Co-creators 3

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

Like most of us, you have probably been amazed at the unexpected art forms people create which turn up on social media. Human beings can create art out of just about anything (ex: musical instruments out of junkyard trash). Creativity of different kinds is built into us, sort of a family trait from our Creator.

Whether it's a song, a drawing, or landscape design, or a movie, etc., we deeply respond to it when the artist embodies in his own art some reflection of eternal Beauty or Wisdom. His or her love of that wisdom or beauty is what drives it.

C. S. Lewis (in his fiction, The Great Divorce) describes the motivation of a painter: "When you painted on earth--at least in your earlier days--it was because you caught glimpses of Heaven in the earthly landscape. The success of your painting was that it enabled others to see the glimpses too."

from Deeper Magic: the Theology Behind the Writings of C. S. Lewis 

Special note: If C. S. Lewis interests you, plan to see a new movie that will be shown in some theaters about his life and journey from atheism to Christian faith on November 3. "The Most Reluctant Convert" was filmed in and around Oxford by a British director.

Free speech 7

 (cont'd from yesterday's post)

Lewis was a professor at Magdalen College in Oxford when someone else started the Socratic Club and asked him to be its first president in 1942. Its purpose was to apply the Socratic  principle to one specific matter: the pros and cons of Christianity.

They "scoured Who's Who" to invite well-qualified atheists to come and present their arguments. They wanted to listen - to hear not the weakest, but rather the best arguments that the other side had to offer. The case in favor of Christianity would also be heard.

Magdalen College, Oxford

Inaccurate misunderstandings may drive bitter division between the two sides, especially (Lewis said) in a "large and talkative community" like the university. This format would produce clarity. Some say that religion is too sacred to be debated publicly. Lewis said that it absolutely must be talked about.

In controversial issues, both sides think themselves right and the other side wrong. Let's not silence the other side, but hear and answer it. Civilly and respectfully.

We are spiritual beings. We want to know the truth.

from God in the Dock, pp 126-128

Free speech 6

Atheist C. S. Lewis experienced what Jesus Christ called being "born again" and became a believer in 1931. Because of his influential writing and speaking, he's now called the greatest Christian apologist of the 20th century. That does not mean he apologized for Christianity, but rather that he explained why it is true.

As an Oxford professor in the UK, he also served as president of the Oxford Socratic Club from 1942 until 1954. The Club's inspiration was Socrates' principle to bravely follow an argument or a claim wherever the evidence leads, even though it may point to an idea you don't like. 

Why would someone do that? Because they want to know the truth, even if it doesn't confirm their own opinion. The Club applied that principle, pursue the truth bravely, to Christianity.

from God in the Dock, pp. 126-128

(cont'd tomorrow)

Liberty & Lewis

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

C.S. Lewis was a proponent of civil liberty, for much the same reason that I am: who is to say that one person (or some group) will make better decisions for your life than you? Who is so superior that we should trust them to run our lives for us?

He's talking about oppressive government, socialism/dictatorship - power seized by "a small, highly disciplined group of people  . . I do not think any group good enough to have such power. They are men of like passions with ourselves."

image of King James VI of Scotland

"For every Government consists of mere men."  Think of some past European monarchs who claimed a "divine right" to their throne, their rule over other men and women. No one thinks today that they were superior beings. They were at least as flawed as me and you.

The traditional American way is the way of free and civil debate, grounded in personal virtue and a conscience trained by churches that teach the Bible. Note to my global readers - as you may know, this is less and less a description of today's America.

Memorial to Lewis

Within Westminster Abbey in London (founded 960 A.D.), there is a "Poets' Corner" for the commemoration of distinguished authors, composers, politicians, etc.  Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Benjamin Disraeli, and many others have a memorial or a burial place there.  Needless to say, it is an honor.

Last Friday, November 22, a memorial was ceremonially placed there for C. S. Lewis on the 50th anniversary of his death.

A wonderful video here will give you an idea of the significance of Lewis' influence ("C. S. Lewis:  Why He Matters Today").  Asbury University Lewis scholar Devin Brown, one of the 24-minute video's creators, says that Lewis demonstrated in his own life what it means to be a Christian in today's world.  You'll see comments from Chuck Colson, Eric Metaxas, author Tim Keller and many others.

Mere Christianity

(cont'd, C. S. Lewis)

The British people must have felt lonely after most of Europe had either allied with Nazi Germany or been defeated by them.  America didn't enter the war until December 1941,  so most of that year the British stood by themselves.  The radio voice they most recognized was that of Winston Churchill, and the radio voice who became second most recognized came on for the first time in August:  C. S. Lewis.

BBC radio wanted him as a non-clergyman to give several series of talks on the basic Christian faith.  A gifted Oxford scholar, he chose not to speak like a professor but rather to speak to all Britons in a tone of "common sense" (as The Guardian put it).  The book, Mere Christianity, puts all the talks together.

"Right and Wrong:  A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe" was the first series because,  sensibly, Lewis did not assume that all his listeners were on board with Biblical principles. He built the case that natural moral law is pretty much the same in different human cultures, as if that law is built into human hearts by our Creator.

Only one of his broadcast talks survived WWII that I'm aware of, and here it is.  In this talk he answers the question, "how can God listen to all people's prayers at the same time?"

Weight of Glory

(cont'd, C. S. Lewis)

"Weight of Glory" is now read as an essay though it first was a talk that Lewis gave at a church in Oxford, England, in 1941.  Maybe part of the reason why it is popular is its unusual approach:  the argument for God from desire.  

Everyone has probably had the experience of greatly desiring something and getting it - but then finding it disappointing, not the satisfaction that you hoped.

It's a common thing, and Lewis thought it could be a clue to what we're made for:  this world is not our ultimate home and our deepest longings can't be fulfilled by earthly pleasures but only in fellowship with God.

 " . . nearly every description [in the New Testament] of what we shall ultimately find if we [deny ourselves and follow Christ]  contains an appeal to desire. . Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

Ross Douthat, columnist at the NY Times, had some comments about "Weight of Glory" last week.

RIP C.S. Lewis

Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the death of C.S. Lewis, professor at Oxford University and Cambridge University, and one of the most admired and quoted authors of the twentieth century.

Brilliant atheist until the age of about 32, he went on to be a brilliant and influential Christian thereafter.  His own autobiography, Surprised by Joy, and many biographies attribute his conversion to a combination of rigorous thought and a captivated literary imagination - he fell in love with the Christian narrative about the God who loved humanity sacrificially.

If you haven't read his fiction, apologetics, essays, talks, and need to get started, I could recommend a few of my favorites:  The Chronicles of Narnia (series of children's fiction - but adults love them), Mere Christianity (down-to-earth explanation of generic Christianity), The Weight of Glory (his most popular essay), Screwtape Letters (witty fictional training letters from a senior demon of hell to his trainee).