Early Life and Loss of Faith
Born in Belfast, Ireland on November 29, 1898, Clive Staples Lewis, known to many as Jack, grew up in a nominally Christian home. However, the death of his mother in 1908 and the horrors of World War I led him to abandon his faith during adolescence. He embraced atheism, convinced that religions were mere human inventions. Yet, despite his atheistic stance, Lewis was haunted by an intense longing he called 'Joy'—a desire distinct from happiness or pleasure.
The Reluctant Convert's Awakening
His intellectual atheism began to crack when he pondered the notion of justice. Lewis realized that his arguments against God relied on a standard of justice that seemed to exist beyond personal preference. He famously noted, 'A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.' Consequently, in the Trinity Term of 1929, Lewis reluctantly acknowledged God's existence, describing himself as 'perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.'
From Atheist to Christian Believer
The transition from theism to Christianity was sparked by the influence of close friendships, particularly with J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson. A pivotal discussion on the night of September 19, 1931, challenged Lewis to view Christianity not as mere mythology but as a 'true myth'—a story that actually happened. Shortly after, Lewis wrote to his friend Arthur Greeves, affirming, 'I have just passed on from believing in God to definitely believing in Christ, in Christianity.'
Life Transformed Through Faith
Lewis's conversion was transformative. He became an Anglican layman and a prominent Christian apologist, influencing millions through works like 'Mere Christianity' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia.' His understanding of 'Joy' evolved, seeing it not as an end but as a pointer to God. Lewis's journey from atheism to Christianity exemplifies a profound encounter with Jesus, who changed his life and, through him, impacted countless others.
