A worldview offers an explanation of the important featuresphenomena of life and the world. Providing greater insight into the atheistic phase of lewis s life than ever before, this book also helps christians learn more about what leads someone to atheism and how to witness the christian faith to them. It is an allegory, patterned after pilgrims progress, which tells the story of a man on his way to christ. Clive staples lewis 29 november 1898 22 november 1963 was a british writer and lay. Lewis left his childhood christian faith to spend years as a determined atheist. Lewiss thought 1 of 3 links to parts 2 and 3 are provided in the applicable posts.
Nov 22, 20 lewis came first to theism and some time later to faith in christ. Lewis wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. Lewis 1898 1963 clive staples lewis was born in 1898, 42 years after freud. In chapter eight of this book i wrote that i was uncertain about whether they. Its easy, and i suppose fashionable, to dismiss past greats casually, especially when theyre mostly known in c. He was a towering intellectual figure, a popular fiction author who inspired a global movie franchise around the world of narnia, and an atheist turnedchristian thinker. What is less commonly known is that before he was a christian, lewis was a passionate atheist. Lewis s own account of his early years reads like a list of books, along with a few people, that shaped his life. Lewis and others who follow the theology of gods timelessness know that it contradicts the biblical account of creation and his active participation in human history.
He is best known for his childrens classic series the chronicles of narnia. Thereafter his thinking often expressed the common motif that the christstory was the ultimate story in which alone the longings and redemptionpatterns in all great stories and myths were historically realized. One of the young soldiers with his back to the wall was second lieutenant clive staples lewis. Lewis and the search for rational religion atheism. Developing a deep friendship with his fallen friends mother, jane king moore, lewis moved into the moore household after the war. Along with his older brother and close companion warren, clive or jack, as he preferred to be called grew.
Christian theism i have a challenge for christians. Apr 16, 2017 the author of narnia, cs lewis is one of the most incredible writers of all time. Lewis was born in belfast in 1898, the younger of two sons. Lewis is the spiritual homecoming story of clive staples lewis, a careful and thoughtful scholar who spent fifteen years journeying the long road from atheism to theism and, eventually, to christianity. Clive staples lewis was born in 1898, 42 years after freud. Lewis spent part of his life denying gods existence and claiming he was an atheist. This is the story of his pilgrimage to christianity. Lewis argues for theism based on what is true internally of us, rather than argument from design.
Cs lewis vs the new atheists was a quick, informative, fun and good read. Downings latest book is looking for the king, a historical novel featuring c. Good books for a skeptic agnosticatheist whos interested. Rather his christian books are compelling precisely because he spent so many years as an unbeliever. This is ultimately a book about a clash of worldviews. After finally admitting god existed, lewis gave in and knelt in prayer to. When i referenced hecks book, from atheism to christianity. Having authored popular works including mere christianity, the screwtape letters, and the chronicles of narnia, he is indisputably one of christianitys most beloved authors of. An oxford don and former atheist who converted to christianity in 1931, he gained a wide following during the 1940s as the author of a number of popular apologetic books such as mere christianity, miracles, and the problem of pain in which he argued for the truth of christianity. Lewis turned to theism in 1930 although lewis misdated it to 1929 in surprised by joy and to christianity in 1931, partly with the help of his close friend and devout roman catholic j. By 1911 or 1912, with the additional influence of a spiritually unorthodox boarding school matron, lewis rejected christianity and became an avowed atheist. After finally admitting god existed, lewis gave in and knelt in prayer to become what he described later as the most dejected and reluctant convert in all england. Theism, the view that all limited or finite things are dependent in some way on one supreme or ultimate reality of which one may also speak in personal terms. Lewis is widely known as one of the worlds most famous christians.
C s lewis from atheism to theism, and then from theism to. Lewis was raised in a religious home but after her death lewis was. Lewis used reasoning to defeat the arguments of atheism in his book, miracles. The most reluctant convert i read an extremely interesting account of cs lewis journey to faith recently and felt compelled to share it with you. Jul 15, 20 can anybody recommend a book for my atheist friend. New cs lewis documentary follows his journey from atheism. Lewisa life, alister mcgrath, prolific author and respected professor at kings college of london, paints a definitive portrait of the life of c. But then nullifies reasoning in his defense of a timeless eternity in his book, mere christianity. Lewis was an author, essayist and christian apologist. In the same book, he affirmed his belief in the virgin birth of christ.
Lewis argument against atheism is a joke and heres why i was casually scrolling through my facebook feed this evening only to stumble across a post containing c. Just as a counterweight to the other answers, its important to note that lewis most popular works are also his least representative. This coincidence was the inspiration for peter kreefts book between heaven and hell. Lewis especially enjoyed christian author george macdonald. Lewis was born in belfast, ireland, on november 29, 1898. Lewis explained bluntly to a christian friend hed known since childhood, i believe in no religion. Providing greater insight into the atheistic phase of lewiss life than ever before, this book also helps christians learn more about what leads someone to atheism and how to witness the christian faith to them. Watch his amazing journey from atheism to the theism and how he came across the gospel and gave his life to god. Clive staples lewis was born in belfast, ireland, on 29 november 1898. The writer of popular works such as the chronicles of narnia series for children has also touched the world with his biographical journey to christianity. The god to whom i surrendered was sheerly nonhuman. Lewis books and biography free pdf books from bookyards, one of the worlds first online libraries to offer ebooks to be downloaded for free.
However, he was not a true atheist and actually went full circle in his beliefs as he searched for truth and meaning in his life. Yet lewis was one of the most popular and respected christian authors of the 20th century. This article explores approaches to theism in western. He concludes that atheism of the strong or intense type is to a substantial degree. New from concordia publishing house, from atheism to christianity.
Christianity today weekly weeklyctweekly delivers the best content from to your inbox each week. This is the story of how one of the worlds most famous atheists became one of its most famous christians. Lewis argument against atheism is a joke and heres why. Lewis turned bitter toward religion early in life, catalyzed by the apparent ineffectiveness of his prayers to prevent his mothers death when he was 10. I was surprised to learn that cs lewis was an atheist prior to becoming one of the most widely read christian authors in history. It must be understood that my conversion at that point was only to theism pure and simple. Lewis s book a grief observed describes his experience of bereavement in such a raw and personal fashion that he originally released it under the pseudonym n.
In 1919 lewis published his first book, a cycle of lyrics captioned spirits in bondage, which. If one of them died, the survivor would take care of his familya promise lewis honored. Its a challenge few will take up, but let me offer it anyway, even though many expert christian apologists have done it without a loss of faith. I was casually scrolling through my facebook feed this evening only to stumble across a post containing c. What his life and literature reveal for todays culture. Christianity, cs lewis, from atheism to theism, from theism to christianity, god, headington hill, how c s lewis became a christian, jesus, lewis, peter kreeft, walter hooper. Barfield had converted from atheism to theism, then finally christianity, and. C s lewis was an atheist until in his 30s and then he was first converted to theism a belief in god and then to christianity. Lewis was born into a bookish family of protestants in belfast, ireland. Good books for a skeptic agnostic atheist whos interested in learning more about christianity with an open mind. Lewis, and the challenges of faith that lewis faced a man who would later become a powerhouse of influence in the christian world with both his fiction and nonfiction writings for children and adults it helped to normalize how she felt.
Lewis stayed with the traditional christian belief that christ was fully god and fully human during his life on earth. He was born in belfast, north ireland into a protestant ulster family. May 06, 2016 the then atheist professor lewis read the everlasting man in the mid1920s and later described the book as a major contribution to his journey away from atheism and his conversion to theism. The author of narnia, cs lewis is one of the most incredible writers of all time. A short on the argument from desire goethe, lewis, kreeft lessons in the psalms. Nov 30, 2014 the most reluctant convert i read an extremely interesting account of cs lewis journey to faith recently and felt compelled to share it with you. Life with god is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties. The second man fears the dog because it has a black coat, and he was once bitten by a black dog in childhood. Lewis s space trilogy, i looked forward to reading his new book, the most reluctant convert, the fascinating story of c. We all want progress, but if youre on the wrong road, progress means doing an about turn and walking back to the right road.
These are life and death issues, and we are involved, like it or not, and must decide. The film leads viewers through the process of his arguing that life was designed by a higher being but it also features the part of his life when he viewed all things through an atheist s perspective. Lewiss most distinguished and popular accomplishments include mere christianity, out of the silent planet, the great divorce, the screwtape letters, and the universally acknowledged classics. Other answers here do not address his central work on the topic of his philosophy and skepticism, which is a pilgrims regress. Considering theism in general and christianity in particular to be proved beyond all reasonable doubt, lewis states that he. In the west, the atheist worldview is often expressed in naturalism. Cphs from atheism to christianity tells story of c. Lewis turned bitter toward religion early in life, catalyzed by the apparent. Watch his amazing journey from atheism to the theism and. Lewis turned to theism in 1930 although lewis misdated it to 1929 in surprised by joy and to christianity in 1931, partly with the help of his close friend.
Lewis teaches us about losing faith and finding it. The reason why i am bringing up this book is how cs lewis was lead to being a christian. Returning to oxford, the twentythreeyear old lewis then a staunch atheist struggled to adapt to life in postwar. Posted by matthew steven bracey on nov 19, 2012 2 comments. Cs lewis documentary the life story from atheism to theism. Lewis tells a story about two men who both think that a certain dog is dangerous. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. After thoroughly examining recently published lewis correspondence, alister challenges some of the previously held beliefs about the exact timing of lewis s shift from atheism.
In judaism, christianity, and islam, this ultimate reality is often called god. This next you tube is a brief excerpt from the book by cs lewis titled surprised by joy, speaking about his spiritual conversion from atheism. Lewis was a prolific irish writer and scholar best known for his chronicles of narnia fantasy series and his prochristian texts. A cumulative case for theism may be built, he believes, and the traditional theistic argumentssome of which shall be examined in this volumeare a part of that case. Ironically, many friends recommended the book to lewis as a method for dealing with his own grief. The book argues more for the possibility of a creator more than specifics of biblical doctrine, but. Lewis was one of the most influential christian apologists of the 20th century. Upon having this realization, lewis embraced his christian roots that he was raised with and came to the conclusion that god, in fact, did exist. Mar 01, 20 ecpa 2014 christian book award winner nonfiction. Lewis the problem of pain is another attempt at christian theodicy, the defense of gods goodness in the face of the worlds evil, written by the wellknown pop theologian and author.
Mere christianity is more of an explanation of what basic christianity is than a work of apologetics, though there is always that element in lewis s writings. Clive staples lewis was born on 29 november 1898 and lived until 22 november 1963. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. Lewis relates lewis journey from atheist to christian. It makes dust and nonsense of comparative religion.
Lewis had rejected christianity in his early teens and lived as an atheist through his 20s. The first man holds this opinion because he has often seen it muzzled and has noticed that the mailman avoids that house. In the following years, lewis moved from theism into the thing itself, the gospel of jesus christ. Indeed, i must have been as blind as a bat not to have seen, long before, the ludicrous contradiction between my theory of life.
New cs lewis documentary follows his journey from atheism to. Today, we celebrate clive staples jack lewis 18981963. Lewis argument against atheism is a joke and heres. Lewis converted at age 33 to christianity and devoted much of the rest of his life to writing about faith. Clerk to keep readers from associating the book with him.
Lewiss space trilogy, i looked forward to reading his new book, the most reluctant convert, the fascinating story of c. Peter s williams does a great job in reviving cs lewis works to bring them to todays debate concerning the existence of god and to counter the claims of the new atheists. Today in christian history dailya daily newsletter featuring the most. Lewis would survive the storm and steel of the first world war.