CS Lewis abandoned childhood faith to become an atheist, at 13 or 15 (Wikipedia contradicts itself, will be fixed later). He remained an atheist until age 31, at which point he converted to Christianity and became known as “The Apostle to the Skeptics”. (I’m not saying “converted back”, as childhood faith and adult faith does look rather different.)
While there is great value and truth to be found in CS Lewis’ works, I think he made one critical error: he thought in terms of labels.
Labels divide, and often identity is found in the label rather than in the “truth”. It is a completely understandable error though, the dangers of modernistic thinking were not as well known during his time. Additionally, biblical scholarship has progressed significantly since then…
Now I’m going to sound like the creationists that argue “CS Lewis would have been a young earth creationist had he only known of the ‘progress’ we have recently made in our ’scientific’ understanding of creationism”. Hehe, funny stuff that, but anyway… (There is no way CS Lewis would ever have been a creationist, sorry…)
I think, had CS Lewis lived today, he would have drawn on contemporary biblical scholarship and post-modernistic thinking, and it could have helped his case a lot.
It should go without saying that all of this is merely my opinion. Please think for yourselves, guys (and gals), thanks. Hopefully you can recognise truth when you see it - I am certain I will utter some truth, and some falsehoods. It is up to you to “beproef alle dinge en behou die goeie” (what’s that in English? BibleGateway.com doesn’t have Afrikaans) - and do bear in mind that that is hyperbole as well:
Sorry about the bad layout… the last frame says “Told yer so.” Click on the comic to visit the original.
12 responses so far ↓
1 Steve // Oct 31, 2007 at 8:00 am
1 Thess. 5:21: Test everything. Hold on to the good. (NIV).
Here’s a question for you. Do you really think CS Lewis thought with labels, or that he just used labels as a tool, something to work with, something to illustrate his points. (I guess we’re heading towards the “false” trichotomy here…)
As an aside, I sometimes find the post-modernist rejection of labels to be a little smug. There’s quite a difference between saying that objects can’t always be pushed into ticky-tacky boxes, and saying there is no use for such boxes.
2 Hugo // Oct 31, 2007 at 8:23 am
Ah, thanks!
CS Lewis, like *everyone*, including post-modernists, make use of labels, and think with labels. We can’t avoid it, it is how we communicate. However, it is also dangerous… we’re getting to that. And I wasn’t even thinking of the “false” trichotomy. (BTW, NT Wright also criticises the trichotomy, and claims it is damaging.)
I agree that post-modernists need to remain humble. They need to realise how dependent they really are on labels, as much as labels suck.
3 Steve // Oct 31, 2007 at 9:35 am
You seem to have misunderstood my question. I was trying to ask whether you think that CS Lewis was unaware that his labels were not exact.
Your post seems to indicate this (you call it a “critical error”).
The alternative possibility I suggest is that he was well aware of the shortcoming of labels, but had to use something in his writing.
4 Hugo // Oct 31, 2007 at 9:51 am
Ah, thanks for persevering. I understand now, I think.
Yes, CS Lewis would certainly have been aware that words do not really carry any meaning. (They are merely used as pointers to meaning. Words are defined by the way words are used.)
He was certainly aware of that. But we are all fallable. I suggest had he taken it a little further, it may have helped his case. I agree “a critical error” is rather strongly stated.
I should get around to pointing out where I differ from the good professor within the week.
In the mean time, keep it up! Be bold! Be critical! Yes, that includes you, you lurker! Drop your pride, accept you may also make mistakes, and give us your opinion! That is the best way to learn…
5 Negate // Nov 1, 2007 at 12:55 am
Don’t think their is any problems with labels, but more with how they are being used. No one person can be summed up in one label. Then you get the general error, where if some or most people act a certain way under a label it is assumed that all people under the label act that way.
Don’t think there is enough space on my body for all the labels that i must wear if i wanted to be interpreted for who i am.
When someone is not taken seriously, you get away with labeling the opposition and passing your prejudice as a joke or insult.
Aren’t we all guilty of thinking in labels?
6 Charl Botha // Nov 4, 2007 at 3:02 pm
You’re all so web 1.0.
Tags is where it’s at, not labels.
7 Hugo // Nov 4, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Sharp, and so true! (Tell that to Google…, btw.)
So how would you guys like to tag me then?
8 Linda // Dec 2, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis’ books, but I have recently had similar questions about his inability to think outside of his “religious” thought.
Someone above asked:
Yes, I think we are… Is it possible to get away from it? I’ve tried but have not succeeded, so I have decided to just accept it for now.
The question for me is: Do the labels have control over us, or do we have control over the labels?
9 lousirr // Dec 2, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Hear!
Blessed is Linda!
For she has seen.
The Truth.
A glimmer
of hope!
Grasp!
Run with it!
For that?
is life
is freedom.
The Meh.
10 lousirr // Dec 4, 2007 at 7:28 am
Freeeeeeeeeddddoooooooooooommmmmmmm!
Sorry, just had to do that.
11 Linda // Dec 4, 2007 at 7:43 am
Gosh, Hugo! You scare me sometimes with your radical randomness (or random radicalness).
People think you’re crazy, but I understand where you’re coming from, so does that make me crazy???
12 lousirr // Dec 4, 2007 at 8:19 am
What do you think?
Wash, rinse, repeat?
Hehe, I suppose
it may be
inevitable
anyway?
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