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Deviate
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The spirituality of C.S. Lewis 1
#21695265 - 05/18/15 05:24 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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Has anyone here studied his works? I have read mere Christianity and some of his other theological works, and while I think they are all brilliant, the fact remains that there is much brilliant theology written by a great many prophets and saints.
Where C.S. Lewis really stands out as a spiritual writer, to me anyway, is in his theological fiction. Books like the Great Divorce, The Scewtape Letters and his space trilogy which I am reading now have all blown my mind in various ways. Not only do they wrestle with the mysteries of life, but they are also extremely entertaining and enjoyable to read, something which I certainly can't say about all theological works.
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elfstone
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: Deviate]
#21695690 - 05/18/15 07:30 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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I have read all of C.S.Lewis' works multiple times, particularly his fantasy works. At one point I came across a comment he made that he never wrote anything without quoting George MacDonald. This led me to search out MacDonald's writings and, I must say, Lewis was good, but MacDonald is the real master story teller. I bought the collected works of George MacDonald in hardcover from http://www.johannesen.com/ and have since read and reread George MacDonald even more than Lewis' material. (eTexts of all of MacDonald's works are available free from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/127). MacDonald was an awakened Christian mystic who's writings open one's spiritual eyes to the soul dimension like no other author I have ever read, and I have read a LOT. I have studied the literature of all spiritual traditions in depth and, for me at least, there is nothing that has touched my psyche to the depths that his has. Perhaps it is because I am half Scottish on my mother's side and have a Gaelic temperament, but his writings are quite astonishing. Of course, C.S. Lewis also mentions Plato in the Chronicles of Narnia and that led me to study Plato as well as all the Neoplatonists. There is a deep wisdom tradition right at the root of Western civilization; a well we can all benefit drawing from to nourish the development of our souls. At this point in my life, I live from the soul dimension and everything is uttery magical to me, just as it was when I was a child, but now seen with eyes of understanding, thanks to the healing influece of these great mystical writers and, of course, the salutary influence of the Ps. mexicana species of mushroom.
-------------------- γνῶθι σεαυτόν gnōthi seauton know thyself
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder



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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: elfstone]
#21695773 - 05/18/15 07:58 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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It would seem that we have a good deal in common, even down to our signatures.
-------------------- γνῶθι σαὐτόν - Gnothi Seauton - Know Thyself
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Deviate
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: elfstone]
#21712168 - 05/22/15 09:10 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
elfstone said: I have read all of C.S.Lewis' works multiple times, particularly his fantasy works. At one point I came across a comment he made that he never wrote anything without quoting George MacDonald. This led me to search out MacDonald's writings and, I must say, Lewis was good, but MacDonald is the real master story teller. I bought the collected works of George MacDonald in hardcover from http://www.johannesen.com/ and have since read and reread George MacDonald even more than Lewis' material. (eTexts of all of MacDonald's works are available free from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/127). MacDonald was an awakened Christian mystic who's writings open one's spiritual eyes to the soul dimension like no other author I have ever read, and I have read a LOT. I have studied the literature of all spiritual traditions in depth and, for me at least, there is nothing that has touched my psyche to the depths that his has. Perhaps it is because I am half Scottish on my mother's side and have a Gaelic temperament, but his writings are quite astonishing. Of course, C.S. Lewis also mentions Plato in the Chronicles of Narnia and that led me to study Plato as well as all the Neoplatonists. There is a deep wisdom tradition right at the root of Western civilization; a well we can all benefit drawing from to nourish the development of our souls. At this point in my life, I live from the soul dimension and everything is uttery magical to me, just as it was when I was a child, but now seen with eyes of understanding, thanks to the healing influece of these great mystical writers and, of course, the salutary influence of the Ps. mexicana species of mushroom.
thanks i started reading the princess and the goblin.
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mt cleverest
clevendafodil

Registered: 08/19/12
Posts: 2,348
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: elfstone]
#21713428 - 05/23/15 08:34 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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Chronicles of narnia is so fucking good but yeah I agree that George macdonald was on another level, at least spiritually. I have the radio theatre production of At the back of the North Wind, and that story has stuck with me like no other. Apparently mark twain said something similar about it. It personifies death in such a familiar, pleasant way. I'm going to read Lilith next. His biographer son, Greville, wrote: "The way in which my father first wrote Lilith in 1890 is important. He was possessed by a feeling--he would hardly let me call it a conviction, I think--that it was a mandate direct from God, for which he himself was to find form and clothing; and he set about its transcription in tranquillity. Its first writing is unlike anything else he ever did. It runs from page to page, with few breaks into new paragraphs, with little punctuation, with scarely a word altered."
C. S. Lewis wrote: "Most myths were made in prehistoric times, and, I suppose, not consciously made by individuals at all. But every now and then there occurs in the modern world a genius--a Kafka or a Novalis--who can make such a story. MacDonald is the greatest genius of this kind whom I know. But I do not know how to classify such genius. To call it literary genius seems unsatisfactory since it can co-exist with great inferiority in the art of words--nay, since its connection with words at all turns out to be merely external and, in a sense, accidental. Nor can it be fitted into any of the other arts. It begins to look as if there were an art, or a gift, which criticism has largely ignored. It may even be one of the greatest arts, for it produces works which give us (at the first meeting) as much delight and (on prolonged acquaintance) as much wisdom and strength as the words of the greatest poets. It is in some ways more akin to music that to poetry, or at least to most poetry. It goes beyond the expression of things we have already felt. It arouses in us sensations we have never had before, never anticipated having, as though we had broken out of our normal mode of consciousness and 'possessed joys not promised to our birth.' It gets under our skin, hits us at a level deeper than our thoughts or even our passions, troubles oldest certainties till all questions are reopened, and in general shocks us more fully awake than we are for most of our lives."
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NightShades


Registered: 03/30/15
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Loc: The Pines
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: mt cleverest] 1
#21724156 - 05/26/15 09:25 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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I know nothing of his literature, but Narnia and the lion Aslan. The chronicles seem to have excellent penmanship, so I assume his work is challenging to a novice like me.
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Break free from your chains, Life works in mysterious ways
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Deviate
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: NightShades]
#21724820 - 05/26/15 01:09 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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His work is challenging but at the same time, extremely accessible, not like a scholarly theologian where you need to read a paragraph three times just to understand it.
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NightShades


Registered: 03/30/15
Posts: 94
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: Deviate]
#21725110 - 05/26/15 02:36 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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Is any of it similar to the chronicles or is most of his works scholarly?
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Break free from your chains, Life works in mysterious ways
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Deviate
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: NightShades]
#21725655 - 05/26/15 05:20 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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If you are looking for something similar to the Chronicles of Narnia, I recommend his space trilogy. Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength.
The Chronicles of Narnia is unique in the sense that I think it was specifically aimed at children, whereas most of his other books are more geared toward adults but aside from that difference, the space trilogy could be considered very much like the Narnia books. They both explore Christian ideas and themes through fantasy stories.
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NightShades


Registered: 03/30/15
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: Deviate]
#21725901 - 05/26/15 06:25 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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Gonna check that out  I always liked his series better than HP series, but never found his other works until now.
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Break free from your chains, Life works in mysterious ways
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MrGreen7

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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: Deviate]
#24699327 - 10/10/17 10:55 AM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
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For some strange reason, I tend to get very in touch with elements of Lewis’ mythopoeia when I trip on mushrooms. Despite my limited exposure to him and his writings, I feel a strange connection. Amazing feelings.
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Earthsweeties
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Re: The spirituality of C.S. Lewis [Re: MrGreen7]
#24699621 - 10/10/17 02:07 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
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Which George MacDonald book should I start off with?
I've liked what I've read of Lewis, and being interested in mysticism, and also Scottish... Well I can't pass him by now!
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RJ Tubs 202


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One of my fave C. S. Lewis quotes . . .
Don't let your happiness depend on something you may lose.
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