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The C.S. Lewis podcast

The C.S. Lewis podcast

A weekly podcast with Professor Alister McGrath exploring C.S. Lewis’ thought, theology and teaching. C.S. Lewis is one of the most influential voices in modern Christianity. The 20th Century British writer and lay theologian has profoundly impacted Christians around the world and brought many atheists and agnostics to faith in Jesus. One person whose faith was greatly encouraged by the writings of C.S. Lewis is Professor Alister McGrath. Both men were raised in Northern Ireland, studied at Oxford University and went on to become professors there. They also both came to faith from atheism slightly later in life. Alister has written numerous books on C.S. Lewis, including a seminal biography C.S. Lewis – A Life. Every Monday, Ruth Jackson and Professor Alister McGrath will reflect on C.S. Lewis’ ideas, life and influence as well as trying to answer questions that impact culture today.

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Episodes

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Andrew Lazo: Can atheism actually lead you to God? Play in Edifi Player

    Andrew Lazo: Can atheism actually lead you to God?

    Can becoming an atheist ever be a step towards God? What if walking away from religion is sometimes more honest than pretending to believe? Are reason and evidence really enough to explain why we change our minds? In Early Prose Joy, Lewis wrote: "It is time, for religion’s sake, to hymn the joys of atheism.” For him, rejecting shallow, superstitious or half-hearted religion could sometimes be an intellectually honest step towards discovering something deeper. But, what eventually changed Lewis’ …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Andrew Lazo: Did C.S. Lewis get his own conversion story wrong? Play in Edifi Player

    Andrew Lazo: Did C.S. Lewis get his own conversion story wrong?

    What can Lewis' journey from atheism to belief tell us about how and why we change our minds? C.S. Lewis famously described himself as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England”. But an unpublished manuscript appears to reveal something extraordinary: Lewis may have misremembered when his conversion actually happened. Lewis scholar and Episcopal priest Andrew Lazo joins Ruth Jackson to tell the remarkable story of Early Prose Joy - Lewis’ previously unpublished account of his …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Andrew Lazo: How C.S. Lewis changed the minds of atheists, scientists and prisoners Play in Edifi Player

    Andrew Lazo: How C.S. Lewis changed the minds of atheists, scientists and prisoners

    What do an atheist scientist, a Watergate prisoner and the author of Interview with the Vampire have in common? C.S. Lewis changed the way they thought. Lewis scholar and Episcopal priest Andrew Lazo grew up in an unbelieving home and first encountered Narnia simply as a great adventure. Years later, during a crisis of faith, Lewis saved Andrew's intellectual life. He joins Ruth Jackson to uncover the remarkable stories of people whose lives took unexpected turns after encountering Lewis, from …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Has God slammed a door in your face? Tyler Staton on suffering Play in Edifi Player

    Has God slammed a door in your face? Tyler Staton on suffering

    Why does C.S. Lewis still speak so powerfully to people decades after his death? Tyler Staton, lead pastor of Bridgetown Church and author of After Amen, joins Ruth Jackson to explore what Lewis can still teach us about prayer, suffering, desire, imagination and finding God when he seems absent. From Mere Christianity and The Weight of Glory to A Grief Observed, The Screwtape Letters and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Tyler reflects on the Lewis ideas that have shaped his own faith and helped …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast C.S. Lewis: How an atheist became the man behind Narnia | Alister McGrath Play in Edifi Player

    C.S. Lewis: How an atheist became the man behind Narnia | Alister McGrath

    You’ve listened. Now you can watch. The C.S. Lewis Podcast is coming to YouTube, bringing the life, imagination and extraordinary ideas of the man behind Narnia to video for the first time. In our first episode, host Ruth Jackson sits down with renowned C.S. Lewis scholar Professor Alister McGrath to explore one of the biggest questions of all: What is life actually for? They uncover Lewis’s remarkable journey from aggressive atheism to Christianity, the impact of war and suffering on his …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Why does Philip Pullman hate The Magician's Nephew? Play in Edifi Player

    Why does Philip Pullman hate The Magician's Nephew?

    Is it our fault when something bad happens? Can suffering ever be redeemed? In the final part of their discussion, Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter unpack Philp Pullman's critique of one of CS Lewis' most beloved Narnia stories. Along the way, they venture into the worlds of Star Trek and Lewis' Ransom Trilogy, asking whether science fiction can offer the hope and meaning we long for or whether we're still searching for a bigger story to live by. Plus, what did JRR Tolkien think of Dune? \+ …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Philip Pullman vs CS Lewis: Do we need a true myth? Play in Edifi Player

    Philip Pullman vs CS Lewis: Do we need a true myth?

    Is Christianity judgemental? Was Lewis too quick to judge his own characters? Can our imagination point us to the truth? From Star Wars and Doctor Who to His Dark Materials, Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter explore why myths continue to shape our imagination. Is there a "myth-shaped hole" in the human mind? Are we wired to search for meaning through story? Their discussion ranges from Lewis' idea of Christianity as the "true myth" to liberal humanism, imagination, truth and some of the most …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Why did Philip Pullman call Narnia a "filthy lie"? Play in Edifi Player

    Why did Philip Pullman call Narnia a "filthy lie"?

    Did CS Lewis really get Susan so wrong? Philip Pullman's famous attack on The Chronicles of Narnia sparks a fascinating discussion as Christian writer Caleb Woodbridge and science-fiction critic Damien Walter unpack the infamous "problem of Susan", accusations of sexism and whether CS Lewis' stories are morally dangerous. This is the first part of a programme originally broadcast on the Unbelievable? podcast. Listen next week to hear part two of the conversation. \+ Support us here: …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Peter S Williams: CS Lewis, Richard Dawkins and Jesus Play in Edifi Player

    Peter S Williams: CS Lewis, Richard Dawkins and Jesus

    How would CS Lewis respond to Richard Dawkins' views about Jesus? Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist, gave a seminar on the topic: 'If CS Lewis met Dawkins, how would he respond to the New Atheists?' This is the third part of his presentation and includes audience Q&A.; \+ Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate \+ …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Peter S Williams: CS Lewis, Richard Dawkins and ethics Play in Edifi Player

    Peter S Williams: CS Lewis, Richard Dawkins and ethics

    What would CS Lewis have thought about Dawkins' view of freedom, responsibility and ethics? Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist, gave a seminar on the topic: 'If CS Lewis met Dawkins, how would he respond to the New Atheists?' This is the second part of his presentation. \+ Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate \+ …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Peter S Williams: How would CS Lewis respond to Richard Dawkins and the New Atheists? Play in Edifi Player

    Peter S Williams: How would CS Lewis respond to Richard Dawkins and the New Atheists?

    Does Dawkins have a self-contradictory view of faith and knowledge? CS Lewis would likely have thought so according to Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist. Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter gave a seminar on the topic: 'If CS Lewis met Dawkins, how would he respond to the New Atheists?' This is the first part of his presentation. \+ Support us here: …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Laura Miller and Michael Ward: Was Lewis racist and sexist? Play in Edifi Player

    Laura Miller and Michael Ward: Was Lewis racist and sexist?

    Are The Narnia Chronicles sexist and racist? Did Lewis explicitly avoid sexuality in the novels? In the final part of their discussion (originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009), literary critic Laura Miller and CS Lewis expert Michael Ward explore some of the criticisms levelled against Lewis and his fiction. For a recent discussion around these issues, check out Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter on Unbelievable here …

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast Laura Miller and Michael Ward: Is Christianity good? Play in Edifi Player

    Laura Miller and Michael Ward: Is Christianity good?

    In the second part of their discussion (originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009), literary critic Laura Miller and CS Lewis expert Michael Ward explore Narnia, Christianity and myth. \+ Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate \+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast \+ For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/

  • The C.S. Lewis podcast #269 Laura Miller and Michael Ward: A sceptic in Narnia Play in Edifi Player

    #269 Laura Miller and Michael Ward: A sceptic in Narnia

    Literary critic Laura Miller was captivated by Lewis’ Narnia stories as a child. As a teenager, she learnt of the Christian parallels in the books and felt “cheated and betrayed”. She was joined by Michael Ward, a leading expert on CS Lewis and author of Planet Narnia. This episode was originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009 \+ Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate \+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast \+ For more …

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