The C.S. Lewis podcast (Premier)

In the second part of his presentation, Rev Dr Malcolm Guite, Life Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge University shares his thoughts about Lewis' poem 'Reason', looking at his relationship with imagination and rationality. This talk was originally given at a CS Lewis symposium called Now We Have Faces, which was hosted by The CS Lewis Group at Ulster University in coordination with English at Ulster. The title of Malcolm's presentation was ‘A Little Incarnation: CS Lewis and the poetry of embodiment’. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Is CS Lewis relevant today? Can he speak to a post-Christian culture? We hear from Meg Thomson, producer of Freud’s Last Session, a film starring Anthony Hopkins as Sigmund Freud and Matthew Goode as CS Lewis, Dr Jem Bloomfield, an assistant professor at the University of Nottingham and author of Paths in the Snow and Justin Brierley, author of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God. They joined Ruth on a programme called Free Thinking, which was originally broadcast on the BBC in December 2023 and focused on CS Lewis and his impact today. It was presented by Dr Chris Harding, a cultural historian of Japan, India and East-West connections, based at the University of Edinburgh and was produced by Ruth Watts. The BBC have kindly given us permission to republish the clips featured in this show, but we highly recommend you listen to the full programme. Free Thinking airs on BBC radio 4 on Fridays at 9pm and you can also listen online or on podcast via BBC sounds. To listen to the whole episode of this special CS Lewis Free Thinking on BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0gy290n For more on Freud's Last Session, listen to director Matthew Brown speaking to Ruth on episode 163: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-163-matthew-brown-what-would-sigmund-freud-and-cs-lewis-discuss/17843.article For more on New Atheism, check out https://www.premierunbelievable.com/, particularly this episode on Coming To Faith Through Dawkins with atheist Alex O'Connor and Professor Alister McGrath: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/unbelievable/unbelievable-coming-to-faith-through-dawkins-part-2-is-there-a-new-new-atheism-alister-mcgrath-and-alex-oconnor/16306.article To hear further insights from Dr Jem Bloomfield on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on episode 188: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-188-jem-bloomfield-christmas-in-narnia/18656.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In part 1 of our new series on science, Ruth Jackson is joined by Alister McGrath to explore how CS Lewis approached the relationship between science and religion. A former atheist and Oxford-trained scientist, McGrath unpacks how Lewis combined reason and imagination to challenge scientific materialism while affirming science’s value within a broader vision of reality. From Mere Christianity to That Hideous Strength they discuss Lewis’s enduring relevance in today’s science-faith debates. McGrath also shares insights from his forthcoming OUP book on Lewis’s influence in this area. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Associate Professor Sarah Irving-Stonebraker shares how significant CS Lewis was in her journey from atheism to Christianity. As an academic historian, she explores how great books speak to ever-present questions and looks at why the past matters. Why is Lewis still relevant 60 years after his death? To hear Sarah on Unapologetic: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/unapologetic/unapologetic-75-sarah-irving-stonebraker-how-an-atheist-academic-moved-towards-belief-in-god/16608.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Did Jesus have favourites? What does good friendship look like? Can we can call God friend? Why does Lewis consider friendship "the most spiritual of loves"? Is Christian frienship greater than non-Christian friendship? Phil Knox, author of The Best of Friends concludes his conversation on Lewis and friendship. For Phil Knox on Unapologetic: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/unapologetic/unapologetic-69-phil-knox-does-evangelism-matter/16302.article For Professor Alister McGrath on The Four Loves: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-53-the-four-loves/13005.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

How did CS Lewis translate Christianity for ordinary people? What would he say to our post-Christian culture? Can Lewis help with evangelism? In what ways did people apply his ideas to the COVID-19 pandemic? Pastor, author and theologian Dr James Emery White explores how we can draw on Lewis in our modern context. He references many of his works including 'Modern Man and his Categories of Thought' and 'On Living in an Atomic Age', as well as sharing stories from people who knew Lewis personally. For Dr James Emery White: https://www.churchandculture.org/jamesemerywhite + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Would Lewis have any advice for anyone struggling to make sense of their emotions? How do we respond to a culture or a generation who often prioritise emotional truth over rational truth? How do we avoid sentimentality? Are there any ways that Lewis has been particularly powerful spiritual mentor for you personally? How can Lewis’ lived out faith be helpful for us? Professor Alister McGrath continues to explore our emotions and sentimentality in comparison to rational truth. + Let us know what you think at unbelievable@premier.org.uk + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Ruth Jackson shares some of her favourite moments from the podcast to celebrate the 200th episode. We will be revisiting conversations with Alister McGrath discussing CS Lewis' relevance and mental health, hearing stories on how Lewis helped bring people to faith, his correspondence with Kathy Keller, and his impact on the creative works of film director Matthew Brown and singer songwriter Sarah Hawkyard. For Carloyn Webber: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-129-dr-carolyn-weber-surprised-by-oxford/16637.article For Kathy Keller: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-157-kathy-keller-one-of-the-last-people-to-correspond-with-lewis-before-his-death/17625.article For Scott Tuohy: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-178-scott-tuohy-a-lewis-quotation-changed-my-life/18303.article For Professor Alister McGrath (1): https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-175-alister-mcgrath-what-would-lewis-think-of-jordan-peterson/18192.article For Sarah Hawkyard: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-182-sarah-hawkyard-cs-lewis-changed-everything/18443.article For Matthew Brown: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-163-matthew-brown-what-would-sigmund-freud-and-cs-lewis-discuss/17843.article For Professor Alister McGrath (2): https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-134-alister-mcgrath-is-there-an-expiry-date-on-lewis-relevance/16838.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Lewis' life was not a bed of roses. However, he was still able to find joy in dark situations. For example, discovering beauty and friendship in Ireland's Country Louth while his brother Warnie was being nursed there for alcohol addiction. Rev Paul Clayton-Lea, author of CS Lewis and the Wee County shares some fascinating personal stories from the Lewis brothers in a talk given at the CS Lewis Group at Ulster’s spring mini symposium. The event was entitled ‘CS Lewis and the Land of His Birth: Re-rooting Lewis in Ulster & the Island of Ireland’. For the CS Lewis Group at Ulster: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/cs-lewis + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In this episode, host Ruth Jackson speaks with Michael Oppizzi, an educator and cultural apologist, about the enduring relevance of CS Lewis. They discuss Lewis’s impact on faith, imagination, and intellect, with a deep dive into Till We Have Faces, the role of letters in shaping thought, and the significance of cultural apologetics today. From planetary imagery to organic farming, this conversation explores the intersection of literature, theology, and real-world experience. For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Which stories impacted Lewis as a young child? Why is story so important? How does imagination help convey truth? What did Lewis mean by "myth" and how did that impact his thinking? Where did JRR Tolkien help with this? How do we allow the Christian story to shape our own? Professor Alister McGrath explores how we can use Lewis as a resource for our Christian life. To find out more about virtual attendance / streaming for The Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference on 5th-8th September: https://georgefoxuniversity.regfox.com/cs-lewis-conference-virtual-attendance + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien’s Faith explores what JRR Tolkien meant when he described The Lord of the Rings as a "fundamentally religious and Catholic work". Do we see any elements of his faith in the book? Is it possible to discern a theology? Are there any characters Tolkien identified with? plus, how does Leaf by Niggle relate to Tolkien's magnum opus? For Holly: https://hollyordway.com/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Did Lewis want to rewrite some of his earlier work on suffering in light of his own experience of pain and loss? Did Lewis doubt the existence of God or question his character during these times? What words of encouragement would Lewis give to those in the throes of suffering? Dr Philip Tallon, Associate Professor of Theology and Dean of The School of Christian Thought at Houston Christian University, explores A Grief Observed and The Problem of Pain. He also shares how to help younger readers engage with Lewis. For Philip Tallon: https://hc.edu/contact/philip-tallon/  + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

On November 22nd 1963, Clive Staples Lewis – Jack to his friends – died in Oxford, England. 60 years after his death, we discuss whether he is still relevant today. Are any of the accusations levelled against Lewis legitimate? Why does he continue to speak to our rationality and imagination? Plus, Professor Alister McGrath shares the influence Lewis had on his own journey of faith. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Can pain ever be good for us? What about children with cancer? How do we account for animal suffering? Will our pets be in heaven? Does our theology of heaven impact our thoughts around suffering? Dr Philip Tallon, Associate Professor of Theology and Dean of The School of Christian Thought at Houston Christian University, shares his thoughts about Lewis' The Problem of Pain. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Alister McGrath looks at what Lewis thought of women, sexuality and marriage. Are any of the characters in That Hideous Strength based on people Lewis knew? What was he trying to convey through their depiction? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

What did Lewis mean by "big pictures" and how did he use them in his work? How can he help those struggling to find their purpose in life? Why are people so concerned about a lack of coherence and can Lewis be of assistance? Can creeds help us? Professor Alister McGrath explores how Lewis can be a pathfinder and a resource for the Christian life. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

David Bates of Pints With Jack shares his final thoughts with Ruth Jackson about CS Lewis and Christmas. Is there a particular food or drink Lewis would have enjoyed? What advice would he give about surviving the festive season? Plus, which of Lewis’ works would David recommend reading over the holiday period? https://www.pintswithjack.com/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Dr Philip Tallon, Associate Professor of Theology and Dean of The School of Christian Thought at Houston Christian University, unpacks one of Lewis' earliest work of apologetics The Problem of Pain. What are the critiques of this book and can any of these challenges be overcome? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In the final part of their discussion on whether CS Lewis is still relevant 60 years after his death, Professor Alister McGrath and Ruth Jackson ponder whether he also appeals to agnostics, atheists and those of other religions. Plus, is there a modern-day CS Lewis? Where should someone start if they are engaging with Lewis for the first time? And will Lewis ever cease to be relevant? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In the second part of this replay of an Unbelievable show, originally broadcast in October 2010, Justin Brierley speaks to Lewis scholar Dr Michael Ward and former Christian-turned atheist Dan Barker. Here, they continue to discuss CS Lewis' apologetics, focussing particularly on his argument from reason in ‘Miracles’. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

When scaffolder Scott Tuohy heard a quotation from CS Lewis while attending an Alpha course, he was so profoundly moved by it, he got the quote tattooed on his bicep the next day. His life has never been the same since. Here, he shares his story with Ruth Jackson. To find out more about Alpha: https://alpha.org.uk/try-alpha + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Looking at Out of the Silent Planet, Professor Alister McGrath discusses whether nakedness within the book is significant. Plus, they look at whether CS Lewis is drawing on genuine science and the significance of Ransom's name. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA

How can our individual stories find new meaning and significance from Christianity's "grand story"? In what ways did Lewis tell the Christian story? And what can we learn from this? How do we share our own story? Professor Alister McGrath explores how we can use Lewis as a resource for our Christian life and looks at some of Lewis' favourite stories, including The Pilgrim’s Regress. To find out more about virtual attendance / streaming for The Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference on 5th-8th September: https://georgefoxuniversity.regfox.com/cs-lewis-conference-virtual-attendance + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

What did Warnie and Lewis get up to while holidaying in County Louth? How did he encounter leprechauns, fairies and the Holy Ghost? Plus, we hear about some of the key women in Lewis' life: Mrs Moore, Joy and their housekeeper Vera Henry. Rev Paul Clayton-Lea, author of CS Lewis and the Wee County shares the second half of his talk given at the CS Lewis Group at Ulster’s spring mini symposium and answers audience questions. The event was entitled ‘CS Lewis and the Land of His Birth: Re-rooting Lewis in Ulster & the Island of Ireland’. To book a (free) ticket for the live event in Oxford with Professor Alister McGrath on Wednesday 5th February: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cs-lewis-you-never-knew-exploring-meaning-truth-and-technology-tickets-1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator For CS Lewis Group at Ulster: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/cs-lewis + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In this second episode of our mini-series on CS Lewis and science, Ruth Jackson continues the conversation with Professor Alister McGrath. They explore how Lewis challenged the supposed conflict between science and religion, offering instead a richer vision where both disciplines illuminate reality. McGrath discusses Lewis’ evolving views, from early assumptions shaped by cultural narratives to a more mature integration of faith and scientific inquiry. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

On November 22nd 1963, Clive Staples Lewis – Jack to his friends – died in Oxford, England. However, 61 years after his death, is CS Lewis still relevant? We hear from former pastor-turned atheist, Dan Barker, who suggests that many of Lewis’ arguments are fundamentally flawed. Literature professor, Dr Carolyn Weber, highlights where she disagrees with Dan and shares some of her story about coming to faith at Oxford University, in part through CS Lewis.   For Dr Carolyn Weber: https://www.carolynweber.com/about/   For Dan Barker: https://ffrf.org/about/staff-board/item/38960-dan-barker + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Professor Alister McGrath explores the final book of CS Lewis’ space trilogy, That Hideous Strength, looking at some of its key themes, characters and questions. How is it a "modern fairy tale for grownups"? And why is this significant? Was Lewis' narrative influenced by any of the other Inklings, such as JRR Tolkien? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In the second part of Dan Barker and Dr Carolyn Weber's discussion about CS Lewis' relevance, Dan points out some of the holes he perceives in Lewis' beliefs. On the opposite side of the debate, Carolyn shares how she became a Christian, highlighting elements of her story that echo Lewis' own and looking at how Lewis' writing greatly influenced her decision. To hear more of Carolyn's story: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-129-dr-carolyn-weber-surprised-by-oxford/16637.article For Dr Carolyn Weber: https://www.carolynweber.com/about/   For Dan Barker: https://ffrf.org/about/staff-board/item/38960-dan-barker + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

As we delve into the first book of the trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, Professor Alister McGrath looks at some of its key themes. He explores the characters of Weston and Devine, looking at whether they represent particular ideologies and how Lewis exposes issues with their worldviews. Plus, why was JRR Tolkien such a fan of the book? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Professor Alister McGrath continues to explore how we can use CS Lewis as a resource for our Christian life. How did Lewis' conversion change his life? What habits did he put in place to establish a rhythm of life for his faith? In what ways does Lewis speak to Christian academics? What inspiration can writers draw from Lewis? Does he offer any advice for young people living out their Christian faith today? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Hollywood director Matthew Brown, who directed and co-wrote Freud's Last Session, shares his thoughts on two of the greatest minds of the 20th Century. The film, which features Sir Anthony Hopkins, Matthew Goode and Liv Lisa Fries, raises questions about the existence of God, the prevalence of human suffering and the perceived conflict between religion and science. What would Freud and Lewis have spoken about if they had met? How can we model civil conversation with those we vehemently disagree with? What can we learn from Lewis and Freud in today's society? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In the final episode on Out of the Silent Planet, Alister McGrath explores Lewis' depiction of humanity, death, evolution and suffering. He also discusses the framework Lewis provides to help us reflect on these big questions. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Alister McGrath continues to explore questions raised by Lewis' Space Trilogy - were any characters inspired by his "strange" Oxford colleagues? Do we need to understand Medieval renaissance literature in order to read these books? Who is the narrator? What does Lewis think about extra-terrestrial life?,,+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545,+ For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website,+ For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training,+ For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events,+ Support the podcast from the USA

As we approach the one year anniversary of apologist Tim Keller's death on May 19th, we caught up with his wife Kathy Keller who corresponded with CS Lewis as a child. Why did she write to Lewis? How did he respond? What are some of the stories he shared with her? What was it like meeting Warnie Lewis? Plus, we hear the impact of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien on Tim Keller and she answers the question many have been asking: did they speak Elvish at home? For Kathy on Unapologetic: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/shows/unapologetic For Kathy on Unbelievable: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/shows/unbelievable + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

We dive into some of the important issues explored in Lewis’ Space Trilogy. Why was he so vehemently opposed to animal experimentation? What would Lewis say to those experiencing mental health struggles today? Plus, Alister McGrath responds to the accusation that CS Lewis was sexist and racist. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien’s Faith explores what Lewis and Tolkien thought of each other when they first met. How did their friendship blossom? Why was their conversation in Addison's Walk so significant to Lewis' journey back to Christianity? What influence did the two men have on each other? For Holly: https://hollyordway.com/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Looking at Perelendra, Alister McGrath explores key questions raised by CS Lewis: What is good? Should we be frightened of God? What is significant about Ransom's name? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

David Bates and his team at Pints With Jack have helped establish a day to celebrate CS Lewis and his work. His fellow Inkling, JRR Tolkien, already has a special reading day, but "why should the Tolkien nerds have all the fun?"! Listen in to hear why David thinks Lewis is still relevant today and how you can get involved with the inaugural CS Lewis Reading Day on Lewis' birthday - November 29th. https://www.pintswithjack.com/reading-day/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Dr Curtis White's PhD focuses on the relationship, work and theology of CS Lewis and TS Eliot. Here, he highlights some of his thoughts on this topic as well as sharing how Lewis was integral to his own faith journey. White also talks about the upcoming CS Lewis Symposium in Belfast, which John Brown University is providing financial support for. To find out more and book tickets for the CS Lewis Symposium in Belfast on 4th November: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cs-lewis-symposium-belfast-tickets-896372122147 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In this episode, Ruth Jackson speaks with Alister McGrath about Lewis’s views on evolution and science. What did Lewis believe about evolution, and how did he separate it from philosophical naturalism? Did he think evolution could explain things like morality and consciousness? They also explore his concerns about reducing human life to just material causes, and whether he saw a conflict between evolution and Christianity. Finally, they consider how Lewis’s ideas have been received—and whether they still influence thinkers today. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/ + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Alister McGrath unpacks some of the theology within the second book of the Space Trilogy. What was Lewis' understanding of the Fall? What if the Fall hadn't happened? How does he explore the concepts of free will, desire, good, love, truth and demon possession in Perelandra? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Does Lewis' moral argument carry any weight? Is CS Lewis still relevant? If so, is that only for Christians? Are the big questions he raises pertinent today? Is faith rational? Former pastor-turned atheist, Dan Barker and literature professor, Dr Carolyn Weber, discuss Lewis' work and his talents as a writer. To hear more of Carolyn's story: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-129-dr-carolyn-weber-surprised-by-oxford/16637.article For Dr Carolyn Weber: https://www.carolynweber.com/about/   For Dan Barker: https://ffrf.org/about/staff-board/item/38960-dan-barker + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

The microphone is turned on Ruth Jackson as she is interviewed by David Bates from Pints With Jack. Originally broadcast in 2021 just after the launch of The CS Lewis Podcast, Ruth shares the vision behind why and how it started. Plus, shout about the show to win yourself a free copy of CS Lewis: A Life by Professor Alister McGrath. For Pints With Jack: https://www.pintswithjack.com/ To view their interview with Ruth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sb36l_OEyU&t=159s + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

How did CS Lewis live out his Christian faith? What practical tools or approaches can he offer to inform our spiritual practices? How can Lewis help us work out our vocation? Does he have any advice for those experiencing doubt? Professor Alister McGrath explores how we can use Lewis as a resource for our Christian life. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

​How did William Shakespeare influence CS Lewis’ conversion to Christianity? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Sterling College, Kansas, draws connections between Lewis’ faith journey and his engagement with Shakespeare’s works. How do Hamlet and The Winter’s Tale connect to his famous conversation with JRR Tolkien and Hugo Dyson? Were there particular insights Dyson offered Lewis that have previously gone largely unnoticed? Why have both Lewis and Shakespeare stood the test of time? For the ‘CS Lewis You Never Knew’ live event in Oxford: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cs-lewis-you-never-knew-exploring-meaning-truth-and-technology-tickets-1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361 For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/ For Sarah’s article on Lewis’ rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In this final episode on The Space Trilogy, Alister McGrath finishes his discussion on That Hideous Strength, looking particularly at how evil emerges and how we stop technology, such as AI and nuclear weapons, getting out of control. Alister also summarises some of his thoughts on the entire trilogy. What are the key takeaways? Does he have any tips for best engaging with these books? Which related Lewis works would Alister recommend? Plus, we hear some of your comments. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In the final part of this replay of an Unbelievable show, originally broadcast in October 2010, Justin Brierley speaks to Lewis scholar Dr Michael Ward and former Christian-turned atheist Dan Barker. Here, they continue to discuss CS Lewis' apologetics and hone in on what Lewis says about other religions. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Professor Alister McGrath looks at the intended audience of CS Lewis' Space Trilogy and explores some of the influences behind the books, including JRR Tolkien and Charles Williams. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA

Alister McGrath continues to discuss Perelandra, looking particularly at the topics of evil, suffering, sin, demon possession and divine justice. How can God allow suffering? What can be done to redeem evil? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In the second part of his discussion about why The Narnia Chronicles make him cry, evangelist Phil Knox looks at why Prince Caspian contains one of the best definitions of evangelism. He shares how he is moved by the obedience displayed in The Silver Chair and what it means for us today. Plus, what did CS Lewis think would happen to those of other faiths or people who hadn't heard the Christian message (according to The Last Battle)? Hear Phil Knox on the Unapologetic podcast: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/shows/unapologetic Listen to Professor Alister McGrath on The Narnia Chronicles here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-22-an-introduction-to-the-narnia-chronicles/12415.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

60 years after his death people continue to read, use and quote CS Lewis’ apologetics works. In this replay of an Unbelievable show, originally broadcast in October 2010, Justin Brierley speaks to Lewis scholar Dr Michael Ward and former Christian-turned atheist Dan Barker. Here, they discuss Lewis' arguments, focussing particularly on his Natural Law argument for God in ‘Mere Christianity’. Other shows referenced in this programme: Unbelievable? 6 Jun 2009 Narnia & CS Lewis - a skeptic and Christian discuss - Michael Ward & Laura Miller Unbelievable? 5 Dec 2009 - Are we better off free from religion? Atheist Dan Barker vs. Christian Charles Foster + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Ahead of Tolkien Reading Day on 25th March, Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien’s Faith, explores the contrasting spiritual journeys of J.R.R. Tolkien and CS Lewis—both of whom experienced the profound early loss of their mothers. While Tolkien’s faith deepened through suffering, Lewis famously declared that even amid the horrors of World War I, he "never sank so low as to pray." Dr Ordway reflects on Tolkien’s response to suffering, the problem of evil, and the role Lewis played in strengthening his faith. Buy Holly Ordway's wonderful book on Tolkien's faith here https://amzn.to/43QhKoY + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

What were the significant points of contention between Lewis and Tolkien? Where did they differ on theology? How did they respond to each other's fame? What did Tolkien think of The Narnia Chronicles? Why was Lewis' Letters To Malcolm so "horrifying" to Tolkien? Did these two Inklings fall out at the end of Lewis' life? For Holly: https://hollyordway.com/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

How does having a better understanding of a "big picture" give us hope, particularly in the midst of mental health struggles? How can we hold different aspects of our life together? Which travelling companions would Lewis recommend? What would Lewis make of public figures such as Tom Holland, Jordan Peterson and Douglas Murray, who speak about the coherence and positive impact of Christianity? Professor Alister McGrath explores Lewis as a spiritual mentor. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Alister McGrath continues to dive into some of the key themes in the final book of CS Lewis' science fiction trilogy. What will happen to the human race? How can we change our future? What is the point of scientific experimentation? Alister also looks at how Lewis engages with HG Wells. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

How integral was the incarnation for JRR Tolkien? Does Christmas feature in The Lord of the Rings legendarium? How did the Tolkien family celebrate Christmas? Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien’s Faith, shares her thoughts on what Christmas meant to Tolkien and explores a recently discovered poem of his, Noel, which is one of his most overtly Christian works. Listen next week to hear about the imaginative world Tolkien invented when he wrote to his four children as Father Christmas! + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

How did "great myths" shape Lewis' understanding of Christian truth? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Stirling College, Kansas, continues to explore the intriguing intersection between Shakespeare's literary genius and CS Lewis' spiritual journey. Sarah recently presented this paper at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, which was held at George Fox University. The title of Sarah’s paper was 'An Undiscovered Source in Lewis’ Conversion Narrative'. For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361 For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/ For Sarah's article on Lewis' rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

David Bates from Pints With Jack shares some of CS Lewis' thoughts about Christmas. What are some of his key works that elucidate this topic? Did the festive period lose its significance when Lewis became an atheist? Plus, we catch up on how the inaugural CS Lewis Reading Day went last month. https://www.pintswithjack.com/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

What did Lewis say about Christmas? David Bates from Pints With Jack discusses some of Lewis' poetry and prose on this topic. What did he mean by the "commercial racket" of Christmas, how does he depict the incarnation? And what is the significance of Father Christmas in the Narnia Chronicles? https://www.pintswithjack.com/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

We continue our conversation with Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien's Faith. How would Tolkien have celebrated Holy Week? How did he view death? What did Easter and the resurrection mean to him? For Holly: https://hollyordway.com/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Dr Jennifer Woodruff Tait, managing editor of Christian History magazine, shares some of her thoughts around why CS Lewis continues to be so popular. She tells Ruth Jackson why they devoted an entire issue of the magazine to Lewis' family and friends, and reflects on why he has had such a profound impact on her own life as a woman, despite him sometimes being accused of sexism. For Christian History's 'Jack at Home' issue:https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/issue/jack-at-home-ch-140 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Ruth Jackson speaks to David Bates from the Pints With Jack podcast about how a local book club became a popular show and website. They discuss how David's journey with CS Lewis began ("like most people, it began with a wardrobe") and developed. Plus, what are some of the most surprising things he's learnt about Lewis?

We continue our conversation on Perelandra, with Alister McGrath reflecting on questions around pleasure, gender and sex. What is gender? Is pleasure always erotic? What did Lewis mean by "transsexual" in this novel? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

We continue our conversation with Professor Alister McGrath answering live questions, including who influenced Lewis’ faith journey, whether there’s an expiry date on his relevance and how Lewis has impacted Alister’s own theology.  + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Dr Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford, shares her fascinating story of coming to faith from atheism at Oxford University. Her journey, which mimics CS Lewis' own in many ways, has recently been turned into a feature film. What did Lewis mean by "surprised by joy"? Why are stories so powerful? Why has Lewis so often contributed to people's conversions?

In the third part of this replay of an Unbelievable show, originally broadcast in October 2010, Justin Brierley speaks to Lewis scholar Dr Michael Ward and former Christian-turned atheist Dan Barker. Here, they continue to discuss CS Lewis' apologetics, focussing particularly on his classic ‘Trilemma’ - Jesus is either a liar, lunatic or Lord. Other shows referenced in this programme: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/unbelievable/10-oct-2009-jesus-and-the-god-of-israel/12275.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In this episode, Alister McGrath reflects on what Lewis thought about miracles and science. Did he think miracles could make sense in a world ruled by natural laws? Can someone believe in both science and the supernatural? They also look at Lewis’s response to the ideas of HG Wells, who believed science and religion didn’t mix. Were Wells’ views common in Lewis’s time, and do we still see them today? And how might Lewis’s ideas help us think about science and faith today? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/ + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

CS Lewis considered Till We Have Faces his best work, yet it remains one of his least understood. Why did he write it in the 1950s, and why does it still resonate today? In this episode, Ruth Jackson speaks with Michael Oppizzi about the novel’s historical and literary context, its deep psychological and spiritual themes, and how its exploration of self-deception, silence, and the search for truth speaks powerfully to modern readers. They also dive into the presence of medieval planetary imagery in the novel and discuss why Till We Have Faces remains one of Lewis’s most profound—and relevant—works. For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

​Many people don’t even realise CS Lewis wrote science fiction, much less have perused these three colossal volumes. So, why read them? In the first episode of our brand new series on Lewis’ Space Trilogy, Professor Alister McGrath looks at when and why Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength were created and how they can impact our lives today. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA

How did Lewis approach ecstatic experiences, particularly in light of his Ulster Protestant background? Dr David Clare of Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick continues his talk given at the C.S. Lewis Group at Ulster's spring mini symposium. He also answers questions from the live audience. The event was entitled 'C.S. Lewis and the Land of His Birth: Re-rooting Lewis in Ulster & the Island of Ireland'. The title of Dr Clare's talk was ‘“Lit Up Inside”: C.S. Lewis’s Joy & Ulster Protestant Ecstasy’. To find out more and book tickets for the CS Lewis Symposium in Belfast on 4th November: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cs-lewis-symposium-belfast-tickets-896372122147 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

November 29th, CS Lewis' birthday, marks CS Lewis Reading Day and the theme this year is friendship. To celebrate, we spoke to Dr Chris Pipkin, a professor of English at Emmanuel College in Georgia and host of The Inklings Variety Hour podcast. Don't forget to share your favourite Lewis quotations on social media, using #CSLewisReadingDay For CS Lewis Reading Day: https://www.pintswithjack.com/reading-day/year-2/ For Chris Pipkin: https://cpipkin.com/ For The Inklings Variety Hour podcast: https://inklingsvarietyhour.substack.com/ or https://inklingshour.podbean.com/ For Phil Knox on friendship: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-155-phil-knox-are-we-allowed-favourite-friends/17577.article https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-156-phil-knox-lord-all-matey-or-lord-almighty/17603.article For Alister McGrath on The Four Loves: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-53-the-four-loves/13005.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien’s Faith, shares some of the traumatic events in JRR Tolkien's life, such as the death of his parents during his childhood, his forbidden romantic love and his experience of the Great War. What would it have been like to convert to Catholicism? How did his guardian Fr Francis impact Tolkien's faith? For Holly: https://hollyordway.com/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In this special episode following the death of Tim Keller on Friday 19th May, Ruth Jackson speaks to Collin Hansen, author of 'Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation’. They talk about Keller's love for CS Lewis and reveal some fascinating stories about Kathy Keller, Tim's wife, who was one of the last people to correspond with Lewis before his death. For Collin Hansen and The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/collin-hansen/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

What was Lewis' favourite Shakespeare play? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Sterling College, Kansas, delves into Lewis' literary accessibility and theological insights, uncovering the timeless relevance of his work. What moved Lewis from disliking Shakespeare as a child to incorporating numerous references in his own work? Are there any obvious parallels between Shakespeare and Lewis? Come and be part of an as live recording of The CS Lewis Podcast with Alister McGrath and Ruth Jackson on Wednesday, February 5 2025 at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. You need to book here to attend:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator The event is entitled ‘The CS Lewis you never knew’. There will q and a, book signing followed by refreshments. This event at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford is part of their New Renaissance project. Wycliffe Hall’s Summer School delves deeper into C.S Lewis’ theology and explores his footsteps in Oxford and Cambridge. Find out more here: https://www.wycliffe.ox.ac.uk/summerschool2025 For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361 For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/ For Sarah's article on Lewis' rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

For 23 years JRR Tolkien wrote to his four children as Father Christmas. Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien’s Faith, explores Tolkien's creative, humorous writing around Father Christmas and his companions, including his Polar bear assistant, snow-elves, the Man in the Moon and goblins! How does Tolkien combine fantasy and reality? Are there any familiar Tolkien themes in these letters? + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

In this third and final episode with Michael Oppizzi, Ruth Jackson asks about his groundbreaking research on planetary symbolism in Till We Have Faces, CS Lewis’s final and often misunderstood novel. Did Lewis truly abandon his fascination with planetary imagery after The Chronicles of Narnia? How does medieval cosmology shape the novel’s themes of love, self-deception, and transformation? And why does Till We Have Faces still resonate so powerfully with modern readers? Michael shares insights from his paper, presented at the Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, and his upcoming book project, revealing how planetary themes structure the novel’s vision of truth and divine encounter. Can Lewis’s work still teach us today about faith, myth, and the nature of human longing? For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

How did Lewis approach moments of religious ecstasy? Dr David Clare of Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick explores this idea in a talk given at the C.S. Lewis Group at Ulster's spring mini symposium. The event was entitled 'C.S. Lewis and the Land of His Birth: Re-rooting Lewis in Ulster & the Island of Ireland'. The title of Dr Clare's talk was ‘“Lit Up Inside”: C.S. Lewis’s Joy & Ulster Protestant Ecstasy’. Here, he looks at some of Lewis' moments of spiritual ecstasy as well as his search for joy. To find out more and book tickets for the CS Lewis Symposium in Belfast on 4th November: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cs-lewis-symposium-belfast-tickets-896372122147 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Professor Alister McGrath joined Ruth Jackson for a webinar answering live questions about CS Lewis, including how Lewis used modern media, whether there is a "modern day Lewis" and how we navigate some of the potentially racist terms within his work. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Alister McGrath continues to explore Out of the Silent Planet, looking at some of CS Lewis' language around love and sex. He also looks at the different lifeforms on Malacandra and the distinction between ration and non-rational life forms. + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

Author and pastor Trevin Wax shares why he loves CS Lewis. They look at the relevance of Lewis' writings as well as debating whether or not he was a heretic!

 

For Trevin Wax: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/

 

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In the second episode of a new series focussing on McGrath’s book CS Lewis: A Life, we look at why Lewis found school so thoroughly unpleasant and how it helped to cement his growing atheism. Plus, we launch a competition to win a copy of McGrath’s book.

 

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In the first episode of the third series of The C.S. Lewis Podcast, professor Alister McGrath speaks to Ruth Jackson about how Lewis’ famous works of fiction came to be written.

They also tackle some of the criticisms that have been levelled against the books, such as sexism and racism, looking at the impact of these issues on today’s culture.

For more from the podcast http://www.cslewispodcast.com

In this special episode of The C.S. Lewis Podcast, we are sharing part of a livestream we recorded with Professor Alister McGrath during one of the Coronavirus lockdowns in the UK. Following the release of his memoir, Through a Glass Darkly, Alister spoke about his faith journey and the significant part Lewis played in that, as well as responding to audience questions.

The livestream with Professor Alister McGrath was originally broadcast on Unbelievable? on 24th October 2020. To listen or watch the whole show click here. 

Find out more at cslewispodcast.com.

Alister takes audience Q&A on Jesus, CS Lewis and evangelism. From Unbelievable? the Conference 2013

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In the 14th episode of our series focussing on McGrath’s book, CS Lewis: A Life, we look at Lewis' deep anguish following the death of his wife, Joy Davidman, and explore his approach to suffering in A Grief Observed. We also observe how Lewis faced his own impending death. Plus, don’t forget to register for the opportunity to win a copy of McGrath’s seminal biography of Lewis.

 

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Alister McGrath and Justin Brierley continue their conversation on the 'meaning crisis' in the West and how Lewis' wisdom applies to today's world and the modern mental health crisis.

For more from the podcast http://www.cslewispodcast.com 

In the ninth episode of our series focussing on McGrath’s book, CS Lewis: A Life, we look at some of Lewis' popular literature and how his rising fame affected his reputation as an Oxford scholar. We discuss The Great Divorce, the Ransom Trilogy and some of the strengths and weakness of Mere Christianity. Plus, it's not too late to register for the opportunity to win a copy of McGrath’s seminal biography of Lewis.

 

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In the twelfth episode of our series focussing on McGrath’s book, CS Lewis: A Life, we look at the character of Aslan and unpack some of the classical ideas, philosophy and theology expressed within the Narnia Chronicles. We also explore whether any of the content is sexist, racist or out of date. Plus, don’t forget to register for the opportunity to win a copy of McGrath’s seminal biography of Lewis.

 

To be in with a chance to win a copy of CS Lewis: A Life, sign up to our newsletter at: https://premierunbelievable.com/cslewisbook

 

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CS Lewis discusses the importance of 'myth' in this critique of those who want to 'demythologise' Christianity. He explains why Christ is the 'true myth' that all other stories of dying and rising gods are pointing towards.

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Originally published in 1943 in a Christian magazine, 'Dogma and the Universe' sees Lewis look at the fact that modern science tells us the Universe had a beginning and that life will also come to an end one day.

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In the sixth episode of our series focussing on McGrath’s book CS Lewis: A Life, we explore Lewis' faith journey, looking at how and why he became a Christian. We also hear about the significant impact of JRR Tolkien. Plus, don't forget to register to win a copy of McGrath’s seminal biography of Lewis.

 

To be in with a chance to win a copy of CS Lewis: A Life, sign up to our newsletter at: https://premierunbelievable.com/cslewisbook

 

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In the eleventh episode of our series focussing on McGrath’s book, CS Lewis: A Life, we hear the inspiration behind the Narnia Chronicles and look at the important role imagination played in Lewis' work. Plus, don’t forget to register for the opportunity to win a copy of McGrath’s seminal biography of Lewis.

 

To be in with a chance to win a copy of CS Lewis: A Life, sign up to our newsletter at: https://premierunbelievable.com/cslewisbook

 

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University of Iasi PhD candidate Teodora Driscu looks at longing and the image of heaven in Lewis' works, focussing particularly on 'Perelandra'. This talk was originally given at a CS Lewis symposium called Now We Have Faces, which was hosted by The CS Lewis Group at Ulster University in coordination with English at Ulster. The title of Teodora's presentation was ‘The Embodiment of Heaven in Lewis’ Works’.

 

For more on the CS Lewis group at Ulster: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/cs-lewis

 

For more talks from Now We Have Faces: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjaoVaQAdjdVFIFenlZVg-g

 

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As we begin a new year, we pause to remind ourselves of the thought, life and legacy of CS Lewis. Professor Alister McGrath shares why and how we can engage with Lewis and his writings as we introduce a new series focussing on McGrath’s book CS Lewis: A Life.

 

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Prof Alister McGrath draws on CS Lewis and scripture to encourage Christians to live out their vocation and make a difference in a confused and divided culture. This keynote address was given at Unbelievable? the Conference 2022.

 

Get all the video sessions from Unbelievable? the Conference 2022

 

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The Problem Of Pain (1940) was CS Lewis' apologetic on the problem of God & suffering. Alister reviews its content and impact.

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Published in 1933, Pilgrim's Regress was Lewis' first book written after his conversion. Modelled after Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress', Alister explains why it is among the least well-known of Lewis' writings.

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'The Weight of Glory' is a sermon that CS Lewis preached at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford in 1941. It is widely regarded as one of his most significant short works, focussing on the way our human longings in this world point to another world that we were made for.

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In the seventh episode of our series focussing on McGrath’s book CS Lewis: A Life, we explore why Lewis never used a typewriter, who the Inklings were and how they impacted his work, and what role women, such as Dorothy L Sayers, played in Lewis' life. Plus, don't forget to register to win a copy of McGrath’s seminal biography of Lewis.

 

To be in with a chance to win a copy of CS Lewis: A Life, sign up to our newsletter at: https://premierunbelievable.com/cslewisbook

 

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