Re: [asa] C. S. Lewis and evolution

There is always a danger of taking a highly respected and popular figure
like Lewis and years after his death trying to divine what he might have
said or what position he might have taken on this issue or that. It
really
does a disservice to him. His words were uttered in context and it is
risky
to take them out of that context.

I agree with Michael's assessment of Lewis. I was attracted to his
writings
because he became an Anglican in the catholic tradition. His writings on
Christianity are apologetic in the classic sense of that term and not
evangelical in common sense of that term.

BTW, one of the good things that the 2006 General Convention did was
confirm
its decision of 2003 to set aside November 22 on the liturgical
calendar as
a day of celebration of Lewis' life and ministry through literature.
Lewis
is now officially on the list (I might even ask him for his prayers if I
find myself with writer's block). Here is the Collect for the day:
O God of searing truth and surpassing beauty,
we give you thanks for Clive Staples Lewis
whose sanctified imagination lights fires of faith
in young and old alike;
Surprise us also with your joy
and draw us into that new and abundant life
which is ours in Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
     The Psalm is 139:1-9; lst lesson: 1 Peter 1:3-9; Gospel: John
16:7-15.

Bob Schneider

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Roberts" <michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 2:20 AM
Subject: Re: [asa] C. S. Lewis and evolution

> I think CS Lewis ha s been hijacked. He was not an evangelical but an
> orthodox Anglican who was aware scripture had mistakes in it.
>
> I prefer the real CS Lewis and not the CSLewis of the narnia style
> fancy
> world of all these conferences on him and studies
>
> Michael
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Austerberry, Charles" <cfauster@creighton.edu>
> To: <asa@lists.calvin.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 11:39 PM
> Subject: [asa] C. S. Lewis and evolution
>
>
>> The Episcopal Church's statement on evolution (and reactions from
>> Keith,
>> Randy, and others) reminded me of a famous Anglican who keenly
>> understood what's wrong with saying that philosophical/metaphysical
>> naturalism and atheism are inevitable correlates of evolution. C. S.
>> Lewis was asked by others to speak out against evolution, but to my
>> knowledge he never categorically rejected evolution. If he were
>> alive
>> today, I think he would still assume the same stance he did during
>> his
>> life: descent with modification from common ancestors (of humans
>> too) is
>> compatible with Christianity.
>>
>> As long as they were theologically orthodox, I think Lewis could
>> agree
>> with both theistic evolutionists and intelligent design
>> enthusiasts. His
>> views on miracles suggest how he would approach ID: don't expect to
>> have
>> scientific evidence of God's specific actions, but ... God has acted,
>> and may continue to act, in specific, extraordinary (non-natural)
>> ways
>> on occasion. Where ID proponents base their arguments on the
>> supposed
>> implausibility of all (even as yet unimagined) natural explanations,
>> Lewis seemed to base his apologetics more on the argument that Reason
>> itself cannot emerge from unreasoning matter, and on the argument
>> that a
>> hunger for God suggests the existence of One who can satisfy that
>> hunger.
>>
>> The following quotation comes from "C. S. Lewis on Creation and
>> Evolution: The Acworth Letters, 1944-1960" by Gary B. Ferngren and
>> Ronald L. Numbers (Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith,
>> Volume
>> 48, Number 1, March 1996, 28-33, available at
>> http://www.asa3.org/asa/PSCF/1996/PSCF3-96Ferngren.html):
>>
>> "I believe that Christianity can still be believed, even if
>> Evolution is
>> true. This is where you [Acworth] and I differ. Thinking as I do, I
>> can't help regarding your advice (that I henceforth include arguments
>> against Evolution in all my Christian apologetics) as a temptation to
>> fight the battle on what is really a false issue . . ."
>>
>> Who is the modern-day Lewis? Alistair McGrath? John
>> Polkinghorne? My
>> pro-ID friends point to Phillip Johnson, Alvin Platinga, or William
>> Dembski, but I don't think Lewis would have disdained theistic
>> evolution
>> as have those ID proponents. Lewis would not have disdained pro-ID
>> folks
>> either, but I also don't think he would have joined them.
>>
>> Chuck
>>
>> Charles (Chuck) F. Austerberry, Ph.D.
>> Assistant Professor of Biology
>> Hixson-Lied Room 438
>> Creighton University
>> 2500 California Plaza
>> Omaha, NE 68178
>>
>> Phone: 402-280-2154
>> Fax: 402-280-5595
>>
>> e-mail: cfauster@creighton.edu
>>
>> Nebraska Religious Coalition for Science Education
>> http://nrcse.creighton.edu
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
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Received on Thu Jun 29 00:51:07 2006