When Lewis first read Wordsworth’s Prelude in 1919, at the age of 21, he was not very impressed by it. He reported the following to Arthur Greeves: "You will perhaps be surprised to hear that I am reading ‘The Prelude’ by way of graduating in Wordsworth-ism. What’s even funnier, I rather like it! I’m coming to the conclusion that there Read More ›
For a long time literary snobs have sneered at science fiction, considering it something other than serious literature. C. S. Lewis knew better. Coming of age early in this century, his generation was as captivated by H. G. Wells’s stories of space and time travel as today’s generation is by movies and television programs on those same themes. In his Read More ›
It is increasingly difficult to say anything new about C. S. Lewis; perhaps you have noticed. And to say that he was a responsible scholar appears to be among the least interesting things to say; but no statement is truer. By "scholar," I refer to one whose vocation is academic inquiry, one who marshals evidence in the pursuit of theses Read More ›
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried. –G. K. Chesterton, What’s Wrong with the World Now theology is like the map… Consequently, if you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of Read More ›
FOREWORDBy George Weigel There is an irony in asking C.S. Lewis how Christians should talk about political issues. As A.N. Wilson recently wrote in a newspaper, "C.S. Lewis never read a newspaper in his life. It did him no harm, though it did lead to some confusion–as when he had a passionate argument with his brother, ruefully admitting at Read More ›
INTRODUCTION By John G. West, Jr. Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute Many people today seem to think that religion in politics is somehow a new phenomenon. It isn’t. Religion has never stayed out of politics, especially in America. During the Revolutionary War, ministers urged their congregations to resist King George. During the early 1800s, clergy and laity alike spearheaded campaigns Read More ›
CHAPTER 1: HOW SHOULD PEOPLE OF FAITH TALK ABOUT POLITICAL ISSUES? Christians and other people of faith often disagree about how to articulate their moral concerns in the public arena. Some call for framing policy questions explicitly in terms of "Biblical values" or the "Judeo-Christian tradition," while others advocate a more secular approach, stressing"family values" or "natural law." As Read More ›
Chapter 2: HOW CAN PEOPLE OF FAITH APPLY MORALITY TO POLITICS? In ancient and medieval political philosophy, prudence was the crown of the moral virtues because it showed one how to apply the other moral virtues in particular cases. The virtue of prudence remains of critical political importance today. Even if we know the moral standard to apply to Read More ›
CHAPTER 4: WHAT ARE THE THREATS TO FREEDOM IN MODERN SOCIETY? C.S. Lewis expressed concern about how the modern state could undermine human freedom and dignity if policymakers adopted the approach of modern social science. At the same time, Lewis also doubted the ability of any government to permanently reshape and subordinate a nation’s citizenry. The essays in this Read More ›
CHAPTER 5: HOW SHOULD PEOPLE OF FAITH BECOME INVOLVED IN POLITICS? Should Christians or other people of faith form their own political parties, or should they work through the existing party system? Should they form exclusively religious political groups, or should they form political coalitions with people outside their faith traditions? What are the dangers and temptations religious adherents face Read More ›