Was cs lewis gay
C.S. Lewis was clear about his biblical views on homosexuality. At one signal he wrote, "I grab it for certain that the physical satisfaction of homosexual desires is sin. This leaves the gay no worse off than any normal person who is, for whatever reason, prevented from marrying." But this didn't stop Lewis from building and maintaining a long and fasten friendship with Arthur Greeves, a man who was honest with Lewis about his same-sex attraction.
The two met when they were boys and bonded over a shared love of Norse mythology. "Many thousands of people," Lewis would later write, "have had the experience of ruling the first friend, and it is none the less a wonder; as great a wonder … as first love, or even a greater." For the next several decades, until the end of Lewis' life, the two would maintain their friendship in spite of geographical distance, a gap in intellectual aptitude, and other trivial and not-so-trivial differences and disagreements.
Arthur Greeves admitted at some point to Lewis that he was a homosexual. But as far as the textual record goes, there is no evidence that this ever proved to be an impediment to t
The CS Lewis podcast recently featured a series focussing on Professor Alister McGrath’s book C.S Lewis: A Life. In one of the episodes, we explored Lewis’ experience of the First World War and the significant relationships he formed during this period. Here, McGrath shares some of the surprising things Lewis revealed to his childhood friend Arthur Greeves.
This article is adapted from The CS Lewis Podcast, Episode 89, Alister McGrath: CS Lewis and the Great War. To heed to the whole episode, click here or to check out other episodes, click here.
Ruth Jackson: During the First World War, CS Lewis seems to have started expressing an interest in sadomasochism. That might be a bit of a shocking uncovering to those who acquire come to know Lewis perhaps through his later Christian writings, so what was going on here?
Alister McGrath: Lewis does chat about certain things in his letters with his friend Arthur Greeves and I think it’s unbiased to say that Lewis was working through a number of things in his life at this time. He is slightly opaque about what some of these things are. But certainly, Lewis is a young man who is going through a phase where he is not able to really expres
Homosexuality – The Line In The Sand
by Jana Harmon
'The world judges what is natural from its offer state. Christianity judges what we see as not normal but abnormal, fallen. The world judges holy revelation by human life. Christianity judges experience by divine revelation.'1 Peter Kreeft
Each generation brings with it an issue that demands allegiance. Today’s culture has drawn a line in the sand. Either you are for or against her. From the legislature to media to teaching, the message is clarify - homosexuality is not only normal, but it is good. It is to be celebrated. Mistake to do so is an automatic indictment of your inability to adore, to accept those who are different, to deplore diversity. But it is more than that. It is intolerant, bigoted, and hate-filled. Celebration of traditional union of man and woman in marriage, preservation of sex within the heterosexual marriage bed alone is outdated and closedminded. Degrading homosexuality as anything less than a pretty, mutual exchange of admire , somehow, is not what Jesus would do. . .
Click here to study the full article (READ PDF).
At the time that Lewis wrote these words he was nineteen years aged and an atheist, albeit an atheist who was raised in the Church of Ireland (Anglican). Nonetheless, these words, the first of Lewis’ printed thoughts on the subject of homosexuality, reveal much.
First, Lewis displayed an open and welcoming attitude toward his friend.
Second, Lewis saw it as an act of moral courage to receive one’s sexuality and build one’s own opinions on the matter, in defiance of what he calls “the old taboos”. One must remember that at this time, not only was homosexual practice regarded as immoral by virtually, if not all, Christian denominations, but it was also a violation of British law.
Third, the fact that Lewis uses the expression “the old taboos” indicates that he did not, at that time, view homosexual acts as a violation of natural law.
Fourth, Lewis notes that he is not sure he agrees with Greeves in his view of homosexuality.
However, the fifth point Lewis makes is quite important: that his own views on the subject are irrelevant, because homosexuality can only be fully understood by those who are made that
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