Surprised by Faith: Conversion and the Academy A Collection of Papers Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Conversion of C. S. Lewis

Surprised by Faith celebrates the 75th anniversary of C. S. Lewis kicking and screaming his way into Christianity-his 1931 conversion. Lewis described himself as, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. But a convert, nonetheless, surprised by joy. This volume was inspired by Lewis’s autobiographical account of the life-events which led to his coming to faith-an event that had a profound effect on his work and his relationships. In Surprised by Faith, Lewis’s conversion is explored as both a rational quest for truth and a romantic quest for meaning. This collection of essays commemorates Lewis’s conversion, but also celebrates, examines and discusses what conversion means to us as scholars, academicians, and most importantly, as human beings. It’s a kind of conversation about conversion. The conversation’s participants are individuals from a variety of backgrounds who themselves have been converted in the classic Christian sense. Surprised by Faith hopefully will challenge the reader to think more deeply, biblically and theologically about the transformation that takes place in each life that embraces Christ and moves from unbelief to belief. The essays look at the influence of conversion on perspectives as they relate to various disciplines, such as anthropology, poetry, psychology, education, philosophy and culture.