Reprinted with permission from Brett McCracken’s blog The Search

“It is at her centre, where her truest children dwell, that each communion is really closest to every other in spirit, if not in doctrine. And this suggests that at the centre of each there is a something, or a Someone, who against all divergencies of belief, all differences of temperament, all memories of mutual persecution, speaks with the same voice.”

-C.S. Lewis, preface to Mere Christianity

I always loved C.S. Lewis’ idea of “mere Christianity”—that there are fundamental beliefs about God and Christ that bind the church together, even while so many of the particulars might be different or contradictory. It’s an idea that makes sense. And it’s comforting. It helps explains why Christianity as a belief system has managed to survive so many centuries and penetrate so many disparate cultures. There are certain core beliefs (amazing, world changing beliefs) that can’t help but endure. And as I’ve spent the last few days in Lewis’ house here in Oxford, his idea—“mere Christianity” is one I’ve thought about again and again.

I think about it while I’m writing my book, for one thing. If there is any underlying reason why I’m writing the book, it’s that I think the church today needs to rediscover “mere Christianity” as opposed to “cool Christianity” or “jazzy Christianity” or “online Christianity” (or whatever other conflated, stylized “Christianity” you can think of). I think we’ve become obsessed with the form and presentation of the Gospel while forsaking its substance (or divorcing substance from form, which is equally problematic). And I think a good dose of “mere Christian” back-to-basics and unity-mindedness could do us some good.

I also thought about this idea as I was in downtown Oxford today, looking at old cathedrals and convents and churches and vestiges of Christianity’s indelible impact on this place. I especially liked seeing the Oxford Martyrs monument, on the spot where Thomas Cranmer and 2 others were burned at the stake for their beliefs. Though the church is not alive here like it once was, the physical and spiritual remnants are enough to inspire anyone. Sitting in the University Church of St. Mary’s on Thursday I was able to catch a free chorale concert by a touring choir from William Jewell College in Missouri. It was sad to me that beautiful cathedrals like this in Oxford are now primarily venues for concerts and tourism, but then when the choir started singing the American folk hymn, “What Wondrous Love is This,” it didn’t matter. It was beautiful and transcendent. When songs like that are still being sung in places like this, the worldwide church is alive and well. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Brett McCracken, Oxford, The C.S. Lewis Study Centre, The Kilns, The Kilns Study Centre

Brett McCracken, one of our dear friends and former C.S. Lewis Foundation Intern and Conference Registrar, is currently writing a book about Christian “hipsters” and is taking a research/writing trip to New York City, London, Oxford and Paris, including a short stay at The Kilns as part of the Scholars-in-Residence program.  Here’s an excerpt from his blog “Still Searching“:

The coolest thing about my trip is that when I’m in Oxford, I will be staying at the Kilns—the quaint little English home of C.S. Lewis on the outskirts of the city. The house is owned by the C.S. Lewis Foundation, who I’ve been associated with for the last 4 years. The Foundation opens the home throughout the year to scholars and writers who need an inspiring place to get their work done. They call it the C.S. Lewis Study Centre.

Of course I feel completely lucky and spoiled that I’ll get to spend a week there. I’m immensely blessed to be able to write in the study where Lewis wrote the majority of his world-impacting texts. I only hope some of his brilliant, humble spirit will waft its way into my own hand as I write in that place. I don’t expect miracles—but Lewis would probably say that I should.

Anyway, I will be hopefully be updating my blog every few days throughout my time in Europe, wherever wifi is available. After my week in Oxford, I’ll be in London for a few days, and then in Paris for four days. So bon voyage, readers! Next time you hear from me will likely be Sunday night, from Brooklyn—where I’ll be writing from the cradle of hipster civilization.

If you want to follow Brett on his trip and find out more about what a “Christian hipster” is, visit his blog at http://stillsearching.wordpress.com/

Tags: Brett McCracken, C.S. Lewis Foundation, Christianity, hipster, internship, Still Searching, The Kilns, The Kilns Study Centre

Just wanted to update everyone on our upcoming events since we’ve just added some new information online:

Summer Seminars in Residence at The Kilns

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to explore the life and works of C.S. Lewis with a small group of fellow travelers while residing in C.S. Lewis’ beloved home, The Kilns!

Join us for a week of learning, fellowship, and renewal in the world renowned “City of the Dreaming Spires”– Oxford, England.  Study with a noted Lewis scholar, who will lead you in an engaging exploration of the essential themes of Lewis’ writings and life. Experience the pleasures of new friendships, fine dining, and warm hospitality as you find respite from the hectic pace of modern day life. Whether enjoying the many cultural treasures of Oxford, venturing on a guided tour of the city of Cambridge, punting on the Cam, or having tea in the garden with your companions, you will find your stay at The Kilns to be one of life’s rare treasures.

For the Summer Seminars, we’ve just added a new program for Week III:

Week III ~ August 1-7, 2009:
Lewis Remembered: Visits with Friends of C.S. Lewis
With Walter Hooper, Laurence Harwood and Kim Gilnett

What was it like to know C.S. Lewis as a friend? A stepfather? A benefactor? Meet with those who knew him best as family and friends of Jack Lewis reminisce about a man of integrity, scholarship, and humor. Gain an insider’s glimpse into formative influences on Lewis’ life. Consider how he integrated his Christian faith with work and personal pursuits. Beginning with a biography of Lewis’ life and conversion, each day’s discussion will introduce you to another of Lewis’ closest contemporaries.

Special Guests: Aidan Mackey, Barbara Reynolds and Simon Barrington Ward *

* Speakers and special guests are subject to confirmation.

C.S. Lewis Southwest Regional Retreat - We’ve just launched the official website and added the schedule information.

From the early 1930s to the late 1940s, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and a community of their friends and fellow writers met frequently to share good fellowship and their creative works-in-progress.  Members of this small writers group, the “Inklings,” came to produce some of the most beloved works of fiction and prose of the twentieth century.

But how did the Inklings, many of them Christians working in skeptical secular environments, come to create such lasting contributions to literature and Christianity?  And what can we learn about Christian creativity, community, and fellowship from such a diverse group of writers and thinkers?

Join Diana Pavlac Glyer, author of The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community, as she invites us to discover their friendship and the influence it had on their lives, their works, and their relationships with God.

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.

The C.S. Lewis Southwest Regional Retreat will renew your spirit, challenge your mind, and refresh your body!

DON’T MISS THIS YEAR’S SPECIAL PROGRAMS!

Writer’s Workshop

In the spirit of Lewis & Tolkien, we are also offering a special preconference Writers Workshop that will continue throughout the retreat.  Featuring author Joy Jordan-Lake, agent Steve Laube, and editor Terry Glaspey, the workshop will center on the theme More Than a Hobby: Letting Community Take Your Creativity to a New Level. To meet the needs of writers of varying areas of interest, there will be two tracks – one for fiction writers led by Joy Jordan-Lake, and one for nonfiction writers (focusing on devotionals, journals, memoirs, family histories, and church projects) led by Frank Ball.

Children’s Track

This year will also see the return of our popular children’s program, “Sailing Aboard the Dawn Treader: Learning from Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace,” which offers kids (ages 7-12) the opportunity to connect with Lewis at their level through reading aloud, discussing, acting, singing, hiking, arts & crafts and much more.

Tags: Ad Deum Dance Company, Andrew Lazo, C.S. Lewis, Camp Allen, Chronicles of Narnia, Diana Glyer, Don Wood, Frank Ball, George Musacchio, Joel Heck, Joy Jordan-Lake, Kemper Crabb, Kim Gilnett, Laurence Harwood, Narnia, Navasota, Oxford, Scott Irwin, Skip Ryan, Southwest Regional Retreat, Steve Laube, Summer Seminars, Terry Glaspey, Texas, The Kilns, The Kilns Study Centre, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Walter Hooper, Writers Workshop

Click here to download

To find out the latest news on the mission, work, and events of the C.S. Lewis Foundation, download the pdf version of our print newsletter by visiting our newsletter page here.

Included in the newsletter are articles on Oxbridge 2008 Summer Institute, the Summer Seminars at The Kilns, Camp Allen, the Blue Plaque ceremony at The Kilns, our Faculty Forum awards, and profiles of some of our volunteers and supporters.

As a special preview, we’ve posted one article from our newsletter on this blog — Debbie Higgens’ Scholar-in-Residence report from The Kilns Study Centre: “A Ph.D. Journey by Way of Narnia.”

Tags: Blue Plaque, C.S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis blog, C.S. Lewis Foundation, Camp Allen, Debbie Higgens, Faculty Forum, newsletter, Oxbridge 2008, Summer Institute, The Kilns, The Kilns Study Centre