C.S. Lewis Initiative

08/24/2026

What did C.S. Lewis say to the people of Iceland during the Second World War – and what does a British intelligence operation have to do with it?

This unique workshop features a long-lost wartime radio broadcast by C.S. Lewis. Just months before his first BBC talks – the foundation of Mere Christianity – Lewis recorded “The Norse Spirit in English Literature,” a message to the people of Iceland on behalf of the Joint Broadcasting Committee, a shell operation of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).

Discovered by Dr. Harry Lee Poe in 2015, the broadcast survives on 78 rpm discs originally flown to Iceland for transmission. Participants will hear Lewis’s voice while following the transcript as Poe tells the remarkable story of the recording’s discovery and explores Lewis’s reflections on Norse literature and mythology – themes that would later echo through The Chronicles of Narnia, Till We Have Faces, and That Hideous Strength.

Join us for this rare opportunity to hear a little-known piece of Lewis history at the Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, September 24–27 at George Fox University. Register while spaces remain!

08/20/2026

How do you turn the friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien into a comic?

This visual workshop explores how graphic nonfiction can reimagine the friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Drawing on his acclaimed 2024 graphic biography The Mythmakers, Dr. John Hendrix (Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts) takes participants behind the creative process of bringing Lewis and Tolkien—and their worlds of myth, story, and friendship—to life on the page.

Through illustrations, comics, and video, Hendrix will explore how art and scholarship can work together to make intellectual history visually compelling and accessible to new audiences.

Join us for this unique workshop at the Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, September 24–27 at George Fox University. Register while spaces remain!

07/27/2026

More than 100 papers accepted after double-blind peer review.

The 2026 Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference will feature one of the largest and most diverse gatherings of Lewis scholarship ever assembled. Scholars from around the world will present new research in theology, philosophy, literature, history, biblical studies, mathematics, moral psychology, education, and more.

Just a small taste of what's coming...

"The Abolition of Man Versus The Green Book: A New Verdict"

"The Problem of Joy: A Reexamination of C.S. Lewis's Wife in the Context of "

"C.S. Lewis in Dialogue with N.T. Wright"

"Seven Genders in That Hideous Strength and Lewis's Epistemology"

"Is Mary Magdalene Human? Dorothy Sayers as Biblical Interpreter of Jesus' Female Friends"

"Beyond Good and Evil? C.S. Lewis and Nietzsche on Moral Psychology"

"Was Owen Barfield Really an Inkling?"

"The A.I.bolition of Man: Can C.S. Lewis Help Save My Comp 1 Class in the Age of Digital Necromancy?"

And that's only the beginning.

Whether your interests lie in apologetics, imagination, philosophy, biblical interpretation, medievalism, Tolkien, education, ethics, or Lewis's enduring relevance in the age of artificial intelligence, there will be something here to surprise, challenge, and inspire.

With only a few places remaining, registration is nearing capacity. We cannot wait to welcome scholars, students, and Lewis and Tolkien enthusiasts from around the world to George Fox University this September (24th–27th) for four unforgettable days of learning, conversation, and friendship.

See you in Oregon.

07/18/2026

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Alister McGrath as a keynote speaker at the Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, where he will deliver his lecture, “When Science Becomes Apologetics: Lewis's Most Overlooked Strategy.”

Dr. Alister McGrath (DPhil, University of Oxford) was born in Belfast in 1953 and won a scholarship to Oxford University in 1971 to study the natural sciences. Although he arrived at Oxford as an atheist, he discovered Christianity and quickly came to see C.S. Lewis as a travelling companion on the road of faith.

A distinguished theologian, historian, and one of the world's foremost C.S. Lewis scholars, McGrath served as Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford before becoming Oxford's Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion in 2014. He is the author of the award-winning biography C.S. Lewis: A Life and will publish a major new monograph on Lewis's views on science and religion with Oxford University Press in 2026.

Join us September 24–27, 2026, in Oregon for what promises to be an unforgettable gathering of Lewis and Inklings enthusiasts. Registration link in the comments.

Note: Dr. McGrath's keynote lecture will be delivered via video recording.

07/04/2026

Yesterday, July 3, the Portland C.S. Lewis Society gathered for its annual summer BBQ at the home of the hosts of the Newberg chapter. As we celebrate Independence Day, we wish everyone a happy Fourth of July!

Founded in 1972, the Society is the second-oldest C.S. Lewis society in the world and the oldest that continues to meet in person. Among those present were Connie and Paul Blattner, who first met through the Society in 1974.

The weekly Newberg meetings are on summer break, but our Beaverton chapter (monthly) and Salem chapter (biweekly) continue to meet throughout the summer.

We warmly welcome new members. Details about the Society, meeting times, and locations can be found on our website, linked in the comments.

07/02/2026

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Leslie Baynes as a keynote speaker at the Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, where she will deliver her lecture, “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord? Reconsidering Lewis’s Most Famous Argument.”

Dr. Leslie Baynes (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is Professor of New Testament and Second Temple Judaism at Missouri State University. She is the author of Between Interpretation and Imagination: C.S. Lewis and the Bible, a groundbreaking study praised by Michael Ward as “easily the best book yet written on Lewis and Scripture,” by David Bentley Hart as “a marvelous study,” and by Mark Noll as “a captivating read.”

A distinguished biblical scholar and Lewis specialist, Baynes has served as Scholar-in-Residence at The Kilns, Lewis’s home near Oxford, as an Inklings Project Fellow, and as a translator for the New American Bible Revised Edition. Her work explores the rich interplay between biblical interpretation, imagination, and literary theology, opening fresh perspectives on Lewis’s thought and writings.

Join us September 24–27, 2026, in Oregon for what promises to be an unforgettable gathering of Lewis and Inklings enthusiasts. Registration link in the comments.

05/28/2026

We are delighted to welcome John Garth as a keynote speaker at the Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, where he will deliver his lecture, “The Undiscovered J.R.R. Tolkien.”

John Garth is the award-winning author of Tolkien and the Great War, Tolkien at Exeter College, and The Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, together published in eighteen languages. He has contributed to major Tolkien scholarship, including the Blackwell Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien, the Bodleian Library exhibition volume Maker of Middle-earth, and The Great Tales Never End: Essays in Memory of Christopher Tolkien.

A widely respected Tolkien scholar and speaker, Garth has lectured at major museums, libraries, and universities across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. His writing has appeared internationally in leading news and cultural media. He is currently at work on Tolkien’s Mirror, exploring how the major crises of the twentieth century shaped The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion.

Join us September 24–27, 2026, in Oregon for what promises to be an unforgettable gathering of Lewis and Inklings enthusiasts. Registration link in the comments.

05/11/2026

We are delighted to welcome Michael Ward as a keynote speaker at the Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, where he will deliver his world-premiere lecture, "'Cursèd fate that gave thee to the Moore'? Mrs. Moore in Lewis’s Life and Works."

Dr. Michael Ward (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is an associate member of the faculty of theology and religion at the University of Oxford and professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University. He is the award-winning author of Planet Narnia and After Humanity, coeditor of The Cambridge Companion to C.S. Lewis, presenter of the BBC documentary The Narnia Code, and appeared as the Vicar in The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis. In addition to his academic work, he serves as a Catholic priest at Holy Rood Church, Oxford.

Join us September 24–27, 2026, in Oregon for what promises to be an unforgettable gathering of Lewis and Inklings enthusiasts. Registration link in the comments.

05/09/2026

Dear Friends of the C.S. Lewis Initiative,

On behalf of Prof. Simon Horobin and Prof. Giuseppe Pezzini, we are pleased to share this special three-year postdoctoral opportunity, which may be of interest to attendees of the Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference. The application deadline is June 7, 2026.

Best wishes,
UCSL Conference Team

Magdalen College proposes to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher to work on the project C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien: A Scholarly Reappraisal, led by Professor Simon Horobin (Magdalen College) and Professor Giuseppe Pezzini (Corpus Christi College), based at the Calleva Research Centre. The post will commence on 1 October 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter and will be for three calendar years.

This project aims to undertake a reassessment of the scholarly legacy of one of Magdalen College’s foremost fellows, the English literary scholar C.S. Lewis, in the context of his professional, intellectual and personal relationships with his friend and colleague J.R.R. Tolkien.

We are seeking one qualified and highly motivated individual to work full-time on this project, contributing to the extensive programme of research into C.S. Lewis’s reading and writing, his academic archives, as well as the works of the scholars and groups with which he engaged, including especially J.R.R. Tolkien. This appointee will also contribute to an extensive survey of printed reviews and relevant secondary literature of Lewis’s major scholarly outputs in order to assess both the immediate impact of Lewis’s writings as well as its later significance. The postholder will join a stimulating, interdisciplinary research environment, and will gain experience in translating academic research for public audiences. The Postdoctoral Researcher will be responsible for research activities such as collecting and analysing of historical and literary data, carrying out archival research, communicating with academics and non-academics, liaising with librarians and exhibition curators, and the preparation of manuscripts for publication.

This is a three-year fixed-term position.

The appointment will be made on Grade 7.4 of the Unified College Pay Scale, currently £41,064 per annum, plus £1,730 per annum Oxford Location Allowance.

The appointment includes five free meals (lunch or dinner) in College each week that the kitchen is open, membership of the College’s Senior Common Room, and access to generous research funds.

The closing date is Sunday 07 June 2026, and applications must be completed at or before that time. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Magdalen College is an equal opportunities employer. Further information can be obtained from the College web site, at http://magd.ox.ac.uk/equality

For further information and how to apply, see the link in the comment below.

04/08/2026

Tomorrow is Give Day! Double the impact of your donation to the C.S. Lewis Initiative: a generous donor has offered a $5,000 match.

By giving through the link below, you can support our 2026 Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, student scholarships, and other important endeavors.

Dear Friends of the C.S. Lewis Initiative:

George Fox Give Day is Thursday, April 9, 2026. This annual day celebrates generosity and giving to campus areas you care about most. This year's theme, "Give to Your Passion," highlights our unique connection to the university community. We are fundraising for the C.S. Lewis Initiative and competing for an additional $5,000 for the cause with the most supporters. Your gift is a "vote."

DOUBLE THE IMPACT of your gift to the C.S. Lewis Initiative this Give Day: generous donors have provided a match of $5,000! And alumni gifts also trigger a $500 match for the Scholarship Fund, doubling the impact.

Support the C.S. Lewis Initiative and help bring the next Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference to life in September 2026. Your gift will allow us to invite the world’s leading experts on Lewis and Tolkien to Newberg and provide registration stipends for underprivileged students, independent scholars, and international participants.

The 2024 conference was the largest academic gathering on C.S. Lewis in history—let’s make the next one even more impactful!

You can make a donation any time on on before April 9 here:

https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/2026GiveDay/team/CSLewis

Thank you!