What C.S. Lewis thought about Mormons
June 6, 2009 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog
C.S. Lewis was not LDS. He may, in fact, not have even liked The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
But Mormons love C. S. Lewis.
Authors Marianna Richardson and Christine Thackeray looked at the famous Christian apologist in their book “C.S. Lewis: Latter-day Truths in Narnia.” They wrote about the letters Lewis sent to many of his readers.
Lewis is apparently referring to the LDS Church and its “Word of Wisdom” prohibitions against drinking alcohol.
Richardson and Thackeray do not discuss another possible reference to Mormons in Lewis’ works. In his Narnian fantasy book “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” he writes about the family of a rather unpleasant character named Eustace Scrubb: “They were vegetarians, non-smokers and teetotalers and wore a special kind of underclothes.”
Because of this description, some have speculated that Lewis was saying that the Scrubbs were Mormons — although such a conclusion requires ignoring other descriptions of the character and his family. The adopted son of Lewis, Douglas Gresham, has also been quoted as saying the Scrubbs were “simply faddists.” . . . (Continue reading)
As an ex-Mormon now Catholic, I just had to comment. Yes, C.S. Lewis has quite a few fans among Mormons. My dad is one of them.
However, because Mormons so twist whatever evidence there is out there to support their own belief system, it is hardly surprising that they twist Lewis' works.
Lewis may have been many things, a professor, a poet, a novelist, and an apologist. But one thing he was not was a Mormon. Reading his writings on theosis only show how far removed he his from Mormonism.
Joseph Smith drank wine fairly frequently (he often notes it in his journal) and issued a revelation about the supper of the Great God when Jesus would return and "drink of the fruit of the vine" with various resurrected prophets (D&C 27. I believe the Word of Wisdom provides protection against the evils of alcohol abuse in a world that has glamorized alchol use. I believe the day will come whent the Word of Wisdom will no longer be by way of commandment but will be a suggestion of moderation to the saints.
Marmadukewithpeanuts,
The difference is that it's not a preference, it's a "commandment" based on some newfangled scripture (with a small "s").
–girlnextdoor
Wow, mormons like to be healthy and prefer not to drink alcohol or smoke. The humanity!
In other words we really don't know that C.S. Lewis thought about the Mormons.
He appeared, however, to support moderate moderation. He appeared opposed to absolute teetotalism which is of course contrary to the Bible. The Bible is opposed to excess and drunkeness but not the use of alcohol.