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Chronological Snobbery and the Problem of Evil

(Chapters 3 & 4)

C.S. Lewis had to overcome both of these intellectual issues before he could come to faith. The first was chronological snobbery—that beliefs from past times are necessarily untrue or at least dubious. Owen Barfield taught him to ask: Has a past belief been proved to be untrue? If so, where and how conclusively? The problem of evil had haunted him from the days of secondary school classes. Lucretius’ lines echoed Lewis’ doubts: “Had God designed the world it would not be, a world so frail and faulty as we see.” His answers are clear, concise, and memorable.

This resource is part of a series on C.S. LEWIS’ CASE FOR CHRIST.  Click here to listen to the full series.


Arthur W. Lindsley

Arthur W. Lindsley is the Vice President of Theological Initiatives at the Institute for Faith, Works, & Economics. He has served at the C.S. Lewis Institute since 1987 both as President until 1998 and currently as Senior Fellows for Apologetics. Formerly, he was director of Educational Ministries at the Ligonier Valley Study Center, and Staff Specialist with the Coalition for Christian Outreach. He is the author of C.S. Lewis's Case for Christ, True Truth, Love: The Ultimate Apologetic, and co-author with R.C. Sproul and John Gerstner of Classical Apologetics, and has written numerous articles on theology, apologetics, C.S. Lewis, and the lives and works of many other authors and teachers. Art earned his M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.  

COPYRIGHT: This publication is published by C.S. Lewis Institute; 8001 Braddock Road, Suite 301; Springfield, VA 22151. Portions of the publication may be reproduced for noncommercial, local church or ministry use without prior permission. Electronic copies of the PDF files may be duplicated and transmitted via e-mail for personal and church use. Articles may not be modified without prior written permission of the Institute. For questions, contact the Institute: 703.914.5602 or email us.

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