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The C. S. Lewis Society Update (June 2009)

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1. The Narnia Code Premiered on BBC April 16 and May 18:

The acclaimed book, Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis, by Michael Ward (Research Fellow, The Independent Institute) is a finalist for the 2009 Mythopoeic Scholarship Awards. The documentary based on the book and co-sponsored by the C.S. Lewis Society of California, The Narnia Code, was aired on BBC1 on April 16th and BBC4 in May 18th, and here is an interview with Dr. Ward. For a promotional video of The Narnia Code, please go here.

2. Articles, Books, Debate Videos, and Music CDs:
A selection of recommended publications of interest.

A. Articles:

B. Books:

C. Debate Videos and Audios:

  • Christopher Hitchens vs. William Lane Craig (video): "Does God Exist?" (Biola University, April 4, 2009)
  • Dinesh D'Souza vs. Christopher Hitchens (video): "God Is Great" (Jones County Junior College, April 20, 2009)
  • Michael Shermer vs. John Lennox (video in 10 parts): "Does God Exist?" (Wesley Centre, Sydney, Australia, November 5, 2008)
  • William Lane Craig vs. Jamal Badawi (video in 11 parts): "The Concept of God in Islam and Christianity" (University of Illinois, 1997)
  • William Lane Craig vs. Peter Slezak (video in 10 parts): "Atheism vs. Christianity" (Town Hall, Sydney, Australia, October 7, 2006)
  • Timothy Keller vs. Norman Bacrac (audio): "The Reason for God" (Premiere Christian Radio, March 7, 2009)

D. Music Audio CDs:

3. Upcoming C.S. Lewis Society Events:

A. C.S. Lewis Society Bay Area Book and Film Club (See year-long schedule here)
Meets bi-weekly Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
The upcoming meeting will be held at:

    11990 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94619
    RSVP: 510-635-6892 phone; info@lewissociety.org
    Refreshments served

    June 24: Discussion: leader/moderator, Mary Theroux
    God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics, by C. S. Lewis

    July 8: Discussion: leader/moderator, Andrew Dósa
    God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics, by C. S. Lewis

      C.S. Lewis was a profound thinker with a rare ability to communicate the philosophical and theological rationale of Christianity in simple yet amazingly effective ways. The superb book God in the Dock contains forty-eight essays and twelve letters written by Lewis between 1940 and 1963. Ranging from popular newspaper pieces to learned defenses of the faith, these essays cover topics as varied as the logic of theism, good and evil, miracles, religion and science, natural law, the welfare state, role of women in church polity, moral relativism, prayer, the therapeutic state, and ethics and politics.

      "God in the Dock" (Wikipedia)

      God in the Dock is available in paperback, on audio cassettes, on CDs, or online.

    July 22 and August 5: Discussion: leader/moderator, Suzanne Cartmell
    And God Came In: The Extraordinary Story of Joy Davidman: Her Life and Marriage to C. S. Lewis, by Lyle W. Dorsett

      In this definitive biography of Joy Davidman, we read of her real love story with C.S. Lewis that neither the International Emmy and British Academy Award-winning BBC production, C.S. Lewis Through the Shadowlands, nor the major motion picture, Shadowlands, could tell. Lyle Dorsett reveals Davidman's profound influence on Lewis's life and writings. Davidman (1915-1960) was an influential American poet and writer, a radical communist, and an atheist until her conversion to Christianity and rejection of communism in the late 1940s.

      Davidman's first husband was the writer William Lindsay Gresham, also a communist, who Joy separated from because of his philandering and physical abuse of her. Having been converted to Christianity by reading Lewis's work, she then moved to England in 1954 with her two sons, David and Douglas Gresham. Lewis at first regarded her as an agreeable intellectual companion and personal friend, and it was at least overtly on this level that he agreed to enter into a civil marriage contract with her so that she could continue to live in the U.K. It then became clear that she had terminal bone cancer, and the relationship developed to the point that they sought a Christian marriage in 1956. She miraculously recovered for three years, but eventually succumbed to cancer, and Lewis wrote A Grief Observed in response to her death.

      Who was the outspoken, dynamic woman named Joy Davidman who became C. S. Lewis's wife? And God Came In tells the story, not only about the marriage between the erudite and accomplished Lewis and Joy Davidman, but also of the famously vivid and assertive woman herself.

      And God Came In is available in hardcover.

4. Other Events:

A. International Colloquium on Perelandra with Second Premiere of Perelandra: The Opera
Sponsored by the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society

This opera by Donald Swann and David Marsh was originally written between 1960 and 1964, with enthusiastic support from C.S. Lewis. In a 1962 letter to Marsh, Lewis wrote, "I think [the libretto] just stunningly good. It brought tears to my eyes in places. Done right, it will be terrific. I very heartily congratulate you." The opera was also very dear to Swann's heart, and contains some of his most lyrical music.

When first premiered, the opera received enthusiastic reviews in Oxford, Cambridge, London and later New York. However, the sale of the film rights shortly after Lewis's death placed a long-term embargo on its performance. The opera is now receiving a long-awaited second premiere. It is to be performed in its original, three-act version as a "theatrical oratorio" and recorded by Oxford Records.

Featuring:

    Keynote: Walter Hooper, Trustee and Literary Advisor, C.S. Lewis Estate

    Perelandra: The Opera, by Donald Swann (music) and David Marsh (libretto)

When:

    Colloquium: June 26-27, 2009
    Opera Performances: June 25 and 26, 2009

Where:

    St. Stephen's House
    University of Oxford
    Oxford, England

Information:

B. "All Things Considered"
Sponsored by the New York C.S. Lewis Society

Commemorating its 40th Anniversary, the New York C.S. Lewis Society will host a weekend symposium.

Featuring:

When:

    August 7-9, 2009

Where:

    Immaculate Conception Center
    Douglaston
    Queens, NY

Registration:

    C.S. Lewis Foundation
    Attn: Registrar
    P.O. Box 8008
    Redlands, CA 92375
    Email: info@cslewis.org
    Phone: 866-334-2267
    Online

C. "2009 Summer Seminars-in-Residence at The Kilns"
Sponsored by C.S. Lewis Foundation

Featuring:

    Don W. King, Professor of English, Montreat College; Editor, Christian Scholar’s Review

    Kim Gilnett, Marketing Associate for the School of Fine and Performing Arts, Seattle Pacific University

When:

    July 11-17, 2009
    July 19-25, 2009
    August 1-7, 2009

Where:

    The Kilns
    Oxford, England

Registration:

    C.S. Lewis Foundation
    Attn: Registrar
    P.O. Box 8008
    Redlands, CA 92375
    Email: info@cslewis.org
    Phone: 888-CSLEWIS
    Online

D. "The Company We Keep: Creativity & Community with C.S. Lewis & the Inklings"
Sponsored by C.S. Lewis Foundation

Featuring:

    Diana Pavlac Glyer, Professor of English, Azusa Pacific University; author, The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community

    In the intimate woodland setting of the Camp Allen Conference Center, be refreshed by Ad Deum Dance Company and the music of Kemper Crabb. Explore the theme in breakout sessions with Joel Heck, George Musacchio, Andrew Lazo and Don Wood. Worship with Rev. Skip Ryan and Rev. Scott Irwin. And engage in stimulating discussion and fellowship with other conferees.

When:

    October 30 - November 1, 2009

Where:

    Camp Allen Retreat and Conference Center
    Navasota, Texas

Registration:

    C.S. Lewis Foundation
    Attn: Registrar
    P.O. Box 8008
    Redlands, CA 92375
    Email: info@cslewis.org
    Phone: 866-334-2267
    Online

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