{"id":39582,"date":"2019-10-14T15:50:57","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T19:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=39582"},"modified":"2019-10-21T13:37:49","modified_gmt":"2019-10-21T17:37:49","slug":"c-s-lewis-either-hated-or-loved-by-readers-hearers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2019\/10\/c-s-lewis-either-hated-or-loved-by-readers-hearers.html","title":{"rendered":"C. S. Lewis: Either Hated or Loved by Readers \/ Hearers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/p>\n

I have long noted that apologists (including myself) are basically either loved or viewed with contempt and hatred. I think we know (basically) why that is, if we listen to Jesus saying that His disciples would be \u201chated by all\u201d for His sake. It\u2019s the message<\/em> that is hated, of course. Since the apologist carries and defends that message (and given that many folks have the hardest time separating persons from opinions and viewpoints), he or she gets the scorn.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter if a person is a perfect saint. This is often the reply to this observation: \u201cwell, it\u2019s because you dastardly apologists are such scoundrels<\/em> and rascals and arrogant, know-it-all, miserable human beings . . .\u201d I freely grant that members of the class of people I am in (like any and all others) often fall short and sin and fail to adequately represent our Lord and Church. That\u2019s self-evident. But this dynamic\u00a0 goes far beyond that. The opposition is not only<\/em> to \u201clousy witness\u201d apologists. After all, Jesus was perfect and without sin, and He, too, was hated and killed, wasn\u2019t He?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not paranoid over it; I don\u2019t lose a moment\u2019s sleep. I hardly think of it all. It doesn\u2019t stop me at all<\/strong><\/em> from fulfilling my calling from God (in fact, it confirms<\/em>, it, per this post). I merely note the fact of it. It\u2019s all par for the course. So I found it interesting (but not surprising<\/em> at all) that C. S. Lewis (the most popular Christian apologist of the 20th century) experienced exactly this same phenomenon. I\u2019ve been reading two huge volumes of his Collected Letters<\/em> (highly recommended!). Here\u2019s what I found:<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

\n
From:\u00a0The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. II: Books, Broadcasts, and the War, 1931-1949<\/i><\/a>, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2004:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
On p. 608, editor Walter Hooper cited a letter to C. S. Lewis from Eric Fenn at the BBC (dated 23 March 1944), regarding feedback on the radio talks that Lewis had recently been giving (that later became Mere Christianity; <\/em>these were specifically about the Holy Trinity):<\/div>\n
\n
[T]he single most important fact is the sharp division you produce in your audience. They obviously either regard you as \u2018the cat\u2019s whiskers\u2019 or as beneath contempt, which is interesting, and ought, I feel, to teach us something, but I can\u2019t think what!<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n
Lewis replied:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The two views you report (Cat\u2019s whiskers and Beneath Contempt) aren\u2019t very illuminating about me<\/em> perhaps: about my subject matter, it is an old story, isn\u2019t it. They love, or hate. (25 March 1944, pp. 608-609)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Like you, I am not depressed at the reaction. The letters I get myself bear out your Research Report: they are nearly all either violent abuse or extravagant praise. (4 April 1944, p. 610)<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Two years later he noted:<\/div>\n
\n
[I]t is certainly not \u2018liberal-minded\u2019 religious people who like my books in England. On the contrary it is precisely among them that I find (next to Marxists) my most hostile critics. (To Mr Talbot, 18 April 1946, p. 707)<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
From:\u00a0The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, Vol. III: Narnia, Cambridge, and Joy 1950-1963<\/i><\/a>, edited by Walter Hooper, HarperSanFrancisco, 2007:<\/div>\n
\n
I really think that in our days it is the \u2018undogmatic\u2019 & \u2018liberal\u2019 people who call themselves Christians that are the most arrogant & intolerant. I expect justice & even courtesy from many Atheists and, much more, from your people [Catholics]: from Modernists, I have come to take bitterness and rancour as a matter of course. (To Dom Bede Griffiths, 23 April 1951, p. 112)<\/div>\n

When a man has become a popular Apologist he must watch his step. Everyone is on the look out for things that might discredit him. (To Bernard Acworth, 4 October 1951, p. 141)<\/p>\n

About your kind compliment to me in the Preface, I like it of course. The real question is whether it will do you good or harm. I am much hated as well as much loved and the connection with me will damn you with certain reviewers. (To Harry Blamires, 19 January 1952, p. 160)<\/p>\n

I wrote what I could to [publisher] Unwin [to recommend The Fellowship of the Ring<\/em>]. Even if he and you approve my words, think twice before using them: I am certainly a much, and perhaps an increasingly, hated man whose name might do you more harm than good. (To J. R. R. Tolkien, 7 December 1953, p. 385)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Related Reading:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Why Is the Catholic Church Singularly Despised & Hated?<\/a> [7-7-08]<\/p>\n

Apologetics Sometimes Entails \u201cVinegary\u201d Conflict<\/a>\u00a0[3-11-14]<\/p>\n

\u201cHated by All\u201d, Catholic Evangelism, & the Fullness of Truth<\/a> [2-13-17]<\/p>\n

Agree & Be Loved \/ Think for Yourself & Disagree & Be Hated<\/a> [10-3-17]<\/p>\n

Why Jesus Was So Unpopular (Parallel with Socrates)<\/a>\u00a0[8-17-19]<\/p>\n

***<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Unfortunately, Money Trees Do Not Exist<\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0If you have been aided in any way by my work, or think it is valuable and worthwhile, please strongly consider financially supporting it (even $10 \/ month \u2014 a mere 33 cents a day \u2014 would be very helpful). I have been a full-time Catholic apologist since Dec. 2001, and have been writing Christian apologetics since 1981 (see\u00a0my Resume<\/a>). My work has been proven (by God\u2019s grace alone) to be fruitful, in terms of changing lives (see the tangible evidences\u00a0from unsolicited \u201ctestimonies\u201d<\/a>). I have to pay my bills like all of you: and have a (homeschooling) wife and three children still at home to provide for, and a mortgage to pay.<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
\n

My book royalties from\u00a0three bestsellers in the field<\/a>\u00a0(published in 2003-2007) have been decreasing, as has my overall income, making it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.\u00a0 I provide over 2500 free articles here, for the purpose of your edification and education, and have\u00a0written 50 books<\/a>.\u00a0It\u2019ll literally be a struggle to survive financially until Dec. 2020, when both my wife and I will start receiving Social Security. If you cannot contribute, I ask for your prayers. Thanks! See my\u00a0information on how to donate<\/a>\u00a0(including 100% tax-deductible donations). It\u2019s very simple to contribute to my apostolate via PayPal, if a tax deduction is not needed (my \u201cbusiness name\u201d there is called \u201cCatholic Used Book Service,\u201d from my old bookselling days 17 or so years ago). May God abundantly bless you.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Photo credit:<\/strong><\/span> [PublicDomainPictures.Net<\/a>]<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have long noted that apologists (including myself) are basically either loved or viewed with contempt and hatred. I think we know (basically) why that is, if we listen to Jesus saying that His disciples would be \u201chated by all\u201d for His sake. It\u2019s the message that is hated, of course. Since the apologist carries […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":39588,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[2347,9648,2363,329,9639,9651,9642,9645],"class_list":["post-39582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-catholic-apologetics","tag-apologetics","tag-apologists","tag-c-s-lewis","tag-christian-apologetics","tag-christian-apologists","tag-hatred-of-apologetics","tag-hatred-of-christianity","tag-hatred-of-christians"],"yoast_head":"\nC. S. 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \\\"This Rock\\\" (now called \\\"Catholic Answers Magazine\\\"), \\\"Envoy Magazine\\\" (Patrick Madrid), \\\"The Catholic Answer,\\\" \\\"The Coming Home Journal,\\\" \\\"Gilbert Magazine\\\" (American Chesterton Society), and \\\"The Latin Mass.\\\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \\\"The Michigan Catholic\\\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. 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Chesterton\\\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \\\"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\\\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \\\"Quotable Wesley\\\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"C. S. Lewis: Either Hated or Loved by Readers \/ Hearers","description":"Apologists are basically either loved or viewed with contempt & hatred. Jesus said that all of His disciples would be \"hated by all\" for His sake. It was no different for C. S. 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}