Introducing C S Lewis as an Apologist

Abstract

This article introduces Lewis as a Christian apologist, exploring his journey to faith and some of the core themes of his defence of Christianity. It opens by locating Lewis in his historical and cultural context, exploring how his teenage atheism gave way to Christianity. It notes some of the reasons that moved Lewis initially towards faith, and subsequently towards seeing himself as an apologist. The article then focusses on a series of themes that are important in Lewis’s apologetic method. Including the need to see reality in a new way, the ability of Christianity to make sense of the world and human existence, Lewis’s use of stories as a means of communicating and defending the Christian faith, and his critique of materialism.