Cultivating Wisdom with CS Lewis

Cultivating Wisdom with C.S. Lewis is for high school students who like C.S. Lewis or are interested in literature and/or theology. Students will “have a conversation” with Lewis over many of the books he has written, seeking to glean as much wisdom as possible from this winsome and wise fellow. The interested student should be able to read proficiently, engage with what is read, and be ready to discuss what is read in a classroom setting.

Cultivating Wisdom with C.S. Lewis will explore the life and thought of C.S. Lewis. We will engage with many of his works, seeking to understand what he says over a variety of topics (insert some essay titles here) and why his voice remains so influential today.

C.S. Lewis will be our faithful guide while we navigate the complexities of living as a wise and faithful follower of Jesus today. We will “chew” on what he says in the context he said it while also spending much time discussing how his wise words impact our personal pilgrimage with Jesus Christ. We will also take considerable time to discern how his works apply to the issues relevant to Christian faithfulness today.

There is not a more gentle, winsome, and wise guide in our modern world than C.S. Lewis. This course will deal directly with his works that engage faith and culture, using them as a guide to walk with wisdom today.

Quarter 1

The Foundation for Wisdom

1. Mere Christianity 

Quarter 2

The Spiritual Wisdom of C.S. Lewis

1. Screwtape Letters
2. The Great Divorce

Quarter 3

The Cultural Wisdom of C.S. Lewis

1. Weight of Glory
2. Problem of Pain

Quarter 4

Walking in Love and Wisdom:

1. The Four Loves
2. Till We Have Faces

• Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
• Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
• Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
• Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
• Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.