The C.S. Lewis podcast

In this engaging conversation, Alister McGrath, a theologian and former Oxford tutor with extensive writings on C.S. Lewis, delves into Lewis's views on miracles and the imagination. He describes miracles as perspective-dependent signs and argues for their credibility as fundamental to Christian faith. McGrath also explores how Lewis's ideas resonate with modern theological scholarship and counters the New Atheism movement. He emphasizes the role of imagination in theology, suggesting it reveals deeper meanings beyond mere reason.

Joining Ruth Jackson is Alister McGrath, a renowned theologian and author who has extensively studied C.S. Lewis. They dive deep into Lewis’s role as a theologian, discussing how he uses narrative to convey complex theological ideas. Alister highlights Lewis’s influence on modern Christian thought and his impact on education. They also address critiques of Lewis's approach while defending his imaginative theological style. Lastly, Alister reflects on how Lewis shaped his own work, emphasizing the power of stories in theology.

In this discussion, Professor Alister McGrath, a noted theology expert and C.S. Lewis scholar, delves into why many regard Lewis as a non-theologian and critiques the academic dismissal of his work. He describes how Lewis's popular writing has influenced his reputation and highlights contemporary scholars who defend Lewis's contributions. McGrath also explores the evolution of Lewis's standing in theology, emphasizing his role as an organic intellectual and what modern theologians can learn from his unique approach.

In today's episode, Ruth Jackson is joined again by Professor Alister McGrath, to discuss theology in a multi-part series. How do we define theology? What is Alister's experience with it? Was Lewis considered a theologian by others, or even himself? Episode one dives into all of this, and more. + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

We are joined again by Paul Anderson, a Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox Uni­versity in Oregon, for the final episode in this series. In today's episode, we get to hear his paper, which was titled Fern-Seed, Elephants, Bultmann, and Lewis - Varied Expertise in Critical Perspective, live from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference. Paul also provides helpful insight behind his paper. For more on Paul Anderson: George Fox University: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/anderson.html Amazon author's page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-N.-Anderson/author/B001HODFI2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true   Academia and Digital Commons Pages: https://georgefox.academia.edu/PaulAnderson   The JJH Homepage: https://johannine.org/JJH.html   The Fourth Quest paper: https://sats.ac.za/conspectus/conspectus-32/   + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

Paul Anderson, a Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox Uni­versity in Oregon, is back to discuss C.S. Lewis’ approach to the Bible and theology. They explore how Lewis read and interpreted Scripture, how his literary background shaped his perspective, and how he balanced critical scholarship with personal devotion. What can we learn from Lewis about holding faith and reason together? They also consider Lewis’s influence on contemporary debates around miracles, biblical authority, and New Testament studies, and whether his insights still resonate in today’s increasingly sceptical culture. For more on Paul Anderson: George Fox University: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/anderson.html Amazon author's page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-N.-Anderson/author/B001HODFI2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true   Academia and Digital Commons Pages: https://georgefox.academia.edu/PaulAnderson   The JJH Homepage: https://johannine.org/JJH.html   The Fourth Quest paper: https://sats.ac.za/conspectus/conspectus-32/   + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

Ruth Jackson is joined again by Dr Paul Anderson, Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox University. Paul, a prolific scholar and founding member of the "John, Jesus and History" project, shares insights from his paper presented at the 2024 conference at George Fox University. Together, Ruth and Paul explore Lewis’ classic essay "Fern-seeds and Elephants", in which Lewis critiques biblical scholarship with his memorable “four bleats.” Paul reflects on Lewis’ concerns about critical naturalism, the dismissal of miracles, and the tendency to “read between the lines” while missing the heart of the text. The conversation also considers Rudolf Bultmann’s influence, the challenges of theological education, and how Lewis’ reflections remain relevant today. For more on Paul Anderson: George Fox University: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/anderson.html Amazon author's page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-N.-Anderson/author/B001HODFI2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true   Academia and Digital Commons Pages: https://georgefox.academia.edu/PaulAnderson   The JJH Homepage: https://johannine.org/JJH.html   The Fourth Quest paper: https://sats.ac.za/conspectus/conspectus-32/   + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

Paul Anderson, a Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox University, shares his journey with C.S. Lewis and the impact of his writings on faith. He dives into Lewis’s literary approach to the Bible and his unique views on the Gospel of John. The conversation reveals how John's Gospel fits into the historical quest for Jesus and examines the intriguing debates surrounding it. Anderson also reflects on the relevance of Lewis's insights in today's theological discussions, emphasizing the relationship between faith and scholarship.

Today we are joined by Dr. Max Baker-Hytch, a tutorial fellow in Philosophy at Oxford University, to discuss Lewis and the argument from desire. Covering topics such as whether our deepest longings point to the existence of another world, how naturalists might respond, and whether such desires could have evolutionary origins. The conversation also looks at critiques of Lewis’ view, how it compares to other arguments for God, and whether it still resonates in our modern, secular age. For more on Max: https://philpeople.org/profiles/max-baker-hytch His book with Cambridge University Press entitled God and the Problem of Evidential Ambiguity: https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/abs/god-and-the-problem-of-evidential-ambiguity/9471CE092B20C702803FEA81A75C03F0 + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

Today we are joined by Dr. Max Baker-Hytch, a tutorial fellow in Philosophy at Oxford University, to discuss Lewis and Lewis' argument from reason, as explored in Miracles and beyond. They explore Lewis’ claim that if our thoughts are just the result of natural processes, we have no reason to trust them. Can reason really come from something non-rational? They also discuss how this idea challenges naturalism, what it means for science and belief, and whether Lewis’s argument still matters today. For more on Max: https://philpeople.org/profiles/max-baker-hytch His book with Cambridge University Press entitled God and the Problem of Evidential Ambiguity: https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/abs/god-and-the-problem-of-evidential-ambiguity/9471CE092B20C702803FEA81A75C03F0 + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website