The Christian teachings of renowned Irish author C.S. Lewis, prominent in the early 20th century, are witnessing a resurgence in the present day.
This revival comes at a time when American society, and the broader Western world, seem to be grappling with a loss of moral compass.
This renewed interest in Lewis's work can be attributed to the rediscovery of his writings on religion, culture, and morality. One such piece is "A Christmas Sermon for Pagans," which was published in December 1946 in Strand magazine. In this piece, Lewis juxtaposed pagan or pre-Christian beliefs with the philosophies that emerged during and after the global crises and warfare of the early 20th century, terming the latter as "post-Christian" philosophy.
Although the sermon was originally intended for a British audience, it strikingly addresses many of the cultural issues that have been brewing in the United States for years and have recently escalated following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel. In his sermon, Lewis wrote, "There is no objective right or wrong" among post-Christians, and "Each race or class can invent its own code or ideology just as it pleases."
The "Christmas Sermon" has gained traction on social media, sparking discussions on Lewis's concepts of moral certainty among Christians and Americans of other faiths. This month, the author's faith was brought to the national spotlight through "Advent with C.S. Lewis," a four-week prayer series introduced by the Hallow app, featuring collaborations and advertisements with actor Liam Neeson.
"Lewis had a very profound impact on me," Hallow CEO Alex Jones told Fox News Digital, specifically citing the author's "The Screwtape Letters." "He helped me change my own life."
Lewis, who is still widely recognized for his beloved fantasy novels, was introduced to a new generation of fans in the 21st century with the success of "The Chronicles of Narnia" film series. Neeson lent his voice to Aslan, a character in the film adaptations.
In his time, Lewis's Christian faith was well known. Strand magazine, in its introduction to the December 1946 article, wrote, "Writing religion for skeptics has made C.S. Lewis a bestseller," and "His books on Christianity chief among them The Screwtape Letters sell better, and read more easily, than most crime stories."
However, the popularity of Lewis's religious writing faded over the decades, hastened by the general secularization of society and a politically motivated effort to erase the foundational values of Christianity from American history and Western culture.
Lewis's writings, which examined his belief system and the changing world, had a profound influence on President Ronald Reagan, according to biographer Craig Shirley. Reagan, like Lewis, believed that the world was divided between right and wrong, good and evil. This perspective played a significant role in the downfall of the Soviet Union and the victory of Western democracies in the Cold War, as noted by Shirley and other scholars.
Lewis's warnings about a world that rejected Christian faith and foundational values in favor of a shifting morality became glaringly apparent following the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel. Major institutions, including those of higher learning, seemed unable to condemn terror attacks on Israeli civilians or threats of genocide against Jews on campuses.
"Lewis spoke a lot about the fallen times of the world," said Jones of Hallow. "What he said has a lot of resonance with people with whats going on in the world today, when people are wondering where the light is among all of this darkness."
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