Book Reviews -- By: Anonymous

Journal: Christian Apologetics Journal
Volume: CAJ 06:2 (Fall 2007)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous


Book Reviews

Teaching C. S. Lewis: A Handbook for Professors, Church Leaders, and Lewis Enthusiasts. Richard Hill and Lyle Smith. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2007. 165 pp., $59.99, ISBN 978–1847181497.

C. S. Lewis remains one of the most read Christian apologists of our day, and this in spite of his lapses in a few major areas (such as inerrancy, purgatory, etc.). What makes Lewis so popular with evangelicals? Among other things, Lewis’s strengths lie in the areas of theology proper (e.g., the existence of God, the problem of evil) and Christology (e.g., the claims of Christ, His life, death, and resurrection). Of course, Lewis is the consummate word smith, creating metaphors and similes that jump off the page. So, in addition to his rich theological content, Lewis is just fun to read.

Although many of his best works were first spoken as BBC radio broadcasts during World War II and then later published in book form, they still live on today as if he were addressing our twenty–first century culture (e.g., Mere Christianity). So, with the many books written by or on C. S. Lewis, it is with joy to have someone publish a book on how to teach the writings of C. S. Lewis, specifically

how to teach the following Lewis best sellers: The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Till We Have Faces. It is worth noting that most of these books by Lewis are his novels (in fact, all of his novels), plus one theological treatise (Mere Christianity) and one satirical piece (The Screwtape Letters). The authors have also included three appendices dealing with their prospectus and reading lists for small groups and a sample college course syllabus.

This handbook provides a practical guide for teachers and non–academic C. S. Lewis enthusiasts who desire to lead study groups on some of the more famous Lewis pieces. The authors, Richard Hill and Lyle Smith, are both well qualified to write a book of this nature. Richard A. Hill, Ph.D., is Professor of Writing and Literature at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California. He has written and led seminars on C. S. Lewis for many years. Likewise, Lyle H. Smith, Ph.D., who is Professor of English Literature at Biola University in La Mirada, California, has also written and taught courses on Lewis for many years. The authors have stated their purpose for this book in the following words: “This handbook is intended as a practical guide for professors, teachers, and non–academic C. S. Lewis enthusiasts who lead Lewis study groups. It can also be used as a supplementary text by students or group members. Many scholarly v...

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