Ethan Walker
C.S. Lewis was a renowned Christian writer and apologist who is beloved by Catholics and Protestants alike. Lewis was technically a Protestant and a member of the Church of England, but his writings often seemed to lean more Catholic than those of other Protestants. For example, he postulated the existence of Purgatory, a concept that Catholics believe in but Protestants do not. Lewis was raised in the Church of Ireland but became an atheist as a teenager. He later returned to Christianity at the age of 32, owing to the influence of his close friend J.R.R. Tolkien and other companions. Lewis's faith profoundly affected his work, and his radio broadcasts on Christianity during World War II brought him wide acclaim. Despite his ecumenical brand of Christianity, Lewis never converted to Catholicism, and some have speculated that his upbringing in Belfast may have played a role in this decision.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Faith | Raised in the Church of Ireland, became an atheist as a teenager, and returned to Anglicanism at 32 |
| Denomination | Protestant, member of the Church of England |
| Catholic Church | Never became Catholic, despite his writings seeming more Catholic than other Protestants |
| Friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien | Close friends, with Tolkien influencing Lewis's return to Christianity |
| Belfast upbringing | May have influenced his views on Catholicism |
| Writings | "Mere Christianity" and "The Screwtape Letters" |
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What You'll Learn
C.S. Lewis was raised in the Church of Ireland
Lewis returned to Anglicanism at the age of 32, owing to the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien and other friends, and he became an "ordinary layman of the Church of England". Lewis's faith profoundly affected his work, and his wartime radio broadcasts on Christianity brought him wide acclaim.
Lewis was a committed Anglican who upheld a largely orthodox Anglican theology. However, in his writings, he made an effort to avoid espousing any one denomination. In his later writings, some believe that he proposed ideas such as the purification of venial sins after death in purgatory, which are generally considered Roman Catholic teachings. Lewis also favoured the idea of sacramental confession — a “popish” idea to the spiritual descendants of the Reformers. Near his death, he seemed increasingly open to the idea of seven sacraments.
Despite his affinity for some Catholic teachings, Lewis never converted to Catholicism. Some have speculated that his upbringing in Northern Ireland and the sectarian conflict in his native Belfast influenced his decision to remain Protestant. Lewis himself attributed his prejudice against Catholicism to his upbringing in the region. He also disagreed with some core Catholic beliefs, such as the doctrine of the authority of the Church and tradition, which he, as a Protestant, underemphasized.
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He became an atheist as a teenager
C.S. Lewis was raised in a religious family that attended the Church of Ireland. However, he became an atheist as a teenager, around the age of 15. Lewis's mother died of cancer when he was nine, and he felt betrayed by God when his prayers to save her went unanswered. Lewis's sense of betrayal was further heightened when he was sent to a boarding school that he hated, in part because he found the religious exercises required of him there dull and contrived.
Lewis's early separation from Christianity was also influenced by his studies, which included topics like the occult, and his interest in pagan myths, particularly those of the Norse. He viewed his religion as a chore and a duty, and he began to see Christianity as a myth like any other. In his autobiography, he describes his time at one of the schools as so unpleasant that he calls it "Belsen" after the World War II concentration camp.
Lewis's pre-university service in World War I further solidified his atheism. The suffering he witnessed and experienced seemed irreconcilable with the existence of a good God. Lewis's wartime experiences also influenced his view of Christianity as a myth. He saw that, for centuries before Christianity, man’s myths had intuited a dying and rising god, but in Jesus of Nazareth, that myth became fact.
Lewis's spiritual journey was a long one. At age 17, he told a Christian friend, "I believe in no religion... from a philosophical standpoint, Christianity is not even the best." However, 15 years later, he wrote to the same friend, expressing his belief in Christianity as "God expressing Himself through what we call 'real things.'"
During his time at Oxford, Lewis's atheism was challenged by literary critics Owen Barfield and Hugo Dyson, writer Charles Williams, and the medievalist J.R.R. Tolkien. Through conversations with these scholars and his own reading of classic Christian literature and the New Testament in Greek, Lewis converted to theism and later Christianity in 1931.
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He returned to Christianity at 32, influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien
C.S. Lewis was raised in the Church of Ireland but fell away from his faith during adolescence. He became an atheist as a teenager and loved old pagan myths, particularly those of the Norse. However, at the age of 32, Lewis returned to Christianity, influenced by his friend J.R.R. Tolkien, with whom he shared a like-minded interest in languages, poetry, myth, and storytelling.
Lewis and Tolkien first met in 1926 at a Merton College English Faculty meeting. They soon became close friends, even though they had different academic interests. Lewis was established in the literature faction of the English faculty, while Tolkien placed himself firmly on the linguistics and history of languages side. Both men served on the English faculty at the University of Oxford and were active in the informal Oxford literary group known as the Inklings, a literary discussion group where they would debate ideas and read works-in-progress to each other.
Tolkien and Dyson helped Lewis see that Christianity was the true myth. Lewis saw Christianity as a myth like any of the pagan myths, but during a long conversation, his friends helped him understand that for centuries before Christianity, man’s myths had intuited a dying and rising God. However, in Jesus of Nazareth, that myth became fact. Lewis's faith profoundly affected his work, and his wartime radio broadcasts on Christianity brought him wide acclaim.
Lewis and Tolkien's friendship had a significant impact on each other's work and the shape of fantasy literature. They served as each other's first readers and provided critical feedback and encouragement. Lewis encouraged Tolkien to see his writing as more than a "private hobby" and helped him finish "The Hobbit" and get it to print. Similarly, Tolkien was the spiritual midwife to Lewis's conversion to Christianity and provided feedback on much of Lewis's work, including "The Problem of Pain" and "The Chronicles of Narnia."
Despite their close friendship, there were also some differences between Lewis and Tolkien. Tolkien was Catholic, and Lewis's decision to join the Anglican Church did not sit well with him. Tolkien also disliked Lewis's lack of care in completing his books and his growing fame and celebrity, which clashed with Tolkien's quiet and devout ways. By the early 1950s, their friendship had soured due to these differences and the influence of other friends.
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He was a committed Anglican, upholding orthodox Anglican theology
C.S. Lewis is a well-known figure in Christian literature, and his works have been translated into more than 30 languages, selling millions of copies. He was a committed Anglican, upholding orthodox Anglican theology. Lewis was raised in the Church of Ireland but fell away from his faith during adolescence, becoming an atheist. He returned to Christianity at the age of 32, owing to the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien and other friends, and he became an "ordinary layman of the Church of England".
Lewis's faith profoundly affected his work, and his radio broadcasts during World War II on the subject of Christianity brought him wide acclaim. He wrote more than 30 books, including "The Chronicles of Narnia," which have been popularized on stage, television, radio, and cinema. Lewis's wartime broadcasts were later anthologized in "Mere Christianity," where he focused on defending what he called "Mere Christianity," or the beliefs that nearly all Christians hold in common, such as the Trinity and the Incarnation.
Despite his affinity for some Catholic teachings, Lewis never converted to Catholicism. He is quoted as saying, "I do the same with Xtianity. What is most certain is the vast mass of doctrine which I find agreed on by Scripture, the Fathers, the Middle Ages, modern R.C.’s, modern Protestants. That is true ‘catholic’ doctrine. Mere ‘modernism’ I reject at once." Lewis's commitment to Anglicanism is further evidenced by his reflection that he initially attended church only to receive communion and was repelled by the hymns and poor sermon quality.
Lewis considered himself an entirely orthodox Anglican until the end of his life. His writings, however, seemed more Catholic than those of other Protestants, leading some to believe he proposed ideas such as purification for venial sins after death in purgatory, which is generally considered a Roman Catholic teaching. Nonetheless, Lewis's emphasis on "Mere Christianity" and his defence of the core tenets of the faith shared by all Christians showcase his commitment to upholding orthodox Anglican theology.
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His writings seemed more Catholic than other Protestants'
C.S. Lewis was a committed Anglican who followed a largely orthodox Anglican theology. However, his writings seemed more Catholic than those of other Protestants. For instance, he proposed ideas such as the purification of venial sins after death in purgatory and mortal sin, which are generally considered Roman Catholic teachings, although they are also widely held in Anglicanism.
Lewis also favoured the idea of sacramental confession, which is considered a "popish" idea by the spiritual descendants of the Reformers. Towards the end of his life, he seemed increasingly open to the idea of seven sacraments.
Lewis's late secretary, Walter Hooper, believed that Lewis would have become Catholic if he had lived longer. Hooper pointed out that Lewis would not have liked the increasing liberalism in Anglicanism. Lewis's close friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, was also disappointed that Lewis did not join him in the Catholic Church.
However, Lewis underemphasized the importance of the doctrine of the authority of the Church and tradition, which is essential to Catholicism. In his book Mere Christianity, he eliminated what is basic to two of the three great divisions in Christianity: the Church. Lewis also disagreed with the Catholic treatment of the Virgin Mary, believing that she should not be treated as a deity or the centre of the religion.
In Christian Reunion: An Anglican Speaks to Romans Catholics (1944), Lewis wrote:
> "The real reason why I cannot be in communion with you is not my disagreement with this or that Roman doctrine, but that to accept your Church means, not to accept a given body of doctrine, but to accept in advance any doctrine your Church hereafter produces, It is like being asked to agree not only to what a man has said but to what he’s going to say."
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Frequently asked questions
C.S. Lewis was a member of the Church of England, making him a Protestant Christian.
Yes, C.S. Lewis had several Catholic friends, including J.R.R. Tolkien, Bede Griffiths, and Nevill Coghill.
Lewis's Catholic friend Tolkien was disappointed that Lewis did not join the Catholic Church. Lewis himself stated that he was not tempted to join due to what he called "your heresies", referring to the Catholic Church's position on the Virgin Mary and the doctrine of papal infallibility. However, some sources suggest that Lewis was close to converting to Catholicism around 1950.
Yes, Lewis's works have been credited by many people, including Holly Ordway, as influencing their conversion to Catholicism.
Lewis's works are beloved by Catholics and Protestants alike for their accessible yet deep elucidation of the Christian faith. While Lewis focused on defending what he called "Mere Christianity", or the core doctrinal beliefs shared by all Christians, his writings did contain themes that seemed more Catholic than Protestant, such as the existence of Purgatory and the idea of sacramental confession.
