C.S. Lewis: from theism to Christianity
BackC.S. Lewis: It must be understood that my conversion at that point was only to theism pure and simple. I knew nothing yet about the incarnation. The God to whom I surrendered was sheerly non-human.
C.S. Lewis: [Reading from Chesterton] A great man knows he is not God and the greater he is, the better he knows it. The gospels declare that this mysterious maker of the world has visited his world in person. The most that any religious prophet has said was that he was the true servant of such a being. But if the creator was present in the daily life of the Roman empire, that is something unlike anything else in nature. It is the one great startling statement that man has made since he spoke his first articulate word. It makes dust and nonsense of comparative religion.
C.S. Lewis: As I drew near to Christianity, I felt a resistance almost as strong as my previous resistance to theism. As strong but shorter lived for I understood it better. But each step, one had less chance to call one's soul one's own.
C.S. Lewis: What Tolkien showed me was this — that if I met the idea of sacrifice in a pagan story I didn't mind it at all — I was mysteriously moved by it. The reason was that in pagan stories I was prepared to feel the myth as profound. Now the story of Christ is simply a true myth.
C.S. Lewis: I know very well when but hardly how the final step was taken. I went with my brother to have a picnic at Whipsnade Zoo. We started in fog, but by the end of our journey the sun was shining. When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and when we reached the zoo I did. I had not exactly spent the journey in thought. Nor in great emotion. It was more like when a man, after a long sleep, becomes aware that he is now awake.
Channel: People & Blogs
Uploaded: March 24, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Author: EXPERIENCINGGOD
Length: 00:07:36
Rating: 4.75
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Tags: C.S. Lewis Conversion Theism Incarnation God Son Jesus Christ Religion Christianity Spirit Bible New Testament Gospel
Video Comments:
CanucksFan007 (December 31, 2008 at 3:54 pm)
Gospel of Luke Ch 2 & 3(specific identifiable facts of time/place). First...Caesar Augustus commands a census, Quirinius was governor at the time of Syria, later in the 15th year reign of Tiberius Caesar WHEN Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip was Tetrarch of Iturea/Traconitis, & Lysanias of Abilene. Further.. Annas & Caiaphas were BOTH (freak occurence) High Priest in Jerusalem. Every..EVERY one of these is an identifiable fact..not myth
johnthekeys (January 2, 2009 at 5:39 am)
Let's see. Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the fourth century. The Holy Roman Empire became the guiding power for Christianity. The Bible we know today was edited and compiled by roman scholars and was written in latin. So why exactly would it be remarkable for them to know their own well documented history?
If you want someone to believe in a myth (or a lie) the best way to do it is to mix in as much truth as you can. It's shrewd but it doesn't make the myth real.
If you want someone to believe in a myth (or a lie) the best way to do it is to mix in as much truth as you can. It's shrewd but it doesn't make the myth real.
thehistorysage (December 29, 2008 at 9:40 am)
This accent is dodgy. Lewis was Irish and commented once how foreign and caustic the local accent seemed to him when he first arrived in England.
Bandfred (December 30, 2008 at 6:18 pm)
I just noticed that. Heh
johnthekeys (December 26, 2008 at 5:33 pm)
Hi Banfred
You seem to be a pretty tolerant person, and I respect that at lot. What ever your beliefs I think a respect in other people's views is a virtue.
I understand your view of Dawkins although I don't share it. I think he is standing up more to people who are dogmatic and bigoted, not tolerant and open to differing views like you.
John
You seem to be a pretty tolerant person, and I respect that at lot. What ever your beliefs I think a respect in other people's views is a virtue.
I understand your view of Dawkins although I don't share it. I think he is standing up more to people who are dogmatic and bigoted, not tolerant and open to differing views like you.
John
Bandfred (December 29, 2008 at 9:38 pm)
Someone who attacks Harry Potter and The X Files under the guise of "promoting reason" and says my parents are evil child abusers in teaching me about religion deserves no respect from me.
johnthekeys (December 31, 2008 at 9:25 am)
At least he's not condemning you to everlasting hell and damnation for not believing in his point of view. And as much as I like the X Files, it IS a program without reason. Mulder was alway right, science and reason was always wrong, and superstitious belief was ALWAYS true. I can't stand Harry Potter either, but thats more from the fact that I think it's overrated rubbish, not anything to do with the philosophy behind it. And yes I also think teaching children about hellfire is child abuse.
johnthekeys (December 26, 2008 at 5:22 pm)
Hi Banfred
I don't share your belief in God. I'm not sure a God exists. I'm a technical agnostic, almost atheist. Having said that, I'd like to believe in your point of view. There's hope in it. Being good and being rewarded seems a good doctrine to me. What you are actually saying is being a good person you get to heaven. That's not such a bad idea. I don't really believe in heaven, but I do believe in being a good person.
I don't share your belief in God. I'm not sure a God exists. I'm a technical agnostic, almost atheist. Having said that, I'd like to believe in your point of view. There's hope in it. Being good and being rewarded seems a good doctrine to me. What you are actually saying is being a good person you get to heaven. That's not such a bad idea. I don't really believe in heaven, but I do believe in being a good person.
superstudjock (January 6, 2009 at 7:26 am)
The thing is there are no good people on this planet, because we all have broken the ten commandments which means we are sinners, that's where Jesus comes in, he pay's the price of our sins so we can have everlasting life if we believe him. Doesn't matter how "good" or "bad" you where.
johnthekeys (December 26, 2008 at 5:04 pm)
Despite my previous comment I love CS Lewis's writing, his fiction, and his religious writings. Shadowlands is one of my favourite plays/films.