The C.S. Lewis podcast

Afleveringen

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  Peter S Williams: CS Lewis, Richard Dawkins and ethics 03.08.2026 26min

  What would CS Lewis have thought about Dawkins' view of freedom, responsibility and ethics? Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist, gave a seminar on the topic: 'If CS Lewis met Dawkins, how would he respond to the New Atheists?' This is the second part of his presentation. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  Peter S Williams: How would CS Lewis respond to Richard Dawkins and the New Atheists? 27.07.2026 20min

  Does Dawkins have a self-contradictory view of faith and knowledge? CS Lewis would likely have thought so according to Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist. Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter gave a seminar on the topic: 'If CS Lewis met Dawkins, how would he respond to the New Atheists?' This is the first part of his presentation. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com
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  Laura Miller and Michael Ward: Was Lewis racist and sexist? 20.07.2026 28min

  Are The Narnia Chronicles sexist and racist? Did Lewis explicitly avoid sexuality in the novels? In the final part of their discussion (originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009), literary critic Laura Miller and CS Lewis expert Michael Ward explore some of the criticisms levelled against Lewis and his fiction. For a recent discussion around these issues, check out Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter on Unbelievable here https://www.premierunbelievable.com/unbelievable/should-the-fall-be-celebrated-caleb-woodbridge-and-damien-walter-on-pullman/cslewis-hosted-by-john-nelson/21747.article + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  Laura Miller and Michael Ward: Is Christianity good? 13.07.2026 19min

  In the second part of their discussion (originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009), literary critic Laura Miller and CS Lewis expert Michael Ward explore Narnia, Christianity and myth. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #269 Laura Miller and Michael Ward: A sceptic in Narnia 06.07.2026 23min

  Literary critic Laura Miller was captivated by Lewis’ Narnia stories as a child. As a teenager, she learnt of the Christian parallels in the books and felt “cheated and betrayed”. She was joined by Michael Ward, a leading expert on CS Lewis and author of Planet Narnia. This episode was originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009 + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #268 Alister McGrath: Is Christianity rational? 29.06.2026 20min

  How important are facts and reason? Is science alone enough? What role does imagination play in apologetics? How do we maintain a strong faith when engaging with sceptics? Alister McGrath shares his insight into Lewis' thinking on important questions in our final episode on Lewis and apologetics. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #267 Alister McGrath: Suffering, hell and the hope of heaven 22.06.2026 18min

  Does my life have any meaning? If God exists, why has he allowed my suffering? How can a good God allow hell? Alister McGrath explores whether Lewis can speak into any contemporary theological, ethical and cultural questions or concerns. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #266 Alister McGrath: Was CS Lewis an effective apologist? 15.06.2026 18min

  What is apologetics? Why does it matter? Can Christianity speak into the dominant narratives of our culture? Ruth Jackson is joined by Alister McGrath to reflect on what we can learn from Lewis' unique approach to apologetics. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #265 Dr Crystal Hurd: How Paternal Literary Habits Influenced CS Lewis 08.06.2026 27min

  In today’s episode, we welcome back Dr. Crystal Hurd, an educator, poet, and researcher from Virginia. Crystal shares insights from her paper, which was presented at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference at George Fox University. We also feature a reading of her paper, 'How Paternal Literary Habits Influenced CS Lewis', marking the final instalment in our series with Dr. Crystal Hurd. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #264 Dr Crystal Hurd: CS Lewis’s Family, Faith, and the Literary Legacy of Albert Lewis 01.06.2026 24min

  Dr Crystal Hurd - educator, poet, and researcher—joins Ruth Jackson to uncover the family story behind C.S. Lewis’s imagination, faith, and values. Drawing on her research and a paper from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, Crystal explores the literary ambitions and deep faith of Lewis’s father, Albert, and how both Albert and his father Richard shaped Lewis’s worldview and writing. Together, they discuss the joys and tensions of the Lewis household, the Victorian ideals that marked Albert’s life, and the imaginative world-building that began with childhood stories like “Boxen.” Discover how family, faith, and literature intertwined to shape one of the twentieth century’s most beloved Christian writers. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/ + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, a free ebook and newsletter, visit our website
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  #263 Dr Crystal Hurd: C.S. Lewis’s Family, Albert & Flora, and the Power of Literature 25.05.2026 26min

  Dr Crystal Hurd - educator, poet, and researcher - joins Ruth Jackson to uncover the family roots behind C.S. Lewis’s imagination and character. Drawing on her latest research and a paper from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, Crystal explores the impact of Lewis’s father Albert’s work ethic, moral integrity, and love of books, as well as the remarkable story of his parents’ courtship and marriage. Together, they reflect on how both Albert and Flora shaped Lewis’s literary passions, his values, and his lifelong relationships. Discover how the Lewis family’s love of literature, resilience amid hardship, and everyday faith shaped one of the twentieth century’s greatest Christian writers. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/ + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, a free ebook and newsletter, visit our website
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  #262 Dr Crystal Hurd: CS Lewis, Flora Lewis, and the Quiet Strength of Family 18.05.2026 27min

  Dr Crystal Hurd, educator and poet, joins Ruth Jackson to explore the formative influence of C.S. Lewis’s mother, Flora, on Lewis’s life, work, and relationships. Drawing on her research and her paper from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, Crystal discusses Flora’s character, wit, and impact on the Lewis family after her untimely death. Together, they examine how Flora shaped Lewis’s respect for women, the depiction of mothers in his fiction, and his evolving relationships across a lifetime marked by loss and learning. Along the way, Ruth and Crystal reflect on grief, humility, family dynamics, and the quiet legacy of women often overlooked in great men’s stories. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #261 Dr Crystal Hurd: CS Lewis on Quiet Influence, Humility & Lighting Your Corner 11.05.2026 25min

  Dr Crystal Hurd - an educator, poet, and researcher from Virginia - and host Ruth Jackson explore what leadership looks like through the lens of CS Lewis, not as power or prominence, but as quiet faithfulness in everyday life. Crystal reflects on Lewis’ conviction that most leadership happens far from the spotlight: in homes, classrooms, churches, and communities, where ordinary people shape others through character, humility, and care. The discussion ranges from Lewis’ fictional leaders such as Lucy Pevensie and Orual, to his warnings about the temptations of authority and the need to remain grounded in God. Crystal also addresses accusations of misogyny, drawing on Lewis’ letters, friendships, and advocacy for women such as Elizabeth Anscombe. Together, Ruth Jackson and Crystal Hurd ask what it means to “light the corner you’re in”—and why Lewis believed such leadership still has the power to change the world. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #260 Jim Stockton: Research opportunities and the Oxford University Socractic club, 1942-1972 (workshop) 04.05.2026 37min

  Ruth Jackson is joined by Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy at Boise State University and author of 'The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life.' In the final episode of this series, we hear the workshop Jim delivered at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, titled "Research opportunities and the Oxford University Socractic club, 1942-1972." The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #259 Jim Stockton: Inside the Oxford Socratic Club - Tea, Minutes & the Lives Behind the Debates 27.04.2026 19min

  In this episode of The CS Lewis Podcast, Ruth Jackson welcomes philosopher and author Jim Stockton to share new research on the Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972. Recorded at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, Jim paints a vivid picture of what weekly meetings were really like—from crowded, smoky rooms and lively teas to the unsung heroes who kept minutes and kept the club alive. Discover the club’s lesser-known traditions, its role as a living intellectual community, and why its archives still matter for Lewis scholarship today. Along the way, hear stories of friendship, debate, and the vibrant humanity behind one of Oxford’s most influential societies. The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #258 Jim Stockton: What Happened Beyond the Debates? C.S. Lewis’s Socratic Club 20.04.2026 21min

  In this episode of The CS Lewis Podcast, Ruth Jackson introduces a fascinating paper from Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy and author of The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life. Recorded at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference at George Fox University, Stockton explores the lesser-known events of the Oxford University Socratic Club beyond its famous debates. He highlights conferences, discussion teas, and study groups that reveal the club’s wider intellectual and spiritual life. Along the way, listeners hear fresh insights into Lewis’s talks on faith, the church, reason, and “the real”. This episode offers a rich glimpse into the remarkable world of the Socratic Club and the continuing research opportunities surrounding Lewis and his circle. The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #257 Jim Stockton: The legacy and modern relevance of the Oxford University Socratic Club 13.04.2026 22min

  Ruth Jackson is joined by Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy at Boise State University and author of The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life. Together, they discuss the legacy of the The Oxford University Socratic Club, why the members - including CS Lewis - are still relevant today and the importance of civil discourse in a divided society. The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #256 Jim Stockton: Why did the Oxford University Socratic Club end? 06.04.2026 24min

  Ruth Jackson is joined by Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy at Boise State University and author of The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life. Together, they examine the most exciting meetings held by The Oxford University Socratic Club, why the club came to an end as well as some of Lewis' famous debates. The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #255 Jim Stockton: Exploring the Oxford University Socratic Club 30.03.2026 26min

  Ruth Jackson is joined by Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy at Boise State University and author of The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life. Together, they examine the importance of Lewis’ role in the Oxford University Socratic Club, identify some of the members involved, and consider the place of women within both the club and the field of philosophy. The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
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  #254 Jim Stockton: The Oxford Socratic Club: How C.S. Lewis Shaped Honest Debate at Oxford 23.03.2026 28min

  Ruth Jackson is joined by Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy at Boise State University and author of The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life. Together they explore Stockton’s fascination with C.S. Lewis, from first reading The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity to years of deep archival research into the Oxford Socratic Club. Jim shares how the club brought Christians, atheists and agnostics together for serious debate, why it became such a significant intellectual hub in Oxford, and the crucial role played by Stella Aldwinckle in shaping its life and vision. Drawing on his paper and workshop from the 2024 Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, Stockton offers fresh insight into one of the most important and underexplored contexts of Lewis’s public thought, influence, and legacy in modern Christian apologetics. Jim Srockton;s book is here or if you're in the UK here The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/