C.S. Lewis Book Discussions!

[SilverBigBack]

Good day everyone!
I did not, in any of my shallow digging, discover any threads on here that discuss the author C.S. Lewis or any of his works.
I am a great C.S. Lewis enjoyer. I am confident I have many fellow fans around here.
I think there is a lot of fun and potentially fruitful discussion waiting to be had here. Some starter questions to help get those thought juices flowing:

What is your favorite book by C.S. Lewis, and why?

How have the words of C.S. Lewis affected your walk with God?

If you could say one thing to CSL right now, what would it be?

Personally I don't know if I can pin down one favorite book right now, but I have enjoyed every one I have read. So instead I'll offer up Till we Have Faces. This book struck me because I found the underlying message of shame and identity to be very moving.

What are your thoughts? I am very eager to engage!

 

[shittim]

Screwtape Letters

 

[SilverBigBack]

Screwtape Letters

Ah! My dear Wormwood...
I will never forget the lines about [paraphrasing] "Seeing the church for who she really is, not as a musty old stone building where the man with the squeaky shoes and the woman with the absurd hat come for the weekly gossip, but as a terrible army with banners, spread across time..."
Certainly an imperfect quote, but it's lines like that that can facilitate a cold splash of conviction.

What makes it your favorite?

 

[shittim]

Many , but the one that sticks out is how I brought it to the breakfast table and shared it with my mother. (after dad went home I cared for her)
She opened it to a page a read the line about "The sharp tongued old lady at the end of the breakfast table", so not really a source of divine inspiration. Why did that occur? lol!
She laughed too.
The parts warning of how the devil works with distraction and such were beneficial.
This was around the same time Smith Wigglesworth was mentoring Lester Sumrall.
blessings

 

[Seeker47]

...not the easiest or most fun, but Miracles must be at the top of my list for it's profound influence. The Great Divorce must also be mentioned. I found A Grief Observed was pure pain to read.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Screwtape Letters

I would enjoy discussing that book (or collection of short stories), as well, and it can be read for free online at a number of different sites.

For instance,

The Screwtape Letters read online free by C. S. Lewis - Novel12 ​

~Deuteronomy

 

[enril]

Mere christianity.
Alos I loved A grief observed, as i observe much of my own struggles is how he writes for those.
although I am sure its painful for those not as insane as us. (chesterton reference)

 

[Seeker47]

I would enjoy discussing that book (or collection of short stories), as well, and it can be read for free online at a number of different sites.

For instance,

The Screwtape Letters read online free by C. S. Lewis - Novel12 ​

~Deuteronomy

The final letter, #31 I think, still sends chills down my spine.

I once did a Church Class on The Letters. An Associate Pastor who did not bother to attend any of the first sessions came into the class in the middle of a presentation. I was accused of heresy. He later admitted he did not know anything about the book. Funny but painful.

 

[Lynx]

If Aslan squared off with my house cat, I wonder which one would back down first. One has all the confidence of being God, and the other is the Lion of judah.

 

[SilverBigBack]

Many , but the one that sticks out is how I brought it to the breakfast table and shared it with my mother. (after dad went home I cared for her)
She opened it to a page a read the line about "The sharp tongued old lady at the end of the breakfast table", so not really a source of divine inspiration. Why did that occur? lol!
She laughed too.
The parts warning of how the devil works with distraction and such were beneficial.
This was around the same time Smith Wigglesworth was mentoring Lester Sumrall.
blessings

I do not mean to promote immaturity, but I must confess that I got a good chuckle from many parts of the book; yet it is a haunting read. He effectively summarizes so many little white lies I found myself almost subconsciously slipping into.

 

[SilverBigBack]

...not the easiest or most fun, but Miracles must be at the top of my list for it's profound influence. The Great Divorce must also be mentioned. I found A Grief Observed was pure pain to read.

I have not yet read Miracles! On the list. The Great Divorce is another great one; I can see myself in so many of the characters. The part where the angel offered to kill the little lizard lust, but the character hesitated, fearing his own pain, always stuck in my mind. What was your favorite part?
A Grief Observed helped me process long-buried grief from my losing a loved one in my childhood. I'm not sure how much grief you have or have not endured, but it helps make the book applicable.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

 

[shittim]

Saw a video on Watchman Nee, he spoke of how one compromise by the RCC built upon a previous compromise has led to the final product no longer resembling the original.
So it is with these little transgressions and we?
blessings

 

[SilverBigBack]

Mere christianity.
Alos I loved A grief observed, as i observe much of my own struggles is how he writes for those.
although I am sure its painful for those not as insane as us. (chesterton reference)

Ah yes, the classic. The liar, lunatic or Lord logic is still at the front lines of apologetics today. What made it stand out for you?
Thank you for sharing!

 

[SilverBigBack]

The final letter, #31 I think, still sends chills down my spine.

I once did a Church Class on The Letters. An Associate Pastor who did not bother to attend any of the first sessions came into the class in the middle of a presentation. I was accused of heresy. He later admitted he did not know anything about the book. Funny but painful.

That sounds like it would have been an enjoyable class! I hope you and the AP made up I believe I heard a quote once, about Lewis really feeling down during the writing because he was forcing himself to see everything through the hopeless and evil eyes of demons

 

[Seeker47]

I have not yet read Miracles! On the list. The Great Divorce is another great one; I can see myself in so many of the characters. The part where the angel offered to kill the little lizard lust, but the character hesitated, fearing his own pain, always stuck in my mind. What was your favorite part?
A Grief Observed helped me process long-buried grief from my losing a loved one in my childhood. I'm not sure how much grief you have or have not endured, but it helps make the book applicable.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I also thought the lizard scene was a high point. The woman who would not forgive God is yet another.

There is a lesser-know Lewis book, Reflection on the Psalms. It's not his most recognized work. I struggled with most of it, but Chapter IX - A Word About Praising ended up being fundamental to my faith. Lewis hoped it was a chapter "unnecessary for most people" but it was absolutely necessary for me.

 

[SilverBigBack]

I also thought the lizard scene was a high point. The woman who would not forgive God is yet another.

There is a lesser-know Lewis book, Reflection on the Psalms. It's not his most recognized work. I struggled with most of it, but Chapter IX - A Word About Praising ended up being fundamental to my faith. Lewis hoped it was a chapter "unnecessary for most people" but it was absolutely necessary for me.

Really! That is one I have yet to read, with Miracles and Surprised by Joy. You make me want to pick it up! Hearing a literary critic like Lewis' opinion on the Psalms must be quite interesting.
Apparently Lewis had some shaky beliefs about the inspiration / infallacy of scripture- was it that or something else that made the book a struggle for you?

 

[enril]

Ah yes, the classic. The liar, lunatic or Lord logic is still at the front lines of apologetics today. What made it stand out for you?
Thank you for sharing!

I'm... not sure what you mean...?
maybe a reference to eithrer something i forgot in MC or Something I have not got to in Orthodoxy?

 

[Seeker47]

Really! That is one I have yet to read, with Miracles and Surprised by Joy. You make me want to pick it up! Hearing a literary critic like Lewis' opinion on the Psalms must be quite interesting.
Apparently Lewis had some shaky beliefs about the inspiration / infallacy of scripture- was it that or something else that made the book a struggle for you?

I am far from a classically trained scholar. I found "Psalms" difficult as Lewis did not "dumb down" some of his thoughts as much as he did in other books. He begins by urging us to consider the psalms as written, songs and poetry. Some were easier than others. (I probably need to go back and try the book again).

 

[shittim]

Ask Him to illuminate His message to you from the text.
He is always faithful.
blessings

 

[SilverBigBack]

I'm... not sure what you mean...?
maybe a reference to eithrer something i forgot in MC or Something I have not got to in Orthodoxy?

If my memory serves me correctly that was one of his leading points in Mere Christianity, in arguing the existence and Lordship of Jesus (when He claimed to be God, He was either blatantly lying, an insane madman, or telling the truth). But my memory is an unreliable servant. Either way it's a good foundational book to understanding the faith.
Sorry if I caused any confusion.