The C.S. Lewis podcast

Ruth Jackson speaks with Lilian Lindén, who has a degree in philosophy of religion, about how CS Lewis continues to shape faith and thought today. They discuss how she first encountered Lewis, the impact his writings have had on her life, and why his ideas remain so compelling more than 60 years after his death. Lilian also presented a paper at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, titled "Did Lewis Credit Barfield for What He Learned from Steiner?" which we will be hearing in an upcoming episode.

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In today's episode, Ruth Jackson is joined again by Professor Alister McGrath, to discuss theology in a multi-part series. How do we define theology? What is Alister's experience with it? Was Lewis considered a theologian by others, or even himself? Episode one dives into all of this, and more.

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We are joined again by Paul Anderson, a Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox Uni­versity in Oregon, for the final episode in this series. In today's episode, we get to hear his paper, which was titled Fern-Seed, Elephants, Bultmann, and Lewis - Varied Expertise in Critical Perspective, live from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference. Paul also provides helpful insight behind his paper.

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Paul Anderson, a Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox Uni­versity in Oregon, is back to discuss C.S. Lewis’ approach to the Bible and theology. They explore how Lewis read and interpreted Scripture, how his literary background shaped his perspective, and how he balanced critical scholarship with personal devotion. What can we learn from Lewis about holding faith and reason together? They also consider Lewis’s influence on contemporary debates around miracles, biblical authority, and New Testament studies, and whether his insights still resonate in today’s increasingly sceptical culture.

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Ruth Jackson is joined again by Dr Paul Anderson, Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox University. Paul, a prolific scholar and founding member of the "John, Jesus and History" project, shares insights from his paper presented at the 2024 conference at George Fox University. Together, Ruth and Paul explore Lewis’ classic essay "Fern-seeds and Elephants", in which Lewis critiques biblical scholarship with his memorable “four bleats.” Paul reflects on Lewis’ concerns about critical naturalism, the dismissal of miracles, and the tendency to “read between the lines” while missing the heart of the text. The conversation also considers Rudolf Bultmann’s influence, the challenges of theological education, and how Lewis’ reflections remain relevant today.

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Ruth Jackson is joined with Paul Anderson, a Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox Uni­versity in Oregon. Paul speaks on his first encounter with C.S. Lewis and the role Lewis’ works have played in his own life, ministry, and scholarship. They discuss Lewis’ views on the Bible, how his literary approach to Scripture compares with that of a biblical scholar, and whether he showed a preference for particular Gospels. The conversation also explores Anderson’s own research on the Gospel of John, why it deserves a place in the historical quest for Jesus, and what Lewis might have made of these debates.

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