www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West C. S. Lewis not an Orthodox!

I am astounded by the conclusions, but apparently the evidence is quite compelling: It appears that C. S. Lewis was an Anglican and not Orthodox [theoniondome.com] . Who would have thunk it?

Yeah, he wasn't Lutheran either, much to the chagrin of my Lutheran colleagues in college... I guess everyone wants to claim him!

I love C.S. Lewis' book, "The Screwtape Letters." Using humor C.S. shows how Satan deceives us with the traps he sets for Christians.

Paul

Yes, and American evangelicals consider him one of theirs. And there have been whole books written on why he, inconceivably, did not become a Roman Catholic [that Ulster Protestant prejudice, you know].

He was on his way to Rome unfortunately death intervened.
Stephanos I

I think the Onion Dome is great!

I love the irony, I'm sure there are a few of us here that could contribute some articles to that august publication!

MichaEL

Oh Boy MichaEL

I'm glad it's not just me that can mispost

isnt it great, Michael??? I have found many opportunities to shout the fictional Father Vasily's famous cri de coeur "IS OUTRAGE!", much to the bemusement of friends and family

It's out of print, but *C. S. Lewis and the Church of Rome* (I think the author was Christopher Derrick) is still well worth reading. Incognitus

another C. S. Lewis:

C. S. Lewis and the Catholic Church
by Joseph Pearce (Paperback - December 2003)

This is probably very heretical and schismatic of me, but I think Mr. Lewis has brought more people into the Church of Rome because he was NOT a Roman Catholic, than he would have if he had converted.

There are so many converts who credit his books as being their first exposure to the doctrines of sacramental Catholicism, who would never have picked them up if they'd thought he himself was a Catholic.

When I began the Space Trilogy I was a new agey-hippie-hindu pantheist. When I completed it I was a fairly orthodox [small "o"] Christian. He truly opened my eyes. However it was Chesterton more than anyone who prepared my way to a return to Catholicism.

Not so! It's a very good observation!
I agree!

It's nice to see that you are posting again.

C.S. Lewis has been a favorite author of mine. I think the Screwtape letters would make a great basis for a discussion group, read a few letters and discuss.

I can only reflect from memory because I don't have anything to reference at the moment. Part of his appeal is that he deliberately attempted to avoid identification with any denominational stance, and yet be true to the core traditional Christian faith.

It's amazing that once one concentrates on the traditional values and beliefs that Christians have held in common (in the way Lewis did) they approach a very orthodox position.

Lewis was helpful in anchoring my spirituality as a Christian. One of his major influences was a minister named George McDonald, I would love to read his work.

Lewis was a contemporary of Evelyn Waugh and J.R.R. Tolkein among many others of the literary movement toward Catholicism in England, a real golden age of thought and he was right in the midst of it.

This was also the age of Ronald Knox and Frank Sheed, and I think just a little behind Chesterton and Romano Guardini, real giants of the times.

C.S. Lewis (like so many of us) endured a great deal of heartache too, he was one great man. Come to think of it, the church of England could really use another C.S. Lewis right now.

MichaEL
that sinner

No, it is a fair observation.

I took a course on Tolkien and Lewis in college, after returning from a study abroad stint at Oxford where I spent far too much time at the Eagle & Child (you Tolkien and Lewis fans know what place I mean).

I'm a huge fan of Lewis. Many of the students in my class were not Christian - it was an interesting way for the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu students to learn something about Christianity through literature. Although the Space Trilogy was read by all, most of the students were really far more interested in "The Screwtape Letters" and "The Abolition of Man."

Tolkien was a Catholic. But he didn't "carry a Cross" down the pages in quite the way that Lewis did. (I know that this IS probably heretical and schismatic of me to say, but I'm not totally enamored of Tokien. Sorry!)

Dear Annie,

Actually, I always began my religion classes with the story about how C.S. Lewis converted to Christianity.

As an atheist, he insisted that the world did not make sense.

But then he thought, "If the world doesn't make sense, and I'm part of the world, then I would never know whether it made sense or not."

In other words, to say the world doesn't make sense is to make sense of it.

That led him on the road that eventually brought him to God.

That story has enlivened the faith of many a student of mine!

Alex