All CS Lewis articles
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #202 Alister McGrath: What did CS Lewis think of science? Part 1
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #201 Holly Ordway: Tolkien, suffering and the problem of evil
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #200 Ruth Jackson: 200th Episode Special
Ruth Jackson shares some of her favourite moments from the podcast to celebrate the 200th episode. We will be revisiting conversations with Professor 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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #199 Michael Oppizzi: Why Till We Have Faces Still Speaks to Us Today
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’ final and often misunderstood novel. 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’ work still teach us today about faith, myth, and the nature of human longing?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #198 CS Lewis’ Final Novel: Ancient Myth and Modern Relevance
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #197 The Many Faces of CS Lewis: A Conversation with Michael Oppizzi
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #196 How did Shakespeare influence Lewis’ exploration of death, resurrection and the human condition?
How did “great myths” shape Lewis’ understanding of Christian truth? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Sterling College, Kansas, continues to explore the intriguing intersection between Shakespeare’s literary genius and CS Lewis’ spiritual journey.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #195 Sarah Waters: Did Shakespeare play a role in Lewis’ conversion?
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #194 Sarah Waters: How Lewis grew to love Shakespeare
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #193 Leprechauns, fairies and the Holy Ghost
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #192 Warnie, alcoholism and Country Louth
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #191 New Atheism, Sigmund Freud and Narnia: Does CS Lewis still matter?
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #190 Holly Ordway: Tolkien’s Father Christmas letters
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!
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #189 Holly Ordway: What did Christmas mean to JRR Tolkien?
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #188 Jem Bloomfield: Christmas in Narnia
Dr Jem Bloomfield, assistant professor of literature at the University of Nottingham and author of Paths in the Snow, unpacks the Christmas references as well as key elements, such as the stone table and the titles of the Pevensie children, within The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #187 Jem Bloomfield: Paths in the snow
As Christmas approaches, we unpack some of the key elements in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with Dr Jem Bloomfield, assistant professor of literature at the University of Nottingham and author of Paths in the Snow.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #186 Dan Barker and Carolyn Weber: Can atheists appreciate CS Lewis?
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #185 Dr. Chris Pipkin: Friendship
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #184 Dan Barker and Carolyn Weber: Are Lewis’ arguments flawed?
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.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #183 Dan Barker and Carolyn Weber: Is CS Lewis still relevant?
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.
