Was C.S. Lewis an open theist?

Who was C.S. Lewis?
Who was C.S. Lewis?

No, but there are some scholars who would argue that. How well do we know the man considered perhaps the greatest Christian of the 20th century? Lewis once said: “I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but by it I see everything else.”

We would do well to better understand this man, who is familiar to many — Christian or not — through his many popular writings. His insight into Christianity and his way of communicating it is unique. Brad Mercer, the senior pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, Miss., is lecturing on the life and works of C.S. Lewis at the First Presbyterian Church in Kosciusko, Miss. Mercer is currently pursuing his doctorate in Lewis studies. The church has graciously made his lectures available online.

2 thoughts on “Was C.S. Lewis an open theist?

  1. Thanks for the link. I’ve always enjoyed reading Lewis. Mere Christianity was one of the first books I read when I became a Christian about 33 years ago.

    I’ve noticed that his thinking is often the target of atheistic criticism. I think that’s probably because his writing makes unbelief seem rather absurd.

  2. I agree that Lewis is not a classical Open Theist. However, I recently came across this line in Mere Christianity, ” He does not know your action till you have done it; but then the moment at which you have done it is already ‘Now’ for him. What do you make of that line? It seems to me to be leaning toward the Open Theism camp of argument. Thoughts? Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Lewis and agree with him about 90% of the time.

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