The latest in my Learn Something New Every Day blog series. CS Lewis and his fascination with the supernatural (from The Great Courses’ “Life and Writings of CS Lewis”)
- As a young man, Lewis had a ‘ravenous, erotic lust’ for occultism but, ultimately, found it unsatisfying.
- He chose to convert from atheism to Christianity because it was the closest mainstream religion to his belief system, but he still held a strong belief in the supernatural which he was able to fit in neatly around the Christianity
- Lewis suggested that, when viewed thru a Christian lens, the pagan myths were a “key to deeper spiritual understanding”
- Lewis believed that if we desired something that our natural world couldn’t provide it had to mean that the thing must exist in the supernatural world. Somewhere.
- He believed that mankind’s constant surprise at the effects of passing time made “as much sense as a fish being constantly surprised that water is wet” and said that made no sense unless the fish was destined, someday, to be a land-dweller. Thus, he believed, mankind is supposed/destined to be eternal.
- Lewis believed in agape or supernatural love which transcended natural love.
Interesting. I’d read that CS Lewis was a devout Christian but his books always made me wonder what ‘devout’ actually meant. This gives me a bit more insight. Thank you.
And I like the idea of agape. I’m just not convinced that mankind is capable of it. I do believe a few have ascended to it, but…well, I’m worried that we (as in humanity) are becoming so self-obsessed that we will never be able to attain such transcendental love.
Dana