Mormons love C.S. Lewis, whose beliefs so often align with LDS doctrine. That's why Lewis is one of the most-quoted, non-LDS men in general conference. But did you know this groundbreaking Christian writer at one point abandoned his faith for atheism? We can learn much from his struggles and even find hope for our loved ones who've strayed.
The 20th-century journalist and Christian apologist G. K. Chesterton once said, “There are two ways of getting home; and one of them is to stay there. The other is to walk round the whole world till we come back to the same place.”
Chesterton’s point was that truth might be closer than you realize, perhaps right under your nose. And sometimes, like with the prodigal son, truth is found at the end of a long road back to the Father’s house.
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Chesterton was speaking specifically about Christianity. In his book The Everlasting Man he contrasts two ways of analyzing the Christian faith. The first is from the inside. The second is from a million miles away. As he writes, “The best relation to our spiritual home is to be near enough to love it. But the next best is to be far enough away not to hate it.”
In other words, sometimes stepping just outside the front door of a particular view (like Christianity) leaves you too close to have a clear perspective. You can be standing beneath the awning while complaining about the shade. Your proximity itself creates emotional and intellectual blind spots.
Lead image from the Relevant.
C. S. Lewis is loved by many Latter-day Saints who are intrigued by insights in his books that parallel LDS doctrines. In Of Lions, Dragons, and Turkish Delight, S. Michael Wilcox discusses Lewis's perspectives on such topics as:
- Our ability to become like God
- The “divine homesickness” inside each of us that only God can satisfy God's desire to pour happiness into the hollow of our souls
- How to avoid today's “Turkish delights,” the obstacles to happiness that Satan puts in our path
You'll love this discussion about one of the greatest Christian writers by a gifted teacher and storyteller.
