At one point in his life, C.S. Lewis, the famous Christian apologist, was an atheist. But, in 1931, Lewis famously changed his mind about his faith and converted to Christianity. This was an astonishing change of heart in an age when many people were rejecting organized religion and embracing science and philosophy. Lewis’s decision to follow the faith of his ancestors was a fascinating journey that deserves to be examined to provide insight into his beliefs and the reasons behind the conversion.
The reason for C.S. Lewis’s conversion has been subject to much speculation and debate, and a variety of explanations have been put forward. Examining his own writings as well as biographies of his life reveals a complex story that points to his love of exploring ideas, his passion for history, and his strong faith in morality.
Lewis’s initial interest in Christianity came from his deep-rooted religious heritage. He was born into a Christian family, so Christianity formed the cornerstone of his upbringing. His mother’s strong faith in particular appears to have influenced him as he grew up, and his admiration for her surely had an impact on his later conversion.
It is also true, however, that Lewis was a man of considerable intellectual inquiry and evidenced an inquisitive nature when analyzing various philosophical topics. From an early age, Lewis loved to explore ideas, especially those concerning faith and morality. He was an ambitious reader, delving into the works of great thinkers like John Locke, Augustine of Hippo, Aquinas, and George MacDonald. It seems likely that these extended studies began to form the foundation of what would eventually be his own Christian faith.
Lewis also shared a love of history with his close friend J.R.R.Tolkien. The two were both members of the Inklings, a literary society at Oxford composed of writers, artists and intellectuals studying a range of topics from philosophy to fantasy literature. Lewis and Tolkien’s conversations concerning spiritual and historical matters provided the opportunity to share ideas and shape each other’s understanding of Christianity.
In addition to this, Lewis’s conversion can also be linked to his own beliefs about morality. Lewis’s writings are underpinned by an understanding of the importance of having a moral code and a belief in good and evil. This belief strongly coincides with the central themes of Christianity, and it seems likely that Lewis found in Christianity a code of living that resonated with his own moral outlook.
The Influence On Tolken’s Representaton Of Christianity
Lewis’s conversion to Christianity must have clearly had a profound impact on J.R.R. Tolkien, his close friend and fellow Inkling. While Tolkien had been raised in a Catholic family, he himself had lost his faith by the early 1920s, and his works such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were published without clear reference to Christian themes. But, as Tolkien saw Lewis finding purpose and meaning through his newfound faith, he was eventually inspired to start incorporating elements of Christianity into his work, notably as addressed in The Silmarillion, published posthumously in 1977.
Tolkien believed in the power of faith and saw in Lewis his own rediscovered desire to explore Christianity from a scholarly point of view. It appears in many ways to be the case that, in Tolkien’s mind, Lewis had opened doors through which he too was daring to pass. Tolkien was later to describe Lewis as “the one man who could have led me back to faith”, highlighting the large role Lewis played in supporting the rekindling of his own devout beliefs.
Reception From Other Members of the Inklings
Lewis’s new-found faith was not only influential on Tolkien, however, but also on many of the other members of the Inklings. Charles Williams, a romantic poet and good friend of Tolkien and Lewis, became a very curious, almost obsessive, admirer and student of Lewis’s conversion story. Williams was deeply impressed by the transformation Lewis had gone through and often remarked that it was a man of Lewis’s strength of mind and character who could provide a power example for others of the “rabid” materialist age.
Williams’ admiration seems to have been generally shared among the Inklings, and many members began to focus their energy on trying to understand and come to terms with the root factors driving Lewis’s decision. It is clear that his conversion story went on to impact the lives of many who were members of the Inklings, particularly with those of an unbelieving or agnostic background.
Lewis’s Response to His Conversion
To Lewis, his conversion felt like a tortuous struggle between what he had known intellectually to be true and what he truly felt. Such tensions were often expressed through his writings, particularly in The Great Divorce, where he uses the idea of a “bus ride” from hell to Heaven as a metaphor for a journey to a closer relationship with God. He also used strange and often surreal images to give understanding of the inner struggles of faith.
In one particular passage in Mere Christianity, Lewis wrote about how conversion had felt “like waking from a dream”. He seemed to have had a very distinct idea of the truth and power of Christianity from the beginning, even if his knowledge was yet incomplete. To him, the faith simply made sense, and it seems as though Lewis’s conversion was part of a larger personal journey in which he had begun to see something of God’s divine plan.
Conclusion on Lewis’ Conversion
Much of Lewis’s personal journey will always remain mysterious, yet it is possible to identify some core elements of his conversion story. The strength of Lewis’s faith was rooted in his deep religious heritage, the exploration of various philosophical ideas, and the power of his own personal morality. His story resonated with many of his fellow Inklings, and some, like J.R.R.Tolkien, went on to incorporate elements of Christianity into their own works. Ultimately, Lewis’s decision to convert to Christianity provided an immense sense of power and inner peace, something which he expressed poetically in his writings.
Reception Of Lewis’s Work by Other Christian Authors
The impact of Lewis’s conversion stretched far beyond his own inner life. His works have had a strong influence on many other Christian authors, from the Seattle pastor and theologian Eugene Peterson to the Catholic writer Peter Kreeft. They have come to appreciate the clarity, accessibility, and creative style in his writing, which allowed him to reach out to readers of all backgrounds, while never compromising on matters of faith or doctrinal integrity. For example, Peterson expressed admiration for Lewis’s skill in “entering into interesting thoughts, joining them, and making new and imaginative discoveries.”
Lewis was also prominent in the Christian revival in 20th-century America. His books, such as Mere Christianity, were widely read by the American public and provided a powerful source of inspiration for his fellow believers. Churches across the country frequently used his writings in their preaching and book groups, citing Lewis’s characteristic insight and wit as a source of inspiration for their own faith.
Modern Impact Of Lewis’s Work
Today, C.S. Lewis remains firmly embedded in modern Christian discourse as a significant figure, with his writings still impacting many people from all walks of life. He had a deep understanding of the human condition, a powerful insight into faith and spirituality, and a remarkable ability to express complex ideas in simple and engaging ways. He has come to be seen as a symbol of Christian faith, and his conversion story continues to inspire those on a pursuit of divine understanding.
Lewis’s work has also influenced many in the modern Academy. Scholars have often drawn upon his writings in creative and original ways, using his ideas to explore a range of themes from gender, race and class to love, loss and mortality. Lewis stands as a reminder that creativity and scholarship can coexist, and that science and faith are not mutually exclusive. He was a man of extraordinary gifts, and his conversion to Christianity was as a result of a complex set of influences and motivations that continue to inspire today.
Connections With Later Theologians
Lewis’s work has also had an impact on later Christian thinkers, with some drawing very clear parallels between his views and those of classical theologian Augustine of Hippo. Augustine’s Confessions in particular served as an inspiration for Lewis’s own autobiography, Surprised by Joy and is seen by some as being an underlying reason for Lewis’s conversion to Christianity. The similarities between Augustine and Lewis are widely noted by commentators, both in terms of their writing style and also their expressions of personal faith. Lewis’s admiration for Augustine was clear in his work, and it appears that he sought to be a modern-day expositor of the principles of Augustine.
Lewis also drew on a more recent theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, who championed a realism-based Christian theology. Later thinkers such as Miroslav Volf have sought to link Niebuhr’s work with that of Lewis, arguing that both espoused integral elements of Christian belief and thus are united in their articulation of faith. This connection has been seen as a further example of Lewis’s influence in the contemporary theological landscape.
Significance of Lewis’s Conversion
The conversion of C.S. Lewis is significant, not only in terms of the impact it had on his own spiritual journey but also in terms of the impact it has had on generations thereafter. His conversion story serves as an important reminder that faith can be found and explored in intellectual inquiry, and that it is possible to find ones own spiritual footing through careful examination of both one’s own life and the world around them. It is in this way that Lewis provides a potent example to others of how to locate religious purpose and to seek out faith anew.
