Most Reluctant Convert: C. S. Lewis's Journey to Faith: C. S. Lewis's Journey to Faith

by David C. Downing, Patrick Cullen

The Most Reluctant Convert: C. S. Lewis's Journey to Faith

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Audiobook, Religion, Faith

Audiobook

First published April 19, 2002

About the author

I am a professor of English at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This is on the edge of "Amish country," and I sometimes pass a horse and buggy on my way to and from campus.

I grew up in Colorado, went to college in Santa Barbara, CA, and earned my PhD from UCLA. I currently teach professional and creative writing at Elizabethtown, as well as a first-year seminar on quest narratives.

I first read the Narnia Chronicles as a college sophomore. I was so enthralled, I read all seven books in a month, then re-read them again the next month. I published my first article on C. S. Lewis that same year. I tackled Lord of the Rings in my junior year of college, and I still remember reading all night, the sun coming up just when I discovered that Gandalf had returned. What a glorious dawn that was!

Living less that an hour from Gettysburg, I have become one of many Civil War buffs in this part of the country. I published A South Divided: Portraits of Dissent in the Confederacy in 2007, a study of Southerners who supported the Union during the war.

My wife, Crystal, is a professor of English and film studies at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. She is the author of Writing Performances: The Stages of Dorothy L. Sayers (2004) and How Postmodernism Serves (My) Faith (2006).

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected this to be just a rehash of things I already knew, instead it was a delightful read with a unique look at CS Lewis.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am as many who've read other reviews etc. from me will know a huge C.S. Lewis fan. I've read a great deal of his writing (fiction and nonfiction) and recommend it all. This isn't the first boi I've read of him.

This is an interesting biography and it does touch on the era before Lewis' conversion. I'm a little leery as we do have to take the writer's word for some of what Lewis may have thought though in most cases he does have writings by Lewis himself and those who knew him to base it on.

All in all I go 4 stars here but I must admit that the book will probably appeal more to those who are interested in the life of C.S. Lewis. The writing gets a little detail oriented at times but still you get a picture of the man and his journey from atheism to Christianity.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful short introduction to Lewis, with an emphasis on his conversion and religious and spiritual thought.

Reminded me of:
--A Life Observed: A Spiritual Biography of C. S. Lewis

Downing is a respected scholar in Lewis studies.

I want to read his other works:
--Looking for the King
--Into the Wardrobe: C. S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles

I have also enjoyed:
--C.S. Lewis and the Arts: Creativity in the Shadowlands
--Planets in Peril: A Critical Study of C. S. Lewis's Ransom Trilogy

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. An incredible (dare I say life-changing?) look at C.S.Lewis’s development as a thinker, writer, and person of faith. It follows his battle of intellect and imagination and allows truth to lead the story.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed how the author brought together biographical information, letters by Lewis, and sections from his writings to show the wrestling with faith and belief that Lewis went through his teens and twenties. Maybe not the first biography I'd have someone read, but as a huge fan of Lewis, I loved it.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good quick audio. As with some things pertaining to Lewis, or all things, it became a little deep at times.

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had already read a more typical biography of Lewis.
This is not really a biography—instead it loosely uses Lewis’ life leading up to his conversion to frame Lewis’ own analysis of alternatives to Christianity that were offered in his milieu. Basically, the result is a very readable re-presentation of Lewis’ thought, particularly his critiques of false hopes like atheism, materialism, spiritism, generic theism.

As a result of its structure (and my ignorance of his biography), I often got lost in terms of where Lewis was (both physically and intellectually). But the material is well presented!

It made me want to go read Pilgrim’s Regress again more than anything else.

[Seth · Rating 2 out of 5]

A strange account of C.S. Lewis and his conversion to Christianity. Interesting as a biographical insight but nothing more.

[Taten Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a C.S. Lewis biography. This one had some Cosmic Trilogy insights I especially enjoyed as I'm currently reading that.

[Laura Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book. I read Surprised By Joy years ago, and The Narnian late last year, but this one was different in that it focuses on Lewis’ spiritual journey.

[Elizabeth]

Seeing this on Goodreads made me remember that I read this for my college C.S. Lewis class. David Downing works at the Wade Center at Wheaton, and I love the Wade Center podcast. David's wife is a Dorothy Sayers' scholar and they are so knowledgeable!

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literary Lewis

This book offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the life of C.S. Lewis, a man who famously journeyed from atheism to Christianity. The book is well-researched and offers valuable insights into the mind of one of the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century.

However, while the book does provide a detailed analysis of the characters and plots in Lewis's books, I found that it detracted from the main focus of the book - his personal journey to faith.
Although it's interesting to see how his own experiences influenced the themes in his writing, I would have preferred more emphasis on his life story rather than the details of his literary works.

Overall, "The Most Reluctant Convert" is an informative and engaging read for fans of C.S. Lewis, but it may not be the best choice for readers who are primarily interested in his personal story.

If you are looking for my famous "your first name is initials, so I gave you a name to define it" like I do on all my other book reviews, well, here it is:
"Creative Scribbler" C.S. Lewis

3.7/5

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads more like an analytical biography of C.S. Lewis, making it quite different from other biographies of Lewis I’ve read—particularly George Sayer’s work on him, which the author references a few times. Regardless, David C. Downing seems to have a firm grasp of the ecosystem that formed around Lewis and his writing. However, this depth left me wondering whether some of his conclusions were overly speculative or inclined toward psychoanalysis. Downing traces themes in Lewis’ works to his past experiences, including his dabbling in the occult, his admiration for educational heroes prior to his conversion, and his philosophical musings in letters to Arthur Greeves. To his credit, Downing does not draw overly thick lines around these speculative ideas; rather, his approach is scientific, relying on Lewis’ own autobiography and writings from those who knew him personally. The section about Lewis’ father, Albert, and their relationship was particularly moving.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul satisfying read. Makes C.S. Lewis seem human and brilliant at the same time. Love how he worked out his doubts and remained convinced to the end.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Cbarrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative insight into the influences that shaped Lewis' thought and the progression of his transition from atheism to christianity. Significant focus on family dynamic with his father in the years following his mother's death. Even this relationship would undergo great transformation ending in restoration and admiration.

Enjoyable book.

[Caleb Stott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal book for me. A biography of C.S. Lewis and his journey from faith-ish to faith in atheism to Theism and then to Christianity. I’d say “Jack’s” beliefs are well rounded, incredibly informed and true to themselves on all accounts, and not just at the end of his life but also in the beginnings and middle-ings. This isn’t so much a book about where he ended up but rather it’s a procession through his life’s vacillations and how he constantly challenged himself outside of his comforts (actually his comfort was the challenge/discomfort) to expand his horizons into a plethora of possibilities. I’d recommend this to Christians and non-Christian’s alike. The greatest benefit imo isn’t the destination but the process, how he did it. This is something we should all strive for, integrity to constantly inform ourselves with the best information possible and then be brave enough to change if necessary.

[Katherine Coble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love CS Lewis and his very logic driven approach to Christianity. This book was wonderful because instead of focusing on his mature faith, as every other book about him does, this tells the tale of his journey from absolute atheism to ardent follower of Christ.

[Acolvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

If, like me, you see CS Lewis as one of the most enlightening writers on Christian faith, you'll find this book intriguing. It's a little on the dry side, so don't expect it to be as engaging as a book actually written by Lewis.

The biography lays out a progression of thinking by one of the most brilliant Christian writers in modern times. It was interesting to learn that someone with as much intellectual will was driven by a churn of deep personal thought and imagination. The book connected the man's mind and heart in a way that helped me more clearly understand the motivation behind his writings. If you're a fan of CS Lewis, you'll find this short, journey to faith worth a read.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lewis called himself the most reluctant convert and it was likely because of the journey from Atheism, to agnosticism, to theism, to Christianity. He essentially hit every stairstep on the way down to his final destination, kicking and screaming all the way. Some converts run to their salvation, others like Lewis seemed to be dragged there; and he essentially was. This is a good overview of that journey, hitting the major highs and lows of his life and shows, if nothing else, that Lewis could have been your nextdoor neighbor who wrote down just about every thought he had. I for one am glad he did so.

[Jenni Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is more interesting to read CS Lewis than it is to read about CS Lewis. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the movie is better 😳

[Erin Odom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio and didn’t enjoy the narrator’s voice. Sometimes it seemed to drone on, and parts felt boring. I think it would have been better if I had read it myself.

That said, the final two chapters, which describe the actual conversion, redeemed this book for me. I am interested in reading his works (I’ve never read any of his books!) after reading this biography.

[John Kirkwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and wonderfully written. I've read many books on Lewis and so I'm always a bit surprised to be treated to information that I haven't read somewhere else. Looking forward to Into the Region of Awe, next.

[Samuel Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly revealing of a man's innermost being. A very humbling experience as I read of Jack Lewis' life and his experiences. I cannot imagine a person so well read as C. S. Lewis, his dog's name was Jack and he liked that name much better than Clyde Sinclair.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dry read but so glad I was able to see it adapted off Broadway this past Spring!

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I expected, but in many ways I found it quite exceptional. I was a bit nervous to read it, as I am with all of Lewis's nonfiction works for some reason I've never quite been able to place. I say that, because it's probably important to note first off that I somehow did not realize it was a biography and not an AUTObiography until a few chapters into the book when I began to think what I believed to be the foreword was getting a bit long. My mistake, albeit a happy one!

This book is probably best described, not as an actual biography, but as sort of a biographical memoir, because rather than telling the entire story of Lewis's life with every detail, it tells the story of his life in detail with the specific focus of his spiritual development from his childhood, through what he calls his boyhood, on into his adulthood. Most of the book is spent on his path to faith, and very little comparative time is spent explaining what his faith was like once he accepted Christ, but that's the subject of many of Lewis's own works, so it doesn't feel like an oversight.

I will say this book was at times a bit on the dry side for me, such that my task while listening to this audiobook captured more of my interest in some of the sections than the book itself. Over all, though, I find this book to be a balm to my soul and something that gives me a uniquely renewed hope for many of the lost, and especially for some of my most beloved unbelievers.

Sometimes it's tempting to despair when I see some of the deep thinkers I know and love straying so far from their Christian roots. In today's culture, deconstructions and deconversions are gut-wrenchingly commonplace. Tales of unbelievers coming to faith are thankfully common as well, but the most shared stories seem to me at times to lack some of the depth I crave as far as ideologies and logical arguments. At some point I recognized that some of the faith objections raised by some of the deepest thinkers of this seeming mass exodus from Christianity are objections or views I've never heard anyone say they "used to" hold. This has led to a sort of gnawing, anguished fear in me: could some views, once held, perhaps somehow be too far to return from? I feel I'm wording this all wrong, but maybe someone can relate.

Either way, this story of Lewis's unique faith journey, filled with the twists and turns of his deep-thinking mind trying to be intellectually honest, grappling with his own humanity and will, and working to see the truth no matter the cost, gives me hope for others I know and love, because many of the views he used to hold are views they currently espouse. I don't mean politics or anything trifling; I mean logical or philosophical arguments for or against the existence of God, the concept of His goodness, etc. Reading details about Lewis's incredible journey from intellectually reasoned atheism to an eventual, admirable, luminous faith in and love of Christ brings me hope for those I love. It feels a lot like joy.

[Craig Amason · Rating 3 out of 5]

The value of Downing's book is that it focuses on one particular aspect of Lewis's life, arguably the most important to scholarship and the Christian world. As such, it is not so lengthy as to be laborious and therefore accessible to lay readers like me. It is well written and organized, unfolding Lewis's journey to faith almost like a story. Published in 2002, the book was adapted to film in 2021 and directed by Norman Stone, who is probably best known for his full-length fictional film, Shadowlands, based on the love relationship and marriage of Lewis and Joy Gresham.

Lewis is an exceptional apologist for Christianity because he was born into the faith but rejected it as a boy primarily in reaction to the death of his mother. He only came back to the faith in his early 30s, halfway through his life. It is not inconsequential that his return to Christianity occurred shortly after the death of his father. Lewis's explorations of classical mythology and the occult before his conversion would actually end up informing his understanding of Christianity rather than driving him away from it. Because he had a tendency to analyze everything so deeply, even the most mundane matters, Lewis emerged in his 30s as a believer based more on a rational conclusion than an emotional decision. He was clearly one of the most powerful intellectuals of the 20th century and a prolific writer, especially after his conversion.

Of course, one could argue that Lewis simply went back to familiar territory as his intellect guided him through the exploration of the metaphysical. He credits lengthy and deep conversations about theology with J. R. R. Tolkien and other theologians for his final return to Christianity, which helped him comprehend how Christ is the ultimate synthesis of all the world's myths where the Creator reaches down to humanity to raise it up beyond the physical realm. In this sense, Lewis embraces some of the teachings of Thomas Aquinas, who helped define Scholasticism for much of the Middle Ages in the Christian Western world. Perhaps Lewis saw Christ as the final incarnation of God, a conclusion with which 3.5 billion Muslims, Hindus, and Jews in the world cannot agree. I guess all of it is still up for debate (wink).

[Erik Snell · Rating 4 out of 5]

To paraphrase one of the book’s final statements: “CS Lewis’s conversion resulted in the radical change of the man”

As a born again Christian and believer in Christ’s resurrection since childhood I often an “outside” perspective on conversion processes. While of course my life changed after starting my personal relationship with the Son of God, I’ve never had that same honest ability to truly acknowledge how I was and how I was after.

This book though really dives right into the conversion of CS Lewis and follows the path of a ver reluctant conversion. We’re brought along step by step as CS Lewis debates considers reacts examines and journeys from his life of disbelief to belief. Now I’m not an expert in philosophy or mythology so I will admit that some of the nuances probably went over my head a little but the author does clearly trace the process in way where it can be followed and considered by us. We can almost put ourselves into his shoes and consider the same challenges of thought. I’m the end this is a good retelling not only of how CS Lewis became the most reluctant convert but also on the power of God to influence and save.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography is a bit different than most. Rather than strictly focus on a chronology of life, this work has two interesting twists. First, it traces the circuitous path by which Lewis went from atheism to theism, and then from general theism to Christianity. And second, it focuses on connecting key incidents in Lewis' life to his various literary works. For example, in addition to relating the story about the dreadful master at Lewis' boarding school, the book then highlights how this "ogre" shows up in Lewis' literary works.

Consequently, this book creates a web of interesting connections, not only among Lewis' literary works, but also to his life experiences.

After reading this book, I feel I appreciate Lewis' other books better, understanding the ways they reflect more personally some of his life experiences. It's well done.