Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963), Oxford don, literary scholar, and perhaps the most influential Christian apologist of the 20th century. An atheist through His twenties (fighting in WWI deepened His rejection of God), He was famously "surprised by joy" and converted first to theism (1929) and then to Christianity (1931) — the Christian step largely the result of long walks with J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson. His conversion is one of the best-documented intellectual journeys to faith in modern history (Surprised by Joy, Mere Christianity). He taught at Oxford for nearly 30 years before moving to Cambridge in 1954.
Lewis's influence on 20th- and 21st-century Christian thought is extraordinary. His contributions span four areas. (1) Apologetics: Mere Christianity (1952) — originally BBC radio broadcasts during WWII — makes the case for Christianity through the moral argument, Trilemma (liar-lunatic-Lord), and defense of orthodoxy. Still in print, still converting readers. (2) Children's fiction with theological depth: The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956) rendered the gospel for children (and adults) through Aslan. Three generations now have met Christ through the great Lion. (3) Adult fiction and allegory: The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters (demonic correspondence on human vice), Till We Have Faces, the Space Trilogy. (4) Devotional and philosophical works: The Problem of Pain, A Grief Observed, The Weight of Glory, Miracles, The Four Loves. Lewis was not Reformed; his sacramentology and soteriology had Anglican Anglo-Catholic features that Reformed readers must evaluate. But on the essentials — Trinity, incarnation, atonement, resurrection, authority of Scripture, moral seriousness — he was orthodox. No modern Christian has rendered the faith more lucidly, more imaginatively, or with more lasting effect on the unbelieving mind.