Annie Crawford: How a Sacramental View of the World addresses The Meaning Crisis: That Hideous Strength by C S Lewis

Annie Crawford, a classical educator and cultural apologist, discussed her work in renewing a sacramental view of the world emphasizing the importance of this worldview in addressing the modern meaning crisis as it reveals that meaning is woven into the fabric of creation. Annie defined sacraments as visible signs of invisible grace. She shared her personal journey of rebuilding her life and family around a sacramental view of the world, drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis, Plato, and her experiences in a liturgical church. Discussing the role of moral values in academic discourse, she highlighted the potential risks of falling into postmodern relativism and the influence of critical theory. Karen and Annie explored the idea that embracing certain moral values can serve as a safeguard against these pitfalls and discussed the connection between objective truth, metaphysical truth, and moral discourse. Additionally, they addressed the tension of the "inner ring", the desire to be part of the elite, and the potential moral implications of using it as a motivation for moral endeavors. After that background, they brought in the themes of "That Hideous Strength" by C.S. Lewis, drawing parallels to Augustine's City of God and the biblical dichotomy of the kingdom of heaven versus the kingdom of man. They highlighted the importance of patient waiting and obedience in the process of healing the world. Annie particularly emphasized the idea that grandiose plans and rhetoric are not the key to victory, but rather it is obedience, humility, and quiet faithfulness that play a pivotal role. The conversation underscored the powerful portrayal of these themes by Lewis and the encouragement it provides in understanding the role of obedience in the restoration of the world. The symbolism of the head in Lewis's work draws connections to transhumanist ideologies and depopulation strategies. The prophetic nature of Lewis's writings in relation to current societal trends highlights the relevance of his ideas to contemporary issues. The current concern about the significance of AI and the potential introduction of superhuman intelligences from another world reflects on the broader implications of these concepts in the context of science, faith, and societal evolution.