{"product_id":"into-the-region-of-awe-mysticism-in-c-s-lewis-9780830832842","title":"Into the Region of Awe: Mysticism in C. S. Lewis","description":"\u003cp\u003eC. S. Lewis is generally thought of as a commonsense Christian, one who offers theology that is understandable and morality that is practical. And yet, when writing about Narnia to a class of fifth graders who asked if it were possible to visit Aslan's country, Lewis replied that the only way he knew of was through death but then added this curious qualifier: \"Perhaps some very good people get just a tiny glimpse before then.\" This simple sentence suggests a side of Lewis that most commentators have overlooked.If one takes another look at Lewis, one can find a sense of the mystical all through his writings, from his memoir \u003ci\u003eSurprised by Joy\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003ePerelandra, \u003c\/i\u003e from his nonfiction essays to his Narnia stories. In this book David C. Downing explores the breadth of Lewis's writing, introducing us to Christian mysticism as Lewis knew it and to the contemplative writers who most influenced him.Though he showed a lifelong interest in mysticism, Lewis was not an uncritical admirer. As Downing highlights, Lewis had areas of concern and points of departure with some mystical thought. Lewis's comments about misguided forms mysticism are especially pertinent in our own era of faddish or eclectic religious thought. Exploring Lewis's sense of the mystical can help us safeguard ourselves from false mysticisms even as it opens the way to a deep and full experience of God's very presence with us. In the end we too may find ourselves drawn--as Lewis put it--\"into the region of awe.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid C. Downing\u003c\/b\u003e is the Ralph W. Schlosser Professor of English at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He has written numerous articles on C. S. Lewis, and his \u003ci\u003ePlanets in Peril: A Critical Study of C. S. Lewis's Ransom Trilogy\u003c\/i\u003e (University of Massachusetts Press) is named one of the five best books yet published on Lewis by the \"C. S. Lewis and the Inklings Homepage.\" His book on C. S. Lewis's journey to faith, \u003ci\u003eThe Most Reluctant Convert, \u003c\/i\u003e was named one of \u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e's Best Religion Books of 2002. It was also a 2003 ECPA Gold Medallion Finalist.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"IVP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50492176072978,"sku":"9780830832842","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_d67302c7-d44e-4e74-9470-26ed2d5a2c02.jpg?v=1730574922","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/into-the-region-of-awe-mysticism-in-c-s-lewis-9780830832842","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}