The Conversion of CS Lewis
By Duncan Rize

Many of us have visited Narnia during childhood. The Chronicles of Narnia, a vivid, charming and imaginative series, are enjoyable on their own merits. However, the author, C. S. Lewis had other motivations when he penned these stories. They mirror his conversion to Christianity, and the all the characters and situations are allegorical representations of Christian Doctrine. Aslan, the Lion, represents a Christ figure, wise, all knowing and benevolent. He, like Christ, was sacrificed and resurrected--Christ on the cross and Aslan on the stone table.

C. S. (Clive Staples) Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1898. He proved early on to have poor aptitude for math but much facility for language. He published professionally for the first time in 1919, a magazine article called “Death in Battle.”

He studied at Oxford from 1919 to 1924 and received an honors degree in the Classics, Ancient History and English literature. He went on to become a philosophy tutor at the same college, for 29 years.

What caused this scholar, philosopher and skeptic to change his focus and views on Christianity? C. S. Lewis began his career as a decided non-believer. He began to doubt the full capacity of the intellect to totally explain the questions of life. This shift started at the death of his boyhood tutor. This experience caused Lewis a feeling of uncertainty. He began to realize that there were questions in life that reason and intelligence, in themselves, do not cause.

His friend and mentors were also part of his conversion process. One night, he had took a long walk and enjoyed an involved conversation with J. R. R. Tolkien, a devout Catholic and author of the Lord of the Rings series, as well as Hugh Dyson, another Christian and Professor of Reading at Oxford University. Their words answered his lingering doubts and questions. As Lewis described it: in Surprised by Joy, "When we set out to Warnade Zoo, I did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did."

C. S. Lewis was converted by the evidence that Jesus Christ was the Savior and became known as “ The Apostle to the Skeptics.” He devoted the rest of his writing life to works based on his Christian faith. He wrote a number of books and articles that explain the Christianity and why faith and reason are compatible.

In his Christian writings Lewis claims that that the elements to even a reluctant “conversion” are:

• the presence of a mentor to guide the convert,
• the convert exercising his free will,
• the presence of supernatural forces which, optimally, drive the convert to submission,
• Pain associated with the conversion process and a blessing or curse as a consequence of the choice.

The Chronicles of Narnia mirror the process. We have a group of curious children entering a secret door to a new land. This may represent the questioning or longing that motivates the convert. The children are assisted and mentored by Aslan the Lion.

Edmund is the epitome of the reluctant convert, when he is tempted by magic and the wiles of the White Witch. These can be the supernatural forces that push a person to conversion. Edmund betrays the other to the white Witch and can only be saved by Aslan’s sacrifice at the stone table. This is very painful for Edmund and drives him into belief in the wholesome magic. Then the blessings follow when Aslan is restored to them.

C. S. Lewis displays both his genius and faith when he wrote this remarkable series that serves both as a wonderful story and a reaffirming of Christian faith. He has served, even after his death, as a mentor and role model to reluctant converts who are drawn into the charm of Narnia, and then discover that the Christian author was once a non-believer. It is a wonder legacy and testament to belief in Christ as Savior.  






Duncan Rize loves the writings of C.S. Lewis and works with the marketing group at www.LearningByGrace.org. Learning by Grace manages of a number of internationally known online K-12 academies including www.TheGraceAcademy.org, www.TheJubileeAcademy.org, www.TheMorningStarAcademy.org and www.TheNarniaAcademy.org . This article is © 2005 ELRN, Inc. and may be quoted in whole or part as long as the author (Duncan Rize) and source (www.TheNarniaAcademy.org) are credited.