Whose revival? Which Christianity? CS Lewis & Owen Barfield on the renewed interest of belief in God

This presentation is so precise and elegant in its expression because it gets at the very soul of these two streams of consciousness. As someone raised in an Evangelical household where CS Lewis was deeply revered, you unveiled the mind of my youth. Now, after practicing several religions and in many different esoteric schools you have unveiled the contents of my middle-life porous heart. I thank you for vocalizing the mind of the Logos in articulating the nuances of our current fork in the road. This fork was there from the beginning of the Incarnation, but with each generation, the distinctions become more visible and the Individual choice more poignant. I wish my pastoral father could watch this and finally understand the differences between our two perspectives. But there's something about certain Lewis minds that can't truly listen and appreciate the differences of the Barfield mind without feeling threatened or attacked, or just so uncomfortably disoriented that the authentic meaning is grossly misinterpreted. I have learned to stick with universals while interacting with the Lewis mind and the greatest universal in which oneness can emerge is Love. Much appreciated.

Thank you so much Mark for the work that you are doing. I really enjoy listening to you not just because of the great care and attention that you put into the content but underneath I can feel your heart and love in all that you are doing. To me it feels like something very precious is happening as the exploration of Christianity is being explored right now. I like that you are slowly teasing out some wonderful teachings that Jesus has been presenting to us and bringing them alive for us all to join you in. Thank you for bringing Barfield's more intuitive, mystical and romantic feel to the Christian way. I feel you are opening the door to Christ in a new way for us all. It feels fun and exciting to be in this exploration together. Thank you.

Totally brilliant. So clear. The distinctions made here are profound as they outline the fundamental differences in how Christianity is perceived too.

You always make me feel less crazy. I don’t know how I could have been raised so steeped in Lewis and grow steadily towards the Barfieldian flow instead.

Thank you for an excellent talk which resonates with our times.

hi, Mark! one of your best episodes yet! thanks, God bless!

Brilliant exposition, Mark. Thank you.

Thx Mark. Very helpful

Shortly after I saw this video posted, I saw, on FB, that Addison Hodges Hart had posted an article from the UK Spectator, written by a British man named Justin Brierley, about this very revival of interest in Christianity. Mr.Brierley also has a new book and companion podcast about this. Mr. Vernon should consider a future YouTube conversation with him. Here in the US, it is unfortunate that we don't seem to have Christian thinkers like Vernon, Lewis and Barfield here. The UK is lucky to have them!

Superb. You bring much clarity and articulation to an otherwise dim sense of things not quite being in tune.

As T.S. Eliot said of poetry, it is "...not the assertion of truth, but the making of that truth more fully real to us." Thanks for this illuminating reflection.

It seems to me we should harmoniously ‘hold’ both their perspectives. We need them both. As an aside - it also seems to me that, anyone still under the illusion that we’re in the midst of a ‘Culture War’ rather than a ‘Spiritual War’, isn’t paying sufficient attention. Thank you Mark.

Thank you so much.

Wonderful sharing Mark, thank you.. feeling very one with the flow.. I love the ‘Poem of Now’. ❤️💞

Mark, this talk is amazing and timely - couldn't we have a twelve-chapters book from you expanding upon each of these polarities for the general reader? It would be an absolute spiritual gift . Many, many thanks.

I live your videis,Mark,abd I hve read your recent book twice.

I think that something is happening. I decided to go to the local church (Swedish evangelical lutheran church) for 1 hour christian meditation/contemplation friday afternoon. I was very surprised when i saw the gathering of people there, at least 30 persons, that i didn´t expect on a friday at dinner time. Then when my family tried to participate a traditional lunch at the same church easter day, it was all full booked. People are looking back, in to the old traditions more than 10 years ago. It is the time we live in, the confusion, and the common problem we face i think. The other tradition, especially the non dual and buddhist ones, have helped people to look in to what Christianity has to offer. On top of that, in popular culture, the TV-series "The chosen" have made an impact on young people. And it is as you say, two sides of the coin of "the revival", a romantic and a more "explanatory" strain that interest people.

You have bought back memories of Narnia and my favourite idea from it...... 'he/ Aslan, is not Tame lion you know. ' we can never fully own joy or imaginations ....

I really appreciate your clear articulation of these two approaches to sacred understanding and the living of it. Thank you. Your detailed examination of these authors draws into relief a distinction that is useful for dialogue moving forward. Peaceful and creative dialogue, with a significant potential for healing and reconciliation, especially if the complementarity of the two ways of understanding is held sacred. I'm very curious as to whether Barfield had any exposure to the works of Emmanuel Swedenborg. At first glance there seems to be quite an affinity there. I do have your book and look forward to listening in for more detail. Asking in advance nonetheless after hearing this discussion, though.

I am astonished to say that I feel like I am, in fact, undergoing this process of "slow conversion". That thought would have made me angry, twenty five years ago. Listening to the likes of you, Rupert Sheldrake, and David Bentley Hart has been instrumental. Thank you!