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| English Professor and Author, Clive Staples Lewis |
C.S. Lewis - The Reluctant Convert
by R.E. Slater
Recently I viewed "The Most Reluctant Convert" in the theaters on November 20, 2021, after its release date on November 3. I cannot say I am a Clive Staples Lewis fan although I did my obligatory readings of several of his authored writings in my collegiate days. Where nuance of the English tongue is wanted I much prefer Lewis' Inkling friend J.R.R. Tolkien. In fact, I have most of Tolkien's books and have read many of them.
Lewis, on the other hand, was more of an oddity to me. His friend, Sheldon Vanauken, who wrote "A Severe Mercy," of his wife's death was probably my first glimpse of Lewis. After that, Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters, A Grief Observed, and much later, Shadowlands, were my next and last readings of Lewis, but never Surprised by Joy, which tells of the famous author's reluctant journey into Christianity.
To be frank - and this can be chalked up to my own philosophical and theological outlooks - any of Lewis' children's tales I have disliked intensely as silly pandering to Christianity's eschatological envisioning of the future which I find a most unhelpful reading of the Old and New Testament Scriptures in mythological portrayal by Lewis. Even so, his adult books have been quite inspirational to the many who read them, and in my young adulthood, I had liked them too. However, for greater depth of reading I would recommend The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer. I believe the classic theistic reader will find Tozer's thoughts to be more deeply inspiring for sheer weight of insight. (Btw, when Google Blogger switched over to its new publisher system all my earlier year's of writings became smaller in font size. To rectify, simply zoom the display +25% and they will be more easily read).
When reading Lewis, everything from his pen sounds deeply philosophical, interlaced with profound somber feelings of introspection and critique of the world as he understood it. Here, in his conversion story, he begins the atheist's journey with many valid arguments against Christianity. Fortunately for him he had Christian friends which put the emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus. Something he couldn't argue well against though well he tried.
And so, I was pleasantly surprised how Lewis' story moved from the philosophical argument to the Christological argument and lastly to his own personal story of a childhood which needed healing in order for his faith to get right and finally settle into a course which much suited his need for faith in turbulent times. A faith that could lay out his being and brought to him a peace he couldn't find in anything else. And most notably a faith which became intensely personal based upon a deeply personal relationship with Jesus.
Below please find a trailer of the Lewis' life (remember it'll be deeply philosophical then Christological... it was how Lewis was... he wasn't an easy conversationalist unless he was hanging around children). Then an interview with the main actor and narrator of the film, John West. And finally... to my surprise again!... a 90 minute piece reciting most of Lewis' book, Surprised by Joy! which I'm listening to as the very dense film dearly requires a second hearing.
Ps. As a film purist, you loose nothing by skipping the film's first 10-15 minutes. It tends to ruin the movie. Afterwards feel free to go back and watch it. You'll see then why I suggest skipping ahead.
Enjoy,
R.E. Slater
November 21, 2021
THE MOST RELUCTANT CONVERT:
THE UNTOLD STORY OF C.S. LEWIS | OFFICIAL TRAILER
Sep 8, 2021
Actor Max McLean Discusses His New C.S. Lewis Film
"The Most Reluctant Convert" with John West
Oct 19, 2021
Actor Max McLean discusses his new film about the life of C. S. Lewis, "The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis," with Discovery Institute Vice President John West, editor of the book "The Magician's Twin: C.S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society." "The Most Reluctant Convert" premieres in theaters in the United States and Canada for one-night only on Nov. 3. For more information, visit https://www.cslewismovie.com. Get a discussion guide for the film at https://www.cslewismovie.com/resources/.
SURPRISED BY JOY ➤ Affirmations of the I AM:
Confidence, Positive Energy, Abundance, Peace & Joy
Jan 22, 2020
The Life of C.S. Lewis
Birthed in Belfast Ireland on Nov. 29, 1898, Clive Staples Lewis (nicknamed Jack) grew up with a profound love for reading novels. A few of his favorites were the Beatrix Potter tales. He had a fascination for writing and displaying his animal tales.
Losing his mother from a young age had a profound effect on Lewis’s life. Without her knowledge and godly influence, he finally walked away from his religion, getting an atheist education under agnostic-and-atheistic schooling later as a teenager.
Serving in World War I, Lewis faced pain and hardship after being injured and continued his search for meaning in existence through his early years of young adulthood. C.S. Lewis eventually came back to God at age 32, heavily affected by the inspirational writings of George McDonald along with other coworkers and friends, including J. R. R. Tolkien and G. K Chesterton.
Since Lewis’s beliefs grew stronger through the years, his writings and operations profoundly touched countless lives during World War II and the years which followed. It was then that a few of his best works were printed. In his later years, C.S. Lewis suddenly met the love of his life, American author, Joy Davidman. Both wed; however, only four years later, he lost his beloved wife to early death. She was just 45. Their romance was told via the award-winning film Shadowlands.
C.S. Lewis - A Bite-Sized Overview
Aug 15, 2019
#Biography
C.S. Lewis: The Friendship That Changed His Life
May 16, 2019
Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), was an Oxford graduate and a British Army Lieutenant for the Somerset Light Infantry. He lead a literary club called, "The Inklings" with one of his closest friends, J.R.R. Tolkien.
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