Introduction to C. S. Lewis’s Apologetics

In 1 Peter 3:15, the apostle admonishes fellow believers to always be “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” This course presents C. S. Lewis’s apologetic works as a great example of effective apologetics with philosophical rigor and rhetorical beauty. We focus on four works: Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, The Abolition of Man, and Miracles. In addition, students engage with supplemental readings from Lewis’s other works, from secondary sources, and from the history of Christian philosophy and apologetics that serves as a background to Lewis’s writings.

Course Objectives:

1. To gain a strong familiarity with one of the 20th century’s greatest Christian apologists.
2. To cultivate the student’s ability to understand the inner logic of a text through thoughtful reading and contextual study.
3. To understand the strengths and flaws of major objections to Christian belief.
4. To deepen the student’s understanding of his or her own faith.
5. To equip the student with the critical thinking skills necessary for the defense of Christian belief.
6. To develop general essay writing and persuasive writing skills.

Texts:

• C. S. Lewis, The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics (New York: HarperOne, 2002), ISBN: 978-0-06-120849-2.