C. S. Lewis was concerned about an aspect of the problem of evil he called subjectivism: the tendency of one's perspective to move towards self-referentialism and utilitarianism. In C. S. Lewis and a Problem of Evil, Jerry Root provides a holistic reading of Lewis by walking the reader through all of Lewis's published work as he argues Lewis's case against subjectivism. Furthermore, the book reveals that Lewis consistently employed fiction to make his case, as virtually all of his villains are portrayed as subjectivists. Lewis's warnings are prophetic; this book is not merely an exposition of Lewis, it is also a timely investigation into the problem of evil.

Readers who can quote word for word from C.S. Lewis's theological classic, Mere Christianity, or his science fiction novel, Perelandra, have often never read his work as a professional literary historian. They may not even recognize some of the neglected works discussed, here. Mark Neal and Jerry Root have done students of Lewis a great service, tracing the signature ideas in Lewis's works of literary criticism and showing their relevance to Lewis's more familiar books. Their thorough research and lucid prose will be welcome to all who would like to understand Lewis more fully, but who feel daunted by books of such evident scholarly erudition. For example, when you read The Discarded Image on the ancients' view of the heavens, you understand better why Ransom has such unpleasant sensations when first descending toward Malacandra in Out of the Silent Planet. And when you come across Lewis's discussion in OHEL of a minor sixteenth-century poet who described the hellish River Styx as a "puddle glum," you can't help but chuckle at the name when you meet the famous Marshwiggle in The Silver Chair. These are just two examples of how reading the "Neglected Lewis" can help every reader understand Lewis more fully.

Several years before he converted to Christianity, C. S. Lewis published a narrative poem, Dymer, under the pseudonym Clive Hamilton. Later, of course, Lewis became well known for his beloved imaginative stories, such as The Chronicles of Narnia and Till We Have Faces, as well as his ability to defend and articulate the faith in works such as Mere Christianity. But what about his literary work before his conversion? In this Hansen Lectureship volume, Jerry Root contends that Lewis's early poem Dymer can not only shed light on the development of Lewis's literary skills but also offer a glimpse of what was to come in his intellectual and spiritual growth-a "splendour in the dark," to borrow one of Lewis's own lines from the poem. Under Root's careful analysis, Dymer becomes a way to understand both Lewis's change of mind as well as the way in which each of us is led on a journey of faith. This volume also includes the complete text of Dymer with annotations from David C. Downing, co-director of the Marion E. Wade Center. Based on the annual lecture series hosted at Wheaton College's Marion E. Wade Center, volumes in the Hansen Lectureship Series reflect on the imaginative work and lasting influence of seven British authors: Owen Barfield, G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Dorothy L. Sayers, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams.

Happy marriages don't just happen. Despite the abundance of magazines and self-help books available, people continue to struggle with marriage. Wedding planners, consultants, Pinterest pages, and bloggers have shaped young hearts to dream and plan for the biggest day of their lives. The day is everything, and they will plan each element with precision, from flowers to cake decorations to party favors. Couples will spend an enormous amount of time and money preparing for the wedding, but they will spend little to no time in preparation for the marriage itself. It takes work to make a marriage successful. Divorce rates are clear evidence of this, but so also are the many married people who are in dire need of counseling and care, who persist in loneliness and difficulty, feeling ill-equipped to navigate the unforeseen difficulties of marriage. This book exists to coach couples through strategies which will assist them to succeed.

Description: C. S. Lewis was concerned about an aspect of the problem of evil he called subjectivism: the tendency of one's perspective to move towards self-referentialism and utilitarianism. In C. S. Lewis and a Problem of Evil, Jerry Root provides a holistic reading of Lewis by walking the reader through all of Lewis's published work as he argues Lewis's case against subjectivism. Furthermore, the book reveals that Lewis consistently employed fiction to make his case, as virtually all of his villains are portrayed as subjectivists. Lewis's warnings are prophetic; this book is not merely an exposition of Lewis, it is also a timely investigation into the problem of evil. Endorsements: ""Few people know Lewis as well as Jerry Root, and few ideas were more central to Lewis's thought than his critique of subjectivism. Particularly valuable in this study is Root's insistence that Lewis considered fiction and poetry as key venues for developing that critique and throughout his career saw literature as a tool of thought."" -Alan Jacobs, author of The Narnian: the Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis ""The Greeks knew it as the flaw of Narcissus. Luther termed it curvatus in se. To C. S. Lewis it was 'the poison of subjectivism, ' and throughout much of his corpus he attended to its various dangers, guises, and cures. Jerry Root carefully analyzes this pervasive theme in Lewis's work and in so doing provides a timely and challenging stimulus to think afresh about the limits of personal perspective."" -Michael Ward, author of Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C. S. Lewis ""Students of the life and writing of C. S. Lewis sometimes wonder if there is anything new or important that can be published on the celebrated Oxford Christian. Jerry Root's new book not only makes a brilliant and original contribution to our understanding of the wide sweep of Lewis's works, it is also important and quite timely because it helps us-through Lewis's mind-examine the core of the problem of evil that plagues us as much as it infected Lewis's time. Anyone with a serious interest in Lewis or the problem of evil will be fascinated by this major contribution to Lewis studies."" -Lyle W. Dorsett, author of Seeking the Secret Place: The Spiritual Formation of C. S. Lewis ""Few people in the world have a richer knowledge of C. S. Lewis's works or a more energetic intellectual curiosity than Jerry Root. Both qualities inform this unique exploration of evil through genres ranging from literary criticism to theological fantasy. What were Lewis's ideas on audience and how did he propose to connect with his readers? How did his rhetorical approach square with his theological understanding and life experience of pain and evil? Dr. Root will take you on an extended exploration of these questions and more."" -Wayne Martindale, author of Beyond the Shadowlands: C. S. Lewis on Heaven and Hell About the Contributor(s): Jerry Root is Assistant Professor of Evangelism and Associate Director of the Institute for Strategic Evangelism at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He is also visiting Professor at Biola University and Talbot Graduate School of Theology, La Mirada, California.

Quotes arranged alphabetically by topic and chronologically within topics, showing the progression of Lewis's thought. Also includes photographs of Lewis and his circle.