The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 321 — C.S. Lewis, Screwtape & Spooky Season
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? What did C.S. Lewis think about demons, frightening stories, and the spiritual world?
In Episode 321, the Thinklings explore the writings of C.S. Lewis, the origins of The Screwtape Letters, and the relationship between fear, imagination, and Christian faith. The conversation concludes with a discussion about Halloween, Reformation Day, and how Christians should approach cultural traditions with biblical discernment.
Along the way, we play a game of Screwtape or Swifty?, challenging the Thinklings to distinguish between C.S. Lewis and Taylor Swift.
Episode Chapters
0:00 — Welcome & Introduction
1:15 — Announcements: November Book Giveaway
1:41 — Books & Business: Charlie — Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
3:51 — Books & Business: Tim — The Men We Need by Brant Hansen
6:46 — Books & Business: Andy — Bible Study App, Writing & C.S. Lewis on Originality
14:15 — Main Content: C.S. Lewis & Spooky Season
18:41 — Screwtape or Swifty? A Quote-Guessing Game
23:00 — The Background and Origins of The Screwtape Letters
57:00 — Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
1:10:26 — Final Meditation: Christ’s Victory Over Death (1 Corinthians 15)
Books & Business
Charlie — Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
Charlie discusses his early impressions of Moby-Dick, including its unusual combination of storytelling, whaling history, and detailed descriptions of life at sea.
Tim — The Men We Need by Brant Hansen
Tim revisits a book on masculinity, appreciating its practical encouragement for men while questioning its limited engagement with Scripture and biblical theology.
Andy — Bible Study, Writing & C.S. Lewis
Andy discusses work on a Bible study app and shares C.S. Lewis’s reflections on originality from The Weight of Glory. The conversation considers why pursuing truth and developing good writing habits matter more than pursuing originality for its own sake.
Main Content — C.S. Lewis & Spooky Season
The Thinklings explore several aspects of Lewis’s writings and perspectives:
The historical background of The Screwtape Letters and Lewis’s literary career.
The value of frightening stories and fairy tales for children.
Lewis’s portrayal of demons and the spiritual world.
The use of imagination, symbolism, and satire to communicate truth.
Different Christian approaches to Halloween, including participation, abstinence, and alternative celebrations.
The significance of Reformation Day and the importance of exercising biblical discernment.
Final Meditation — 1 Corinthians 15
The episode concludes with a reflection on Christ’s resurrection and victory over death. Whatever Christians decide about Halloween, our ultimate hope rests in the risen Savior, who will defeat every enemy, including death itself.
JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK:
@thethinklingspodcast
@profstearns
@timlittle00
@thinklingcarter
Read good books, talk about them with your friends, and always continue to cultivate your mind!
