DESCRIPTION: A fresh encounter with the life and writings of one of the most creative and influential recent Christian thinkers, this course will draw on a wide range of Lewis's writings--autobiographical, apologetic, topical, fictional and devotional--but focus on a number of key works. We will identify and evaluate Lewis's basic theological beliefs and ask how he helps us reflect on issues of faith and doubt, good and evil, love and friendship, pain and death. We will also consider what Lewis can teach us about communicating a Christian vision of life to a postmodern generation.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Students completing this course will

1. have an in-depth encounter with a role model of integrated Christian thinking and living;

2. discover more creative and accessible ways of communicating the Christian faith;

3. learn how to engage more effectively with an increasingly post-Christian generation.

1. gained knowledge of Lewis's core theological convictions and broader theological vision;

2. developed a more biblically informed, psychologically aware, and missionally oriented Christian understanding;

3. sharpened their ability to draw on everyday life and experience in conveying the most profound truths.

A maximum of 1600 pages taken from the following:

Jacobs, Alan. The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis. Harper, 2005. ISBN: 0060766905. 384 pages.

Lindsley, Art. C. S. Lewis's Case for Christ: Insights from Reason, Imagination and Faith. InterVarsity Press, 2005. ISBN: 0830832858. 216 pages.

Schakel, Peter. The Way into Narnia: A Reader's Guide. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 0802829848. 202 pages.

Kilby, Clyde. The Christian World of C. S. Lewis. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 0802808719. 200 pages.

Plus one each of Lewis' apologetic works, novels, imaginative theological works, and collections of essays.

1. Submit 1-2 page reviews of three of Lewis's writings from different genres in his literary output (15% of final mark).

2. Write a 10 page essay assessing the value of Lewis's treatment of a central theological theme across several of his writings (50% of final mark).

3. Construct a 6-8 page story, allegory, dialogue, letter or ministry resource, for adults or children, that embodies one of Lewis's central ideas (35% of final mark).