A Lecture And A Link ... And Don't Forget The Screwtape Letters On May 8th!

Peggy Printz just found out about an event at her church, it's on Sat. May 3 9-12AM; Dr. Art Lindsley, former president of the C. S. Lewis Institute, speaking on "Why Christianity over other religions" and The Problem of Evil.  seating is limited, reservations required, I think you pay at the door ($10)  - to register, go to www.epcelkton.org  - the website does not give much more info on the event, but there is helpful info such as the location of the church (it's on 33 between Elkton and Shenandoah).

Also Elizabeth Fierro found an interesting link you might want to know about which has a nice audio recording of a talk about C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams
Link to a lecture on C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams
http://www.hieropraxis.com/2013/02/charles-williams-and-c-s-lewis-the-influence-of-descent-into-hell/

May 8th Will Be The Screwtape Letters With Jessica Leading

The Screwtape Letters  is our book for May with Jessica leading.  Coming off Dante's Inferno which we just covered with Iain's excellent leadership we might see if we can detect any connections between the two works.  Of course since Screwtape is just writing letters to his nephew Wormwood the similarities may be subtle.  It should be a fun meeting.

Meanwhile look below for a schedule for the rest of the year.  We still need discussion leaders for August (C.S. Lewis On Stories and Other Essays On Literature) and for October (G.K. Chesterton's The Everlasting Man).  If you'd like to lead one of those books let me know.

Schedule For The Balance of 2014 (May Through December) 

May 8th C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters Jessica our Discussion Leader
June 12th James Stewart Bell and Anthony P. Dawson From the Library of C.S. Lewis: Selections from Writers Who Influenced His Spiritual Journey Ray our Discussion Leader.
July 10th J.R.R. Tolkien On Fairy Stories and Leaf by Niggle Jane will be our Discussion Leader.
August 14th C.S. Lewis  On Stories and Other Essays On Literature NEED Discussion Leader
September 11th Jane Austen Persuasion Stephen will be our Discussion Leader
October 9th G.K. Chesterton The Everlasting Man NEED Discussion Leader
November 13th C.S. Lewis Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold Elizabeth our Discussion Leader. December 11th or some other date TBD Our Party to plan the New Year Stephen Has Volunteered to Host.

April 10th Is Dante's Inferno

  

A Few Thoughts and Questions from Iain For Our Meeting Thursday On The Inferno

Greetings. I  am not sure anything has been written about Dante's influence on Lewis, and I know that as a young student, Lewis admired the latter part of "Purgatoria"   - perhaps used in Perelandra.  I suspect that Paradiso provided backdrop for "The Great Divorce" although the progression is the reverse of the Inferno?

1. Who are Dante's guides? Why?
2. Can you identify Dante's major sources?
3. Identify the circles of  The Inferno?

4. Why the imagery of  _____  ice, fire?
5. Can you identify a Dantean usage (structure, Image, etc) in Lewis' works?

6. Why entitled "Divine Comedy?'
7. What is its purpose for Dante? For us as the readers?
8. Why a guide (Virgil and Beatrice?)
9. What is the significance of the overall structure of the Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise)?

10. What is written above the portals of the Inferno?
11. How are individual sins portrayed and also punished?
12. And the worst sin/s is/are?
13. Any themes, images, lessons drawn upon or used by Lewis  in the Science Fiction trilogy, Screwtape Letters, The great Divorce or in his overall conceptions of the world and humanity?

See you at the meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble in Harrisonburg!  Or perhaps a bit earlier at Panera's for a quick dinner.