Lewis would have enjoyed ‘Narnia’ success — scholar

C.S. Lewis scholar the Rev. Joel Heck, who will speak in Flint on Jan. 28, thinks the British author would not have objected to having his children’s book “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” converted into what has turned out to be a blockbuster movie.

“Lewis would be fine with that, but it (the book) was first written as a story of its own right,” said Heck, who teaches courses on the life and writings of C.S. Lewis at Concordia University in Austin, Texas.

Heck will talk about the book and the broader impact of the writings of C.S. Lewis at a 10 a.m. Jan. 28 breakfast meeting at First Presbyterian Church, 746 S. Saginaw St. Admission is $5 per person; reservations are to be made with the church at (810) 234-8673.

While in Flint, Heck will attend an organ recital at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at First Presbyterian by his daughter, Brenda Portman, church interim organist since September.

Heck, who also teaches courses on the Old Testament, has been vice president of academic services at Concordia since 1998.

He said he will use a Powerpoint presentation illustrating the making of a myth, powerful communication of the truth and differences between rational conclusions and imagination.

Heck recently wrote a book on Lewis’ educational philosophy titled “Irrigating Deserts: C.S. Lewis on Education.” It was published this month by Concordia Publishing House. He spent the fall of 2004 on sabbatical in Oxford, England, doing Lewis research.

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