Clive Staples Lewis: Was He that Much of a Christian After All?

Few have lived the scattered, colorful life Clive Staples Lewis led during the first half of the twentieth century. Lewis was born in 1898 to Albert and Florence Lewis in Belfast, North Ireland. "Jack," as he came to be called, was schooled here until he transferred to England during his early teen years. During this time he excelled in foreign language studies and history; he supposedly did poorly in math, however, and was a staunch atheist as well.

Shortly after his general schooling was finished World War I set in, and Jack was sent off to fight, getting injured at one point during a battle. He emerged from the war otherwise unharmed, went on to graduate from Oxford University and became a professor there for many years of his life. At this time he lived with the widow and young daughter of his best friend, Paddy Moore, who was killed in World War I. Lewis had promised to take care of them should anything happen to Paddy, and he made good on his promise by housing them for thirty years. Unfortunately, this also opened the door for an allegedly illicit relationship with Mrs. Moore, which continued even after Lewis became a Christian.

In 1931 C.S. Lewis' life took a turn for the everlasting; he confessed his faith in Christ. Oddly enough, he solidified his conversion while on a motorcycle excursion to the zoo with his brother. In 1944 his conversion became more apparent through his radio talks established as "Beyond Personality." These speeches were eventually solidified into three separate books, and then into one encompassing title known as Mere Christianity, one of Lewis' paramount tomes. This title has touched the lives of many Christians and non-Christians alike, as it delves beneath what most acknowledge as the conscience and personage of man.