A Hebraic Inkling: (My) Introduction

The aim of this book is to examine precisely what C.S. Lewis believed and wrote about the ancient Hebrews, their scriptures their status as God's chosen people and about today's Jews.

Is C.S. Lewis a Hebraic Inkling?

That's the question that P.H. Brazier attempts to determine in his recently published fascinating book, "A Hebraic Inkling: C.S. Lewis on Judaism and the Jews." 

As I mentioned in my last post, I had the opportunity to discuss this work on the podcast Pints with Jack. However, the work deserves more attention than one podcast can provide, so every once in a while, I'll write something here. 

By way of introduction, I want to muse upon the above question. 

That Lewis was an Inkling, as in the literary discussion group at Oxford, is historical fact and needs no further comment. The real question is whether Lewis can be described as Hebraic, and that is what Brazier seeks to prove.

Now, of course, Lewis was Christian not Jewish and so Brazier must first define what it means to be Hebraic (but not Jewish) and then determine whether Lewis fits that definition. 

At least that's what I would think the book should be about. but it's not quite so. 

Brazier's stated aim is the above quote which is a necessary endeavor should we try to determine whether Lewis is Hebraic. However, this work is not a disinterested analysis comparing a sample (Lewis) to a theoretical construct (a Hebraic).  Instead, it is a work of Christian theology, and I might even say polemics, arguing passionately that all Christians must be Hebraic and that Lewis in general fulfills this imperative. 

A couple of additional points. First, Brazier's stated motivation to write this book was being told by a friend of an encounter with someone who branded Lewis an antisemite. However, Brazier clearly wanted to go further than that. Lindskoog believes that Lewis demonstrated anti-antisemitism but my guess is that Brazier (properly in my opinion) did not like that description either. Brazier sets out to demonstrate that Lewis is much more than anti-something, he is positively for something. What Lewis is for, according to Brazier, is a vision of Christianity in which Christians see themselves as, "Grafted... onto a cultivated olive tree. Romans 11:24)." And this entails: a recognition of Israel as elected (and crafted) by God, a need to respect the Hebrew Scriptures, a realization that Jews are spiritually senior, among other theological truisms. Lewis does not always meet these standards, but he reaches towards them. 

Second, Brazier passion for his topic sometimes gets in the way of organization. Nevertheless, that should not lead one to think that imperfect organization echoes lack of rigor. Brazier has clearly done his homework delving not only into Christian sources, but also into Jewish ones.   

Bottom line up front: Brazier has convinced me that the moniker 'A Hebraic Inkling' fits Lewis pretty well. For me, that was quite revealing especially as I felt that "Till We Have Faces" (a work that Brazier does not reference at all is this book) completely ignores a Jewish stage in the evolution from paganism to Christianity. But what Brazier has convinced me of without a doubt, is that he is 'A Hebraic Inkling' (or he would have been had he been alive at the right time, in the right place). Brazier knowledge is expansive and deep, and his writing is (generally) engaging. I think the Inklings would have welcomed him with open arms. 

We'll continue soon...