C.S. Lewis: The Story of His Journey to Faith and Christian Apologist

[@jac4YouTube]

I have a poster on my wall quoted by C.S. Lewis: "I believe in God as I believe the sun has risen, not because I see it, but because by way of it, I can see everything else".

[@Potamotrygorgeous]

Sean asks wonderful questions.

[@jas15176]

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19 ..the riches of the glory of this mystery...., which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col 1:27 Regards from Indonesia

[@belladonnelly8063]

Absolutely

[@markyotter8964]

One of the primary drivers for me is that the Christian worldview is the best explanation for all aspects of reality. It may not answer every single question, but it provides the most satisfying explanation for understanding both the material universe and the immaterial potentials. Every other worldview, religious or naturalistic, has bigger holes with more inconsistencies or illogical annswers.

[@lisashelton8728]

@@markyotter8964 Quite true! And in my walk, I came to discover there is a great deal of solid evidence (historical and otherwise) for the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Lee Strobel's book "The Case for Christ" is an excellent source. He, like C. S. Lewis, was an atheist who later converted to Christianity. Blessings in Christ!

[@coopahtroopah1175]

I had Dr. Poe in undergrad at Union University, and let me tell y’all, I love this man. Absolutely brilliant, warm and friendly, an excellent storyteller, and quite hilarious. Thrilled to hear him talk here about C.S. Lewis!

[@gillianshaw9403]

Good to hear of your personal contact with Dr. Poe. I'm an elderly (English) fan of Lewis & thought I knew the ins & outs of his life fairly well. But the good doctor was fascinating & filled out some notable gaps in my knowledge. (His delivery was a tad slow so I bumped up the playback speed!) I've listened to the interview twice & liked it even more the 2nd. time around. Seems, as you said, to be a very warm-hearted & approachable scholar. Lucky you!

[@SandyCheeks1896]

I’ve had a very similar spiritual journey to CS Lewis. He wrote Mere Christianity for people just like me and it shook me to my core.

[@Firguy_the_Foot_Fetishist]

If you re-read Mere Christianity again and take the time to critically analyze it: you will notice that all of his arguments are built on circular reasoning.

[@dreamsxcaster]

I do not know what you call circular reasoning: suppose it must be like "I feel this that comes not from me so it speaks to me of Thruth greater than myself" . I think the point is when can you be assured that the reality you speak of, is greater than yourself. C.S. Lewis speaks from that point on. I'm sure it has been that way in my life. Jesus goes to that point when he makes a phisycal sanation to show He can forgive sin.

[@Firguy_the_Foot_Fetishist]

​@@dreamsxcaster Circular reasoning, also known as circular logic or circular argument, is a logical fallacy where the conclusion of an argument is assumed or presupposed in one of the premises. Essentially, it's when the reasoning loops back to the initial assumption, creating a cycle where the premise and conclusion support each other but don't actually provide any external evidence or logical progression. For instance: "I know the book is true because it says so, and I believe what it says." or, "This medicine is effective because the company claims it works, and the company wouldn't lie about its product's effectiveness." In both cases, the reasoning relies on itself to prove its own validity, without providing any external evidence or support. Circular reasoning doesn't offer any real substance or logical basis to support the argument; it's more of a loop that starts and ends with the same idea. C.S. Lewis is notorious among his critics, including those who previously identified as Christians and held his work in high esteem, for building his arguments for God on this sort of fallacy.

[@masterjose8483]

@Firguy like all atheist arguments

[@masterjose8483]

@Firguy you know we live in a world with biases around the world right, you could always make up a false assumption about something or someone because it does not aline with your Worldview , with all the atheist online I always see them saying there always right but if you push back on them they'll start to get mad at you like a almost (why are you questioning my argument/ authority) type

[@veronicaspencelocke2003]

This was a really interesting interview for me! I have loved C.S. Lewis since I was a child reading “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” series, then graduating to “The Screwtape Letters”, “Mere Christianity” “Surprised by Joy” “The Abolition of Man” and so on. He’s been a big influence on me, and what a great and influential man of God he became - from being ‘an awful person’! 😊 I love how he put it “It was like waking up” Beautiful! Our God is an awesome God!!

[@schuylerview8254]

CS Lewis is my all time favorite writer, and I am so glad to have some insight to the man. I have ordered this book, and I can't wait to dive in. Thank you so much Dr. Poe.

[@beemer2869]

Thank you for this very interesting talk. C S Lewis had an amazing way of expressing and explaining Christianity. God used him in a wonderful and intelligentway to work on the minds of people and bring them to the faith. The most beautiful thing a human can realise is that we have a Creator who loves us so much and gives us hope for everlasting life through Christ our Saviour. ❤️

[@wiekhiongwong548]

Amen

[@Mason58654]

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Amen to that. 🕊✝️

[@veronicaspencelocke2003]

I’ll add another AMEN!!❤️✝️

[@suzanneflowers2230]

So well said. Thank you!

[@FollowScripture]

I could not agree more!! Very inspiring I just subscribed to this channel

[@hhstark8663]

Wow! I had no idea how hard-core C.S. Lewis was in his atheism. He was basically just like former hard-core atheist Anthony Flew (who coincidentally also adopted the theistic worldview, though at a much older age, which he outlines in the book *"There is a god"* ). _______________________ Journey of Lewis: (Atheistic) materialism -> Logical positivism -> Moral realism -> Idealism -> Pantheism -> Theism -> Christian theism

[@loribrosh]

⁸😊

[@terraloft]

To discuss, and even choose disengagement without canceling another's path "even if you disagree with him you have to interact with him" well stated Poe

[@wiekhiongwong548]

This is so educational and uplifting too. I am a fan of Lewis. God used his Mere Christianity and Miracles in mid-1980's to help me see Christianity better, as one who was born and grew up in a non-Christian home. Earlier than that, More Than a Carpenter started me on that journey.

[@MoNtYbOy101]

I read Mere Christianity too but came away feeling the opposite, can’t deny he was a great writer though

[@wiekhiongwong548]

@@MoNtYbOy101 Thanks for your feedback. Mere Christianity is divided into 4 parts. Not sure which part of it led you to conclude the opposite.

[@MoNtYbOy101]

@@wiekhiongwong548 the book as a whole, but mostly the morality part he definitely loses me.

[@wiekhiongwong548]

@@MoNtYbOy101 regardless of the difficulty we face, "We must follow the argument wherever it leads."

[@MoNtYbOy101]

@@wiekhiongwong548 I agree, I’m saying I didn’t agree with the premises of his arguments

[@terrygodgirl4430]

Just finished Screwtape letters, wow, just wow. I praise the Lord for the perspective

[@GodDutyHonorCountry]

Love CS Lewis! Such a beautiful imagination, deep thinker, and powerful apologetics!

[@judithhuntington4386]

Really enjoyed this interview and the information and background on CS Lewis - Thanks!

[@VictorGonzalez-fx3mc]

Amen and Amén by this exposition. God bless you in the name of Lord Christ Jesús. From Venezuela ... Caracas.

[@MsQiu-ks8lm]

Screwtape Letters is my favorite among his works. Thank you for this, Sean. God bless you.

[@edwardtbabinski]

“In his discussion of Lewis's experiences at St John's, the Anglican Church that Lewis attended during his time at Wynyard School, Poe skips over what is arguably the most critical aspect. In his autobiography, Surprised by Joy, Lewis interrupts his narrative (where he substitutes the name Oldie's for Wynyard) to tell us: ‘But I have not yet mentioned the most important thing that befell me at Oldie's. There first I became an effective believer. As far as I know, the instrument was the church to which we were taken twice every Sunday.’1 “Lewis goes on to mention the high Anglo-Catholic practices at St John's he ‘reacted strongly against’ before pointing out what proved especially important. ‘What really mattered’, Lewis explains, ‘was that I here heard the doctrines of Christianity (as distinct from general “uplift”) taught by men who obviously believed them.’2 And so, Lewis says, he began to pray, read his Bible, and attempt to obey his conscience. Though Lewis would later walk back from this beginning, it was an important preview of what was to come.”

[@kathyborthwick6738LakotaEmoji]

Fantastic interview! C.S. Lewis and his critique in relation to writers and The Tales of Narnia place him in every English student’s life-Amazing and relevant influence!

[@jojersey4081]

Dr. Poe is teaching me some real knowledgeable lessons.

[@sakuranight24]

Just wow. What a beautiful and amazing story of CS.Lewis. I’m definitely going to read ☺️

[@marienewhouse3351]

Wonderful to listen to the interview and learn more about my favorite author. I can't wait to read the book.

[@katrinalodge6055]

That was awesome, and inspiring, at the time you did this show, I was still wallowing in the non Christian new agey muddled belief systems by december 2021 the holy spirit had worked a miracle on me and as you say it takes time and connections and thoughts I'm sure prompted by God to change to a completely different mindset, to utter joy in knowing he truly is Lord of Lords - thank you

[@SeanMcDowell]

That’s awesome to hear!

[@karinogrisek5517]

Lewis became a teacher to me in my 20ies and then a life-long friend. Always love to learn more about him. Thank You!

[@EndingSimple]

Thank you for this. As a young man I read most of Lewis' books mentioned here. It a spiritual experience to get an overview of how they all fitted together in Lewis' life.

[@khanyamnisi8028]

Hi Sean, please could you one day organize a similar talk as this but discussing the life of Fyodor Dostoevsky.

[@ThresholdGaming]

Keep in mind he was a christian in his early childhood first. Then he lost his faith for a few years...then regained his lost faith.

[@jac4YouTube]

The prodigal son returns

[@Planetsuz]

Thanks for this wonderful interview, and thanks to Sean for asking such poignant questions. I really appreciation the discussion. Very inspiring to know that conversion is rarely, if ever, instantaneous.

[@silencedogood5766]

I just watched the movie shadow land with Anthony Hopkins it was fabulous movie on his life ! His stepson is in several ministries and has some great KZbin videos talking about CS Lewis a great man .

[@lindawilson8434]

Oh that is my all time favorite movie We watch it every Xmas I too have watched some of his stepson videos and really enjoyed them, Thank you for your comment

[@sallysilvershoes847]

IMHO I really think most Atheists are broken hearted people. They don't believe that God doesn't exist, they are angry with God about something. It's key that that "something" or "somethings" is dealt with honestly and completely. That broken heart has GOT to be healed and that is SO HARD for people to allow because the issue or issues are STILL INCREDIBLY **PAINFUL** regardless of how long ago the event that created the issue occurred. But start with that wounded heart.

[@beemer2869]

Many are as you described, sadly too, many are athiest because they feel they have everything and don't need Him, or they don't believe anything unless its in front of them.

[@MoNtYbOy101]

This is such a boneheaded opinion, I’m an atheist and my heart is far from broken, I simply just don’t believe a god exists. If I actually believed he existed it would 100% be in my best interest to acknowledge his existence.

[@sallysilvershoes847]

@@MoNtYbOy101 And you would be last to admit it. Real self examination is VERY painful because it involves pride. There comes a time when self sufficiency melts away and that is terrifying but at the end of that is a loving, welcoming God if you are willing to open your eyes - just by way of reminder.

[@beemer2869]

@@sallysilvershoes847 i totally agree.

[@MoNtYbOy101]

@@sallysilvershoes847 whatever you have to tell yourself to make it through the day, I’m glad I’m not so insecure about the realities of our world that I have to lie to myself about a fake god though.

[@bntaft5133]

Thanks y'all!

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

C.S. Lewis (Clive Staples Lewis) facts: Born in 1898 in Belfast, Ireland, he had an older brother of 3 years (Warnie). British writer and Anglican (Church of England) lay theologian. Held academic positions at Oxford and Cambridge teaching Medieval and Renaissance literature He was part of an informal literary group called "the Inklings" consisting of CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Charles Williams, Hugo Dyson and Owen Barfield among a group of 12 regular members LIFE PAINS: At age 4, his dog Jacksie was killed by a car At age 9 his mother died from cancer After age 9, he was enrolled in a boarding school, where his older brother had been enrolled 3 years earlier but the school shortly failed necessitating a change in schools. He experienced respiratory problems at the next boarding school necessitating another change of school and of course friends. At age 15, while at the 3rd school, he found the school socially competitive and had to leave, being tutored privately. It was at the inquiring age of 15 he abandoned Christianity and became an atheist. At age 58, he married another writer 17 years younger (Joy Davidman) but she died of cancer 4 years later. ATHEISM: During the next 17 years of atheism, he developed a fascination in European Mythology (Norse and Greek) and the Occult, loving Irish literature and mythology. From his 17th to his 20th year, he was part of the British Army and fought in the First World War. In that war, he was wounded and two colleagues were killed by friendly fire. During recovery of his war wounds, he became depressed and homesick and he was reassigned to another location and left service shortly after. Lewis said that the Roman poet and philosopher Titus Lucretius has one the strongest arguments for atheism in Latin as poetically translated "Had God designed the world, it would not be / A world so frail and faulty as we see." In a literal translation it reads, That in no wise the nature of all things / For us was fashioned by a power divine - / So great the faults it stands encumbered with." Lewis said, the horrors of war, the loss of his mother and his unhappiness in school were the basis of his pessimism and atheism. CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY: At age 32, after repeated long conversations with JRR Tolkien and Hugo Dyson and by reading the works of Scottish writer George MacDonald and G.K. Chesterton, Lewis reluctantly and dejectedly knelt and prayed accepting God as God. His conversion to Christianity, joining the Church of England and Anglican theology lasted to his death. C.S. Lewis died of kidney failure in 1963, one week prior to his 65th birthday, on the day of the assassination of John F. Kennedy (22 November 1963) and the death of Aldous Huxley (author of the Brave New World).

[@jenniferboughton5966]

Amazing story, what a intriguing, intelligent man!

[@martdavid84]

Off topic: please tell your dad not to apologize for such a non-controversial comment! Don’t let him step away from such an important ministry over such nonsense 😢

[@gokupepper]

BOOM!

[@wiekhiongwong548]

Totally agree. There are actually "Pharisees" who need to be offended, especially when they hinder the Gospel. Since when politics must control the Gospel?

[@desnock]

@@wiekhiongwong548 Since when has politics and religion been truly separated in Western Civilization? Even with separation of church and state in the US, to suggest that there isn't significant cultural crossover is naiveite.

[@wiekhiongwong548]

@@desnock I'm not an American, and I don't live in America. Please don't assume that I think according to your secular framework. I believe the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, NOT the power unto egalitarianism or CRT or your agenda. "But if you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in order that all those other things may be added unto you, you will miss both those other things and the Kingdom of God as well" (J. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism). JANGAN JADI MURTAD! (Don't be an apostate!)

[@desnock]

@@wiekhiongwong548 Wasn't assuming you were an American, just a student of world history. Please don't assume that I have a secular framework, bearing false witness is not only obnoxiously ignorant, it's unChristian. You are literally disproving your own premise by making religion political. Less inchorent fanaticism, more critical thinking. Your idol worshipping of those other than Jesus is noted. If you can't follow Jesus 2 commandments, I get why you're angry at real Christians who make you look like an idol worshipping, hateful person. Wait, that's not them, that's you. See? There is a reason Christ called your type of fanatic "evildoer". You're not seeking the kingdom, well, not of Christ. That'd mean you'd have to follow HIS instructions, but it seems you want to worship anything but. Good luck with that.

[@kennylee6499]

This was a fascinating and gripping interview

[@cheungtinw]

Thanks for the interview! I am reading mere Christianity recently . And I don’t understand a sentence, can I ask here? Here is another thing that used to puzzle me. Is it not frightfully unfair that this new life should be confined to people who have heard of Christ and been able to believe in Him? But the truth is God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are. We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ; we do not know that only those who know Him can be saved through Him, But in the meantime, if you are worried about the people outside, the most unreasonable thing you can do is to remain outside yourself. Christians are Christ's body, the organism through which He works. Every addition to that body enables Him to do more. If you want to help those outside you must add your own little cell to the body of Christ who alone can help them. Cutting off a man's fingers would be an odd way of getting him to do more work.

[@WhereWhatHuh]

Lewis is answering the problem of people who never knew Christ. At one time, it seemed to him unfair that only Christians may be saved. But he points out that no one can be saved except through Christ, but we do not fully understand what "through Christ" may mean. He then points out that the practical thing to do about the fact that only Christians may be saved, is to reach out to the lost, to encourage them to become Christians.

[@cheungtinw]

@@WhereWhatHuh thank you I understood better now!

[@desnock]

Realizing that he isn't speaking (Lewis) with authority, but with his own struggle with these metaphysical questions. It's a tough thing to put it all into context and realize that we can agree with some parts of what an apologist says, but not consider it definitive truth. I have great respect for a lot of Lewis' POV, but I don't think he would espouse his struggle as dogma. But a fair question. Certainly we should speak to those who are both fanatically cultish (who don't do Christianity any good, nor themselves) AND folks that believe in other faiths, because at the core of Lewis' point is that we AREN'T God, we don't judge salvation, etc. The point of where we are to be a good neighbor is to love them, not if they are believers, but simply to be loving towards them, regardless. This is why "progressivism" in various sects of Christianity scares the "insider club" apologetics of those systems that have fallen under the weight of their own sin and pride, and thus break Jesus' commandments. So many tribal arguments, not enough metaphysical ones. I'm reminded of Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers, whom I think folks like Lewis and Tolkien would have liked and found interest in beyond rabid sectarianism or religious indoctrination. Faith can be like many other things - a weapon or a tool of healing. I'd suggest that people are too often caught up in the former which if one takes Christ seriously, CANNOT be the right path.

[@auntpeach2996]

Hi tin Joyful, Actually, I believe that God HAS told us what His arrangements about other people are. John 10:16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd." It is my belief that Jesus and His teachings are the only way to Heaven FOR ME because that was how He called me. BUT as I understand this verse He has other ways to bring Home his sheep who have not heard the Good News. I am just sharing - don't want to start an argument. Many blessing on you and yours, Linda

[@agnesdycoco5175]

Great conversation! Luv the way you clearly phrase the questions! Thank u

[@scatbacker]

Excellent ,,,ty very much,,,,,loved this, God bless you both.

[@randyfishell8991]

What an outstanding interview. Thank you.

[@Bestill37-7]

Great information. Thank you so much.

[@Harry_Hjelm]

My dad took an ancestry dna test and C.S Lewis might be his grandad and he would be my great grandad

[@HillaryCraig]

Ok, that was super interesting, when writing the Pilgrim's Regress- the returning back to the world to live out his faith- just as his Chronicles of Narnia, they must always return to their former lives, they never stay in Narnia. Love this added detail, I always wanted the children to be able to stay in Narnia, now I know why they couldn't. Light bulb!

[@Vintagevanessa99]

Fascinated by this talk.

[@ericjessee376]

Gentlemen , especially Dr. Poe excellent bio on Lewis and other powerful points of , in Christianity ..

[@margueritespringer3687]

Very good interview Thank you

[@ElkoJohn]

Much obliged.

[@genemanansala1147]

Thank you so much🙏☝️🙏

[@Humble.Servant]

⭐⭐⭐ *JESUS IS COMING VERY VERY VERY SOON* !🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺 The return of Jesus is at hand! JESUS IS THE *ONLY WAY* TO HEAVEN! 📖 John 14:6 says, " Jesus says, 'I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES UNTO THE FATHER (in Heaven) BUT BY ME'. *JESUS CHRIST* is the only, true way to Salvation! It’s the _free gift_ of GOD to all those who believe and trust Him! *SALVATION* ! is the redemption of one’s soul from eternal destruction after death of man, on this earth, by the cleansing of the blood, and by the death and power of resurrection of Jesus Christ 📖Acts.4:12 says. *Salvation is found in no one else (except Jesus Christ),* *for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be* saved." How is *_SALVATION_* gifted to man? For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. 📖John 3:3 says, Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. How can a man be *BORN-AGAIN* ? To be Born-Again in spiritual sense, is to die to our old sinful nature and be born-again in the spirit, to be holy, righteous with a new nature in Christ Jesus. 👉To be born-again, we need to repent & confess our sinful past for a holy future. What is *REPENTANCE* ? 👉 *_REPENTANCE_* ! Everyone born into this world is a Born-sinner. Human nature is a sinful nature. Sin in us has defiled us and has separated us from the Holy GOD! We have to repent for all the unholy, lawless transgressions of God’s commandments done willfully or unknowingly, in order to obtain mercy and grace so that we might not be judged and fall into condemnation, the condemnation of eternal hell. 📖 Acts.3:19 says,..✔️Repent, then, and turn to GOD, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD. What is *CONFESSION* of sins? 👉 *_CONFESSION_* ! The guilt of sin and it’s condemnation is rolled away if one truly regrets his sinful past and confesses them in the presence of Jesus Christ. 📖Romans.10:9 &10 ✔️That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 📖 1 John, 1st chapter & verse 9 says.. ✔️If we confess our sins, He (Jesus Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins(every sin)... The sole purpose of sending Jesus Christ into this world more than 2020 ago is this👇 📖John.3:16-17 says " 👉 *GOD so loved the world* (us) that *He* (Father GOD) gave *His* only begotten Son *to die for us* ( our redemption ), that *whosoever believes in Him* (Jesus) *should not perish* (in hell) but *have everlasting life.* 👉 GOD has not sent His Son to condemn the world (us), but the world (we) through Him (Jesus Christ) might be saved. ⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩ *Dear Bro/Sis* .🙏🏼, You may be of any race, religion or creed. Rich or poor. White or black or brown. You may be the least sinner or the worst sinner on earth. You may leading the worst of immoral life against the principles of the Almighty GOD. God is concerned about your future and not your past. All He asks you is to repent and confess your sins to obtain mercy and have a secured and a blessed hope! 📖 Hebrews.10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ *If you say this small prayer with faith* . 👇 “ LORD JESUS, I am a sinner, I have committed so many sins knowingly and unknowingly. Have mercy on me. Please forgive my every sin with your precious, Holy blood shed on the cross to save me. I believe you died on the cross, you were buried and rose again the third day for my justification. I believe you are the Almighty GOD! Accept me as your child. Help me to lead a holy life. Fill my heart with joy, give me heart to seek you. _In Jesus precious name, I ask and believe_ . *Amen* !🙏🏼 ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 👆 If you have said this prayer, I can assuredly tell you that you are a new creation. You are Born-Again in the spirit through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 📖 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 👉 *_Be Holy as the LORD your GOD is Holy_* ! ⏩ *FORSAKE SIN* ! 📖Proverbs.28:13 says.. ✔️He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 👉📖Mark.16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not 📌shall be condemned ⏩Read the Bible 📖⏩Know the Truth⏩Go to a Christ centered Church⏩Be Baptized⏩Be Blessed! ⏩May the Holy Spirit GOD lead you & guide you! 👉 Be prepared for the RAPTURE! ( Return of Jesus Christ. THE JUDGE ) May the Lord richly bless you,🙏 📢 Please SHARE & SPREAD this GOSPEL 📖 to the WORLD🔹🌏 Matthew.4:14 *And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come* *The Gospel Tract Download Link* ! 👇 *drive.google.com/file/d/1sl0XBfueEM5iTtWvIBezl9--lktlP4Xf/view?usp=drivesdk*

[@desnock]

Fanatics have been saying this forever. Doesn't make it true, and you'll be as disappointed as the rest of them, to the point that when it doesn't happen and your life is at its end, what will you have done of value?

[@darkdispeller]

Mere Christianity has become one of my favorite go tos.. 😁❤ like the Bible- it's merely packed with good stuff!

[@midimusicforever]

CS Lewis was a genius!

[@Irelandgal]

Thank you 🙏 🌹🌹🌹

[@MindyZielfelderArt]

I loved this, thank you so much!

[@besottedorchids3605]

We r reading The Horse and The Bit of currently. My son says he made the best books ever.

[@constance9789]

I keep hearing Beautiful Spirit Quickening Quotes from C S Lewis until I find I want more of them like a book of just His Quotes alone. Like books from the Bible to be read over and over. Is there such a book?

[@lepidoptera9337]

Quotes like: “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”? You mean he was looking forward to the time when billions of people will be tortured in a lake of flames for eternity? The man liked strange things, don't you think?

[@paulsarodh5460]

Superb💜❤💖💜❤💖👌👌✌✌

[@hannahhannah5742]

I didn't know/forgot that Lewis was Northern Irish, that's class to know as a fellow potado speaker here 😂

[@kathrynknipe6615]

Thanks!

[@stechriswillgil3686]

What you may not know, is that the English public school system and upper middle class penchant for private tutoring often raises men of moderate intellect ( those that wouldn’t make much of a dent in regular society and schooling ) to be convinced of their own prowess . The class system in England with its ‘ backdoor ‘ admissions into prestigious institutions like Oxford often then reinforce the self confidence of its ‘ scholars’ and it then produces a cohort of some of the most pompous and insufferable people ever to masquerade in the halls of academia. I’ve never found either Lewis, Bertrand Russell or Tolkien especially impressive or original. Russell in particular often breaks out into the vernacular or borders on lazy slang speech in an over familiar style you’d find in the common man ! This isn’t his way of making himself more understood , it’s how he thought and spoke ! There’s nothing that has occurred to Lewis about questions of faith that hasn’t occurred to just about anybody. Yes, I too wondered if the Bible stories where like the Greek Myths when I was about aged 10 or 11 ! These ivory towered academics from privelleged backgrounds thought they where having original thoughts !

[@cindysmith1700]

Sean you speak so well. Mere Christianity was the book that began to turn me around

[@SeanMcDowell]

Love hearing about that book and it’s influence on you. Amazing!

[@AMF818]

Thanks for coming to RISE 2021 Sean!!!

[@SeanMcDowell]

I loved it. My pleasure!

[@JamesMC04]

STM that, with the passing of time, the objections to theism in general, and to Christianity in particular, become ever more formidable. Lewis was able to take for granted certain things that are not generally taken for granted today; such as, that the only religion that needed to be taken into account in any detail was Christianity. That has not been true for about 50 years. What he was also able to take for granted, was that the words presented in the gospels as the words of Jesus were really said by him. That too, can no longer be taken for granted. Both of these changes make the work of the Christian apologist much more difficult than it used to be. culturally, in the west, Christianity is in retreat and decline, for a great variety of reasons. It is also demoralised, as well as uncertain of what it believes, as well as uncertain of the value of what it believes. it is very hard to see that it has anything good to offer that cannot be gained much more easily from other quarters. It has serious problems of moral and historical and intellectual credibility, and its own pastors share many of these doubts. All in all, it is in a very bad way. And that is merely scratching the surface of the difficulties.

[@georgedoyle7971]

“Objections to theism in general, and to Christianity in particular, become ever more formidable.” “All in all it’s in a very bad way” “That is merely scratching the surface of the difficulties” Ho the irony!! This is just rhetoric and an (Appeal to your own Authority Fallacy). “Bad” according to who’s authority and standard ? Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence!! What can be claimed without evidence can be dismissed without evidence!! Your proselytising was comedy gold!! Because the irony is that even if it was true that the materialistic/atheistic paradigm was becoming more popular among the general population and the “intelligentsia” this is just a red herring, an irrelevancy fallacy and a non sequitur as it does not logically follow that this means that materialism/atheism is true. It’s just an (Appeal to Popularity Fallacy and an Appeal to Authority Fallacy). Sorry but even if most of the world including the most “formidable” authority figures (intelligentsia) embraced atheism or materialism (eliminative materialism) and worshipped at the altar of determinism and automatism it does not logically follow that this means that atheism, determinism or appeals to (eliminative materialism and scientism and materialism of the Gaps) are true. Even Stalins “formidable” atheist Marxist regime that was defined by atheism through its anti religious policies, sophisticated and “formidable” anti religious propaganda and death camps could not destroy Christianity. And a currently thriving Russian orthodox Christianity is testament to the fact that even the bloodiest murder in history of literally tens of millions of innocent men, women and children under Stalin’s Communist Marxist atheist regime could not destroy Christianity. So you’re proselytising is beyond absurdity and hubris. Furthermore, just because militant atheists in the west are finding more elaborate, sophisticated and “formidable” ways of straw manning and demonising moderate religious expression it still does not necessarily follow that materialism or atheism is true. History demonstrates that it was inevitable that with the age of social media and the internet militant atheist propaganda, that is style over substance would appear to be very convincing and would be very appealing to people who actually believe that the natural sciences can “prove” things such as values and oughts. “The vocal fervour of today’s missionary atheism conceals a panic that religion is not only refusing to decline - but in fact flourishing” (John Gray) It speaks volumes that the resurgence of religion is a worldwide development. Russian Orthodoxy is stronger than it has been for over a century, while China is the scene of a reawakening of its indigenous faiths and of underground movements that could make it the largest Christian country in the world by the end of this century. Despite tentative shifts in opinion that have been hailed as evidence it is becoming less pious, the US remains massively and pervasively religious. It’s probably just as well that the current generation of atheists seems to know so little of the longer history of atheist movements. When they assert that science can bridge fact and value, they overlook the many incompatible value-systems that have been defended in this way. There is no more reason to think science can determine human values today than there was at the time of Haeckel, Huxley or Stalin. None of the divergent values that atheists have from time to time promoted has any essential connection with atheism, or with science. How could any increase in knowledge in the “natural sciences” validate values such as human equality, human rights, the right to life, personal autonomy, free will and choice ?? The source of these values is not science. In fact, as the most widely-read atheist thinker of all time argued, these quintessential liberal values have their origins in monotheism. Furthermore, G.K Chesterton predicted the rise of eugenics, materialism anti religion and determinism back in the the 1930s before the ascension of Nazism. “It is the charge against the main deductions of the materialist that, right or wrong, they gradually destroy his humanity; I do not mean only kindness, I mean hope, courage, poetry, initiative, all that is human. For instance, when materialism leads men to complete fatalism (as it generally does), it is quite idle to pretend that it is in any sense a liberating force. It is absurd to say that you are especially advancing freedom when you only use free thought to destroy free will. The determinists come to bind, not to loose. They may call their law the "chain" of causation. It is the worst chain that ever fettered a human being. You may use the language of liberty, if you like, about materialistic teaching, but it is obvious that this is just as inapplicable to it as a whole as the same language when applied to a man locked up in a madhouse. “ (G.K. Chesterton) “Eugenics itself, in large quantities or small, coming quickly or coming slowly, urged from good motives or bad, applied to a thousand people or applied to three, Eugenics itself is a thing no more to be bargained about than poisoning.” (G.K. Chesterton) Reality and existence and in particular the qualities of experience aren’t made of “matter” they are made of (what matters). I rest my case!!

[@georgedoyle7971]

Furthermore, even if you are one of the few atheists who claims that they subscribe to the immaterial, that is you ironically subscribe to (metaphysics) to avoid the incoherence and absurdity of a strictly reductive materialistic paradigm this is irrelevant to the debate and is a non sequitur. Because it still does not logically follow that just because you’re not a materialist that this “proves” atheism is “true”. Because it’s still just down to your personal subjective epistemology, metaphysical presuppositions and subjective preferences. If you insist on proselytising to theists, deists and panentheists by ignoring and straw manning the nuances of the belief in a supreme ontological ground of reality, that is a supreme ontological ground for objective universal paradigmatic truth such as objective morality, realism and metaphysics. For example a supreme ontological ground for the laws of logic, empiricism (sensory data), ethics, morals and the qualities of experience such as mind and consciousness including teleology, epistemology and ontology you still need to provide a justification and ground for your personal subjective metaphysics. Not to mention your moral subjectivism (ant-realism) and claims to the moral and rational high ground. Because you can have an epistemology for “morality” and “truth” including reality and existence. Stalin had knowledge, that is an (epistemological framework) for morality, but that does not mean that he was right about utilitarianism and pragmatism or could justify or ground his actions with his subjective utilitarianism and pragmatism.. When it comes to moral truths there is a big difference between anti realism and realism and there’s a big difference between moral epistemology and moral ontology. Theres also a big difference between subjectively asserting there is only one planet in the solar system and pointing out the objective fact that there is actually eight planets. Just as there is a big difference between asserting that whether the rape and murder of child is right or wrong is just subjective preference and pointing out that it is not down to subjective preferences as it is simply objectively evil and depraved. There is clearly a big difference between what’s preferable and what’s factual in the same way there’s a gaping wide difference between what’s subjectively preferred by beings who have a history of rape, murder, infanticide, eugenics and genocide and what’s objectively morally true and factual. Furthermore, if you are a realist (moral objectivist) how many planets there are in the solar system does not depend on how many “we” think or agree as a society there are, or on what we would like there to be, or on how we would like to count them, or on what gives the greatest pleasure and happiness. In the same way it’s ridiculous to assert that mathematics is based on what we prefer, it’s ridiculous to assert that morality depends on how subjective preferences want it to be. So the question is why “ought” someone take your claims to moral subjectivism seriously if some people prefer and achieve the greatest happiness and greater pleasure from different things such as committing genocide. Because Stalin and his associates clearly did the sums based on they’re “moral subjectivism” and decided that they wanted a different kind of “morality” to the millions of Orthodox Christians who they murdered. And the Nazis calculated that they would achieve a great deal of pleasure and happiness in murdering millions of Polish Catholics and millions of Jewish men, women and children. Moral subjectivism clearly leads to absurdity and immorality because it is synonymous with claiming that just because you decide there’s only one planet in the solar system instead of eight planets this makes it factually true. Also the fact is that the denial that subjective morality can lead to atrocities commits the (No True Scots Man Fallacy). Equally, the principle of credulity (Occam’s razor) demonstrates that whether electrons exist or not depends on the facts, not on which theory we favour. The principle of credulity basically restates Occam’s razor in that entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily and that we ought to believe in things as they simply seem. It seems pretty simple and obvious to most normal people that we should believe that the rape and murder of a child including genocide is objectively evil and depraved not just unpragmatic or un-utilitarian or based on subjective opinion and preferences. Furthermore, to unnecessarily multiply the multitude of different degrees of beliefs regarding morality, not to mention evil and depraved beliefs, by invoking moral subjectivism goes against Occam’s razor. Objective morality just like objective facts about the planets, stars and electrons is factually true and so the rape and murder of a child is simply evil and depraved and can’t possibly be grounded in the subjective preferences of infallible humans. Just like the number of planets in our solar system can not be factually grounded on subjective opinion and preferences, or on how much pleasure the number we decide gives, morality can not be justified or grounded on subjective morality. In the real world humans don’t get to change reality and facts based on subjective personal preferences no matter how loudly they proselytise about the rise of moral subjectivism and the right to self identify as someone with dyscalculia (the inability to count). Just because Stalin believed murder was good it does not make it so. Equally, if morality is down to subjective preferences why “ought” the Nazis have listened to what another society dictates regarding their subjective preferences. So the rational conclusion is that ultimately morality, epistemological, teleology and ontology requires a supreme ontological ground of reality. “An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful. But an open mind about the ultimate foundations either of Theoretical or of Practical Reason is idiocy. If a man's mind is open on these things, let his mouth at least be shut. He can say nothing to the purpose. Outside the Tao there is no ground for criticizing either the Tao or anything else.” (CS Lewis). “Telling us to obey instinct is like telling us to obey 'people.' People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war. If it is held that the instinct for preserving the species should always be obeyed at the expense of other instincts, whence do we derive this rule of precedence? To listen to that instinct speaking in its own case and deciding in its own favour would be rather simple minded. Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of all the rest. By the very act of listening to one rather than to others we have already prejudged the case. If we did not bring to the examination of our instincts a knowledge of their comparative dignity we could never learn it from them. And that knowledge cannot itself be instinctive: the judge cannot be one of the parties judged: or, if he is, the decision is worthless and there is no ground for placing preservation of the species above self-preservation or sexual appetite.” “A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.” The consequence of rejecting the idea of universal truth, or "the Tao," is the destruction of the society which rejects it” (C.S. Lewis)

[@georgedoyle7971]

The twentieth century spilled more blood than the previous 19 centuries including all the centuries prior and it speaks volumes that it’s the one century that proudly proclaims “God is dead”. Why is Christ placed at the top of the hierarchy of the human race and value? Was Christ more loving, more forgiving, more self sacrificing than Buddha? Did Christ have more wisdom, did he meet death more painfully and with more humbleness than Socrates? Was Christ more empathetic and charitable, than Epictetus? Did Christ’s philosophy have greater impact on history and were his thoughts and words more transformative in bringing joy and happiness than Epicurus? Did Christ demonstrate greater love and sacrifice for humanity than Zoroaster? Was Jesus gentler than Lao-tsze and teach a universal message of love, hope and peace more universal than the teachings of Confucius? Was the sermon on the mount and the proclamation to love your neighbour including your enemies more fundamental to the ideas of human rights and duties superior to those of Zeno? Did the eucastrophe of Christs death and resurrection express greater truths than Cicero? Truths that bring a fleeting glimpse of Joy, Joy beyond the walls of the world poignant as grief. ? Was the mind of Christ subtle and more humble than Spinoza’s or Dostoyevsky’s? Were Dostoyevsky, Descartes, Soren Kierkegaard, Kant, Spinoza, Aquinas, George Lemaitre, Augustine, Kepler, Michelle Besso and John Henslow convinced that Christ was the embodiment of truth. ? Was Christs creativity, in the power and beauty of expression, in breadth and scope of influence, in wealth of words, explanation, in knowledge of and genuine concern for the human mind and heart, of all romances, suffering, hopes and fears, the equal of Shakespeare, Dickens and Miguel de Cervantes. Was Christ the greatest of the human race? The answer is yes he was which is why 2000 yrs later the greatest minds are still debating the significance of the historical Yeshua (Jesus Christ).

[@melissaelliott2966]

So grateful for the time and energy you invested into putting this info out!! I'm praying that my gifted 13 year old atheist son will see some of himself in Lewis and be inspired by his conversion and ultimately see the truth of Christ!! God bless you fellas!!

[@SeanMcDowell]

That would be awesome 🙏

[@desnock]

I think you're confusing CS Lewis as he applies to your apologism, folks. Certainly he was an apologist before his relationship with Joy, who I think was the real awakening. And like many men, tended to fall back on conservatism with all these new fangled ideas that a modern Christian would have issues with. A discussion on his opinions is certainly worthwhile, but he didn't come up with answers to metaphysical questions, he, like the rest of us, struggled with them. And that's valuable - to be considerate of perspectives and struggles. On suffering, I find his apologism lacking. On morality, he is indeed a result of his English education. He and Tolkien had some good debates that were actual debates, not tribal nonsense that I think is exacerbated by today's apologists. Now McDowell isn't as bad as the others, but he's got a long way to go, which I'm sure he is attempting. So we'll see.

[@stechriswillgil3686]

You’d think Lewis had been ‘ Beatified ‘ the way some people talk ! If it wasn’t for his children’s fantasy books, I doubt we’d have heard all that much about him. Lewis himself is becoming mythologised now !

[@desnock]

@@stechriswillgil3686 Well said - it seems like some are always looking for others to put on a pedestal. I wonder how this jives with Christ's Commandments of which the first is no false idols. What is the difference between idolization of figures and mythologizing them (which I agree folks do). If we create our own "stories" that are filled with our own biases, how does that compute philosophically or psychologically, and then, spiritually/morally REGARDLESS of the faith one follows?

[@deevisel7673]

I kite the information

[@jacobvance3073]

My professor! Haha

[@SeanMcDowell]

Boom!

[@jacobvance3073]

@@SeanMcDowell I read your Mormon Evangelism book that you compiled with Eric Johnson. Brilliant work, sir!

[@JCSuperstar777]

You had me … till ‘Barfield’.

[@radscorpion8]

Everything CS Lewis is summarized as struggling with from 11:50 to 13:30 is spectacularly irrational to me. There is simply no need to have objective values. And the only reason why he "struggled" with it is because he felt uncomfortable with the answer of not having some objective basis for right and wrong. This is literally just an emotional argument, one of the most basic fallacies in logic

[@drintx5734]

What about Lewis being a member of the secret occult group ‘order of the golden dawn’????

[@berglen100]

Same God in them because its Imagination that's God in man going to this school. Good and evil is natural mind that believes both that will be woke from when you wake.

[@dillonzado2114]

bit confused on what atheism is

[@MoNtYbOy101]

A lack of belief in god

[@hhstark8663]

Atheist philosophers define atheism as the assertation that god does not exist.

[@MoNtYbOy101]

@@hhstark8663 some atheist philosophers define it as a lack of belief also.

[@dillonzado2114]

Haha sorry I meant I don't think they really understand what it is

[@MoNtYbOy101]

@@dillonzado2114 oh got ya lol

[@busybody1474]

Apologetics seems like arguing the gospel on steroids instead of simply sharing its truth and leave the rest to God, who will give the increase if it is his will.. plenty of people witnessed the miracles Jesus performed during his lifetime and they still didn't believe he was the son of God, we have free will and all the arguing in the world won't convince someone if they don't want to hear truth

[@JamesRichardWiley]

C.S. Lewis was an atheist in his early years but "He eventually returned to Christianity, having been influenced by arguments with his Oxford colleague and friend J. R. R. Tolkien, whom he seems to have met for the first time on 11 May 1926, as well as the book The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton. Lewis vigorously resisted conversion, noting that he was brought into Christianity like a prodigal, "kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance to escape". He described his last struggle in Surprised by Joy: "You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen [College, Oxford], night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. After his conversion to theism in 1929, Lewis converted to Christianity in 1931, following a long discussion during a late-night walk along Addison's Walk with close friends Tolkien and Hugo Dyson. He records making a specific commitment to Christian belief while on his way to the zoo with his brother. He became a member of the Church of England - somewhat to the disappointment of Tolkien, who had hoped that he would join the Catholic Church." Wikipedia My comment: In other words Lewis became weary under the constant pressure from his Christian friends until he finally gave in and converted.

[@DRayL_]

Your final comment...is probably more factual than most would care to agree with. And on the topic,...what tends to influence one person...doesn't mean it would with another...or that the influencing agents were viable arguments....just convincing to that one person.

[@jamesking8241]

If Agape is "the God kind of Love" this divine, self-sacrifical kind of love. Than why does the bible say in John 3:19 "..that men Loved ( agape) the darkness rather then the Light...."? There are at least 2 other times within the letters of John that connects Agape love to evil..ppl agape evil..use a concordance to see the word " love" is agape in those verses.

[@frankwhelan1715]

It's not Tolk 'Keen'

[@justpassingthruuu]

According to this video it is interesting how CSL somehow became a "Christian" - without any concept of sin, NO REPENTANCE... not a sinner? *do the healthy need a doctor?* Luke 5:31&32 "And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - conversion??? becoming a nice person a conversion? NOT ACCORDING TO GOD! *his 'conversion' seems to have been an 'intellectual exercise' - not a surrender*

[@markyotter8964]

You need to do more research before spouting off your own pet peeve. Lewis dealt much in his writings with sin and repentance. But in a video interview like this all details cannot be covered. I support the proclamation of sin, righteousness and judgment as a necessary presentation of the gospel. But you also need to observe that the New Testament records a wide variety of conversion experiences. We get stuck on one formula of "the sinners prayer" as the only legitimate means of conversion. We have the benefit of a full Bible to come up with our theology. But the people that lived it experienced the reality of conversion in a variety of manners, none of which follows our modern sinners prayer model. Let God work in people's lives as He will, He's not limited to our 4 spiritual laws formula. The transformational reality of being born again by faith and grace alone is the important thing, the manner by which that happens in people varies considerably.

[@GodDutyHonorCountry]

Theosophy is a blend of the most Occult teachings from many ancient pagan religions. Occultist Madame Helena P. Blavatsky , helped found The Theosophical Society.

[@captainzappbrannagan]

Was never a true athiest. Is dishonest and confused in his choices.

[@cutekoala]

'lewis had a happy childhood but his mother died of cancer when he was 9 years old' - I don't think so. Also he was shipped over to a school in England with a headmaster who was later committed to an insane asylum. Why does he think all of that is happy???

[@frankvelazqiez2961]

Out grew cs Lewis in 5th grade.lol

[@denissutherland3653]

A Christian is someone who has taken up Jesus's priceless offer Matthew 11 : 28 - 30 “Come to me, all you who are exhausted and weighted down by your burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest in your souls ; for my yoke is easy and my burden light. To be saved you must hand over your THINKING to Jesus and study his Bible daily tutored by a ministering spirit, a guardian angel. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and hasn'r done that is doing the work of satan.

[@MiseryRex]

Lewis was disturbingly fond of taking pictures of naked chilren...so Christianity was likely a good fit for him.

[@edgarmatzinger9742]

A true scotsman fallacy: No true atheist will become a religious person. And neither did CS Lewis. He always was religious. Nothing wrong with that BTW.

[@DesGardius-me7gf]

"The sheer existence of apologists is reason alone to raise suspicion. Their dishonesty is blatant when you simply double check what they say. In the end, historians and scientists are not just one big conspiracy against Jesus, the Bible is simply wrong about most things." -Joseph R. Hanson

[@benedictntambwe4499]

No the existence of apologists shows that there are questions and people need answers. It's no different than political apologists and any career path that seeks to understand and explain things.

[@damaplehound]

not trying to start an argument or anything, but who is Joseph R. Hanson?

[@edwardkmicheal218]

So Very 'True' ,when their is a realisation of YeshuaChrist & the awakening of our integral part, thereof. kdagPlymouthUK 2023June23rd1133hr