’s authority. It expounds on Christianity
to individuals who are skeptical, offering a philosophical approach in order for readers to
understand and familiarize themselves and others to basic Christian doctrines. Lewis
points out what he calls the Law of Human Nature, or a universal, absolute truth. In other
words, the book explains his spiritual journey and takes the readers to their own as well.
The Screwtape Letters is another powerful work by him. Screwtape, an experienced devil,
instructs Wormwood on effective strategies for tempting the person being designated to
him and assuring he continues on a steady path toward damnation. The central idea of
The Screwtape Letters is the battle between good and evil, as well as faith and
steadfastness in Christian life.
The Problem of Pain is about the problem of evil, as well as suffering. Lewis argues that
pain and suffering are insufficient excuses to reject one’s belief in God. The book seeks
to reconcile God’s power and goodness.
A Grief Observed is a collection of C. S. Lewis's reflections on the experience of mourning
after his wife, Joy Davidman, died. It was originally published in 1961, under the name
N.W. Clerk. In this work, he questioned the fundamentals of faith because he experienced
despair and grief.
The Four Loves, on the other hand, explains all four types of love, which are Agape (love
for God), Storge (love for family), Philia (friendly love), and Eros (romantic love). It
explores the nature of love from both Christian and philosophical standpoints.
The Space Trilogy comprises of three novels. The three novels as mentioned on page 3,
are a series of science-fiction stories which are also titled as “Cosmic Trilogy”. Elwin
Ransom, a philologist, is the protagonist of the first two novels and plays a very crucial
role in the third novel. A philologist is one who studies the history and origin of languages.
It also relates to Christianity, only in the sense that it also includes and correlates science
to some pertinent Biblical imagery and concepts.
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The Chronicles of Narnia is his most famous work which is a series of fantasy novels.
There are seven novels in its entirety, in which only three had been adapted into films.
They basically tackle the theme of good and bad. Aslan, the talking lion in the stories,
symbolizes God because he is equivalent to His Son as the “Lion of Judah”.There are
also life lessons from the novels we can apply daily. Other takeaways from the series are
bravery, courage, and heroism, as well as the importance of friendship and fighting for
what you believe in. Another lesson we can apply is when we allow the world to influence
us, it will be harder to see and follow Him. We should also follow God regardless of
whatever our friends or other people are doing, and embrace who we are as we are
created in His image.
What I can continue to apply from his well-known works are wisdom and self-awareness.
As a mature and prudent individual, I am much more aware of my thoughts, words,
actions, and behaviors. I try not to be easily tempted like I was in the past. I exercise
discipline and self-control over my own desires. Between good and bad, I weigh carefully
about what I am about to do before I decide whether to perform that particular action or
not. For example, in the rare case that the person that I trust influences me negatively, I
exercise my own judgment and try to avoid that person. I also think first before I talk to
someone, because my words may influence the other person negatively. I am able to
control my temptations, privileges, and yearnings. After reading about C.S. Lewis’
biography, I am encouraged to use my God-given talents for good, even if it is just in a
smaller scale, compared to him.
To me, C.S. Lewis’ works are truly influential and powerful. He strives to show us the
balance between science and religion, with regards to beliefs and teachings. He has
strong Christian faith and he writes about science without losing his Christianity. This is a
very difficult thing to do when one is a well-known author. He was ridiculed and criticized,
yet he soldiered on to spread his Christianity using his talents. C.S. Lewis is more than
just the author of Narnia. With his multitude of works, he is an educator, a Christian, and
a beacon for Christianity.
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References and Readings

https://www.quora.com/Why-was-C-S-Lewis-very-much-as-a-skeptic-and-critic-of-
scientism-Was-he-against-science
C.S. Lewis Biography. Biography Online. Accessed November 24, 2021.
https://www.biographyonline.net/writers/c-s-lewis.html
C.S. Lewis, Wikipedia. Accessed November 23, 2021.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._S._Lewis
C.S. Lewis Eternal Legacy. cslewis.com Accessed November 30, 2021.
https://www.cslewis.com/c-s-lewiss-eternal-legacy/
Hornor, Katie. 7 Life Lessons from the Lion of Narnia. Paradise Praises. Accessed
December 1, 2021.
https://paradisepraises.com/lion-of-narnia/
Brown, Devin. A Life Observed: A Spiritual Biography of C. S. Lewis. Brazos Press.
2013.