DESCRIPTION: This course surveys a wide range of C. S. Lewis's theological and imaginative writings, with a view to major themes, including apologetic, theological, and spiritual.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course should enhance a student's basic factual and thematic knowledge of the life, writings, and theology of C. S. Lewis; help students gain a basic competence in how to interpret Lewis's theology; help students gain a greater ability to evaluate various theological issues and their development; and provide students with the tools and knowledge for a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the breadth, unity, and diversity of Lewis's life and theological contribution.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The effective practice of Christian ministry will be enhanced by developing an understanding of - and appreciation for - the remarkable impact of C. S. Lewis's contributions, not only to the area of Christian apologetics but also to the world of the imagination (i.e., fiction with a profound spiritual component). While our classroom investigations and discussions will be primarily biographical, theological, and literary in nature, every effort will be made to set aside time in class for the practical application of the material under consideration.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet each weekday during a two-week period, for a total of between 30 and 40 hours. Time will be devoted to lectures, questions/answers, and discussion.

REQUIRED READING: A minimum of 1200 pages of reading selected from the following list. All books written by C. S. Lewis unless designated otherwise. Though for some of the classes students have a choice of more than one volume, only one volume from each class can be included in the 1200 page count:

Class 1 (Note: Pre-reading assignment): Surprised by Joy. Harcourt, 1975. 0156870118 (238 pp.)

Class 2: Como, James T., ed. Remembering C. S. Lewis. Ignatius, 2005. 9781586171087 (509 pages),
Or Poe, Harry, and Rebecca Poe, C. S. Lewis Remembered. Zondervan, 2006. 0310265096 (272 pages)

Class 3: Mere Christianity. HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. 0060652926 (227 pp.)

Class 4: Class 4: Miracles. HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. 0060653019 (304 pages),
Or God in the Dock. Eerdmans, 1970. 0802808689 (340 pages),
Or The Pilgrim's Regress. Eerdmans, 1992. 0802806414 (219 pages)

Class 5: Class 5: The Chronicles of Narnia. HarperCollins, 2004. 0060598247 (784 pages)

Class 6: Out of the Silent Planet. Scribner, 2003. 0743234901 (160 pages),
Or Perelandra. Scribner, 2003. 074323491X (192 pages),
Or That Hideous Strength. Scribner, 2003. 0743234928 (384 pages)

Class 7: The Screwtape Letters. HarperSanFrancisco, 2001 0060652934 (224 pp.),
Or The Great Divorce. HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. 0060652950 (160 pp.)

Class 8: The Problem of Pain. HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. 0060652969 (176 pp.),
Or A Grief Observed. HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. 0060652381 (112 pp.)

Class 9: The Abolition of Man. HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. 0060652942 (81 pp.)

Carpenter, Humphrey. The Inklings. Houghton Mifflin, 1979.

Ford, Paul F. Companion to Narnia. HarperSanFrancisco, 2004.

Goffar, Janine. The C. S. Lewis Index. Crossway, 1995.

Hooper, Walter, ed. The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis. Vols. 1-3. HarperSanFrancisco, 2004-2007.

_________. C. S. Lewis Companion and Guide. HarperSanFrancisco, 1996.

Schultz, Jeffrey, and West, John G., Jr., eds. The C. S. Lewis Readers' Encyclopedia. Zondervan, 1988.