C.S. Lewis expert to visit USU
The word on the street – or sidewalk – is clear: Aslan is on the Move.
The quote, taken from “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis, refers to the lion Aslan who is the true ruler of the mythical land of Narnia.
In the novel, four British children enter Narnia through a wardrobe and join the fight against a witch who has taken over rule after Aslan leaves.
The sidewalk message seen around campus, is advertising a lecture on the life of Lewis and the land of Narnia he created.
Sponsored by the Fellowship Of Christian University Students (FOCUS), Dr. Jerry Root from Wheaton University will be at Utah State Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. to give the lecture.
“We thought people would be interested in hearing more abut the life of C.S. Lewis,” FOCUS adviser Rob Gunn said. “We find he is pretty popular around here. With the movie coming out, we thought people would be interested in learning more about his life.”
The movie version of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” set for release on Dec. 9, has spawned a series of articles in magazines and newspapers about Lewis’s life and writings.
“I think [students] will be very surprised and interested in [Lewis’s] life,” Gunn said. “We can read his books and see the movie, but not realize all that led to [their writing and publication]. For instance, he was a committed atheist until late in his life and had a pretty dramatic conversion.”
Gunn found out about Root through a friend who was in the C.S. Lewis Society.
Gunn contacted Root and found out that he was giving similar lectures all acrossed the country.
“He’s very interested in coming,” Gunn said.
Born in southern California, Root was raised in a Christian family but did not become a Christian until his freshman year of college. Root’s sister first introduced him to the writings of C.S. Lewis as an undergraduate.
Root’s Ph.D. thesis focused on evil as a theme in Lewis’s writings.
His courses at Wheaton College, the College of Du Page and Biola University have included philosophy and classes on the life and writings of C.S. Lewis.
Wheaton College, where Root currently teaches, has a center dedicated to the writings of seven British authors including Lewis and his literary friend, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Root is the co-editor of “The Quotable C.S. Lewis” and has authored several articles on C.S. Lewis and Christian evangelism.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Root has been the pastor of three different churches.
The lecture will be held in the TSC Auditorium and is free to the public.
-mattgo@cc.usu.edu.