The Theology of C.S. Lewis

White Horse Inn — December 28, 2025
Hosts: Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, Walter R. Strickland II
Guest: Sophia Holcomb

Episode Overview

In this episode, the White Horse Inn panel—joined by C.S. Lewis scholar Sophia Holcomb—unpacks the breadth, influence, and enduring theological resonance of C.S. Lewis's works. From his apologetic classic Mere Christianity and the satirical Screwtape Letters to profound meditations like A Grief Observed and The Four Loves, the conversation considers Lewis's humble style, recurring themes of beauty and desire, and his unique ability to connect deep Christian truths with the modern mind. The roundtable also highlights how to thoughtfully engage places where Lewis’s thought departs from traditional orthodoxy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lewis’s Approach to Nonfiction

Sophia Holcomb (03:54):

• Always read Lewis’s prefaces: “That is where Lewis sets out his goal for a book. He gives a humble approach... discovering [the subject] alongside them.”
• Lewis wrote across genres: essays, letters, poetry, spiritual meditations, etc.
• Central themes:
  • Miracles and the supernatural
  • Reading Psalms through literary and theological perspectives
  • Human love (“Philia, eros, storge, agape”) as experienced and interpreted by Christians
  • Suffering and faith (A Grief Observed)
  • Metaphysics and moral reasoning—real “solid reality,” not mere sentiment
  • The person of Jesus Christ shows up in virtually every discussion

Quote:
“He holds faith and doubt in beautiful tension in that book [A Grief Observed].” (05:01, Sophia Holcomb)

2. Fiction as Theological Symbolism

Sophia Holcomb (07:37):

• Lewis regarded myths and symbols as essential for discussing the deepest Christian truths, especially God’s love.
• Notable works:
  • Space Trilogy: Polytheism as a metaphor for monotheistic redemption; uses planets and cosmic beings. “He sneaks Christianity into people’s minds in a romantic way.”
  • The Great Divorce: Depiction of heaven’s “realness” relative to hell; dualism; fruition of God’s love.
  • Till We Have Faces: “He works Jesus into Greek mythology.” Retells the story of Cupid and Psyche; explores the need for divine love.

3. The Origin of Screwtape and Mere Christianity

Sophia Holcomb (14:08):

• Screwtape Letters: Inspired by Lewis’s reaction to a 1940 Hitler broadcast—struck by its persuasive power, even knowing it was false:
  • “Statements that I know to be untrue all but convinced me. At any rate, for the moment.” (00:39, Sophia Holcomb quoting Lewis)
• Lewis satirically exposed temptation by narrating from the perspective of a demon (Screwtape).
• Publication made him famous in America, but unpopular among English academic colleagues.

Notable Moment:
People mistakenly thought Screwtape Letters was real advice and branded Lewis a heretic! (15:15)

• Mere Christianity: Commissioned by the BBC during WWII for national reassurance; based on radio talks.
• Lewis excelled at making Christian doctrine accessible without formal theological training; “He starts by explaining sin in a very kind and gentle way... so that people wanted to keep tuning in and listening.” (16:10)

4. Lewis’s Accessibility and Humility

• His lack of formal theology training made him relatable:
  • “Sometimes when you're confused in a class, a peer might be able to clear up your confusion better than a professor would.” (18:35, Sophia Holcomb, paraphrasing Lewis)
• Lewis intended to stand “with” his readers, discovering as a peer rather than lecturing as a professor.

5. Beauty, Desire, and Apologetic Appeal

Walter Strickland (19:15), Sophia Holcomb, Justin Holcomb

• Lewis’s apologetics appeal not only to truth and goodness, but beauty.
• Lewis on longing and beauty:
  • “If I find a desire in myself which nothing in this world can satisfy, that must mean I was made for another world.” (20:44, Sophia Holcomb quoting Lewis)
  • “When I was happiest that I longed the most. The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing to find a place where all the beauty came from.” (21:00, Justin Holcomb quoting Till We Have Faces)
• Lewis’s apologetics make listeners wish Christianity were true, even before they believe.

6. Recommended Lewis Works (Non-Narnia)

Panel Favorites:

• Screwtape Letters (Mike Horton, 21:48):
  • Sobering depiction of subtle temptation
  • “The adversary sort of hides himself in a veneer of goodness and then I sort of reach for it, take the bait, and get the hook is what I get.” (22:02, Mike Horton)
• The Weight of Glory (Walter Strickland, 24:07):
  • Explores unimaginable future glory for believers; glory as “something heavy laid upon us, like a crown and a robe rather than a cross and a crown of thorns.”
  • “We’re like children making mud pies in the slums when we could be having a holiday at the sea.” (25:19, Walter Strickland quoting Lewis)
• A Grief Observed (Sophia Holcomb, 27:09):
  • Profound honesty in grief; “holding doubt and faith not as opposites, not as antithesis, but in tension.”
• Till We Have Faces (Justin Holcomb, 29:19):
  • “Goes through belief, identity, desire, the unveiled self... It was very formative for me.”
• The Four Loves (Bob Hiller, 31:36):
  • Essential reading on love, friendship, and self-sacrifice

7. On Lewis’s “Unorthodox” Theological Stances

• Not every Lewis position is traditionally orthodox; often veiled or presented as food for thought.
• Panel’s approach:
  • “He was wrong.” (35:39, Justin Holcomb, tongue-in-cheek)
  • “It's okay for us to engage with people… even that we might not see eye to eye with them on every doctrine.” (35:40, Bob Hiller)
  • “If we can learn from Plato, Aristotle, and Wittgenstein, then certainly we can learn from one of our own brothers who never claimed to be a theologian.” (36:23, Walter Strickland)
• Sophia Holcomb:
  • “He called himself a converted pagan living in a land of apostate Puritans.” (36:54)
• Lewis welcomed challenge and revision (e.g., rewriting after being challenged by philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe).

8. Final Reflections and Must-Read Essays

Panelists share favorite essays and lines:

• Theology and Poetry (“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” (43:00, Justin Holcomb quoting Lewis))
• The Seeing Eye (Hamlet can only know Shakespeare if the author writes himself into the play—analogy for Incarnation)
• God in the Dock: Myth Became Fact (Lewis’s view how Christianity fulfills the world’s mythic longings)
• Man or Rabbit (on striving to become fully human and known by God)
• Learning in Wartime (“Stay the course of the calling God has given you, even in times of global upheaval.”)
• Christianity and Literature (“Christian cookery” analogy; we don’t make something Christian by mere style or method)
• Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe: “Here is your brother and there is no need to talk to him about what has passed.” (45:46, Justin Holcomb)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Statements that I know to be untrue all but convinced me. At any rate, for the moment.” — C.S. Lewis on hearing Hitler’s speech (00:39, Sophia Holcomb quoting Lewis)
• “He holds faith and doubt in beautiful tension in that book [A Grief Observed].” (05:01, Sophia Holcomb)
• “He sneaks Christianity into people’s minds in a romantic way.” (08:08, Sophia Holcomb)
• “If I find a desire in myself which nothing in this world can satisfy, that must mean I was made for another world.” (20:44, Sophia Holcomb)
• “It made me more sober, mindful, and watchful of my adversary…” — Mike Horton on Screwtape Letters (22:02)
• “We're like children making mud pies in the slums when we could be having a holiday at the sea.” — Walter Strickland (25:19)
• “Holding doubt and faith not as opposites, but in tension, and that we’re invited to ask questions.” — Sophia Holcomb (27:09)
• “It actually takes courage to believe in God and it takes courage to follow God because I don’t really have to do anything different from who I am and what I think in order to just lay on my couch and dispute God’s existence.” — Walter Strickland (25:43)
• “He called himself a converted pagan living in a land of apostate Puritans.” — Sophia Holcomb (36:54)
• “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” — C.S. Lewis (43:00, quoted by Justin Holcomb)
• “Here is your brother, and there is no need to talk to him about what has passed.” — The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (45:46, Justin Holcomb)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:39 – Sophia Holcomb: Lewis’s reaction to Hitler’s speech & genesis of Screwtape Letters
• 03:54 – Sophia Holcomb: Approaching Lewis's nonfiction and main themes
• 07:37 – Sophia Holcomb: Fiction as a vehicle for theological symbol and myth
• 14:08 – Sophia Holcomb: WWII context of Screwtape and Mere Christianity
• 18:35 – Peer-to-peer explanation—the secret of Lewis's popularity
• 19:15 – Walter Strickland: Beauty as an apologetic
• 21:48/24:07/27:09 – Panelists recommend key works and explain personal impact
• 35:39 – Handling Lewis’s theological variances: “He was wrong.” / Panel on discernment
• 43:00 – Profound personal impact of Lewis's essays explained

Closing Thoughts

The panel celebrates Lewis not as a flawless theological authority, but as a creatively faithful, intellectually generous “peer” whose works continually invite readers and listeners to wrestle with faith, beauty, doubt, joy, and the person of Jesus Christ with honesty and hope.

Bob Hiller (50:25):
“If nothing else, I hope these last two episodes... have whet your appetite to dive into some CS Lewis.”

Suggested Next Reads/Listening:

• Mere Christianity
• The Screwtape Letters
• The Weight of Glory (especially the essay)
• A Grief Observed
• Till We Have Faces
• Man or Rabbit (in God in the Dock)
• The Four Loves (book and audio)