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Magic Like This – A C.S. Lewis Book Club

Magic Like This – A C.S. Lewis Book Club

By: Christina Lynn Wallace
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 Magic Like This is a C.S. Lewis Book Club hosted by Christina Wallace. Anyone who loves a deliciously crafted sentence or a spiritually compelling idea is welcome. So grab a cuppa your favourite somethin' somethin' and join us as we explore Christianity through the literary jollies of C.S. Lewis!

magiclikethis.substack.comChristina Lynn Wallace Art Christianity Literary History & Criticism Spirituality
Episodes
  • Screwtape's 23rd Letter: Jesus, or your political mascot? With Historian, Dr. Gregory Lippiatt.

    Screwtape's 23rd Letter: Jesus, or your political mascot? With Historian, Dr. Gregory Lippiatt.
    Jan 20 2026
    “That’s not my Jesus.” It’s a sentiment we see all the time on social media — maybe we’ve even used it ourselves — when people cherry pick parts of Scripture to create a version of Christ that suits their world view. Uncomfortably prophetic to this cultural moment, Screwtape’s 23rd Letter shows us that this phenomenon is not new. It was happening in Lewis’ day through what he defines as the “historical point of view.” In other words, a “historical” version of Jesus which people of all faiths and none have used as a prop for their own agendas.Do we still look at Jesus through the “historical point of view” today? Or has our culture in the West moulded Jesus into a different kind of mascot? And most importantly, how is Screwtape using this “mascot Jesus” to destroy a life of devotion to the actual Jesus? I’m joined by Dr. Gregory Lippiatt, Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Exeter (who also has a fascinating personal connection to Lewis) to pick apart what Screwtape can teach us about our own Christian devotion today.Mentioned in this episode:(Please buy from your local bookstore wherever possible. Note: I have not personally read all books mentioned in this episode. Sharing them here is not necessarily a personal endorsement.)The Screwtape Letters by C.S. LewisSurprised by Joy by C.S. LewisFirst and Second Things, essay by C.S. LewisThe Unintended Reformation by Brad GregoryThe Myth of Religious Violence by William T CavanaughTolkien's Letter 306 by J.R.R. TolkienSupport the showBecome a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here.OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts!Find me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcastRead my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribeFor fellow writers:Enrol in Pick Up Your Sword, my writing course for aspiring Christian writers who want to write their first book: https://christinalynnwallace.com/courseBattling imposter syndrome?Purchase my 7-day journalling devotional for aspiring Christian writers: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/invited-by-joy-digital-devotional-for-aspiring-authorsAlways wondered about the difference between a colon and a semi-colon?Join Swordsmanship, my free 21-day punctuation mark email course: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/swordsmanship.Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit, 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina.Or if you just want a little magic sent straight to your inbox each month to encourage and inspire your writing practice, you can get my free monthly newsletter, The Grammarian, here: https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletterClick here to find me on Fable This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Screwtape's 22nd Letter: His knickers are all in a twist. With C.S. Lewis Master's Grad, Sara Parsons.

    Screwtape's 22nd Letter: His knickers are all in a twist. With C.S. Lewis Master's Grad, Sara Parsons.
    Dec 13 2025
    What if we could make Screwtape so angry with our faith that he spontaneously combusts into a centipede? Well, the patient is in love, and his beloved is so on fire for Jesus that it sends Screwtape into a rage that actually transforms him into the vermin that he is.To discuss Letter 22, I'm joined by Sara Parsons, a church youth leader in Oxford who did her Master's degree on C.S. Lewis and the beauty of imagination (so jelly over here). Sara brings some incredible perspective to this letter, including a little sneaky (and perfectly linked) cross-reference with The Great Divorce that you won't want to miss.In this episode, we discuss gender, purity culture, the idea of total depravity, and the fact that with Christ, maybe we can actually eat our cake and have it too. But most importantly, we ask the question, "Is God really a 'hedonist at heart'?" the way Screwtape so often describes Him? And if He IS, what does that say about the beauty we have available to us in this life?Mentioned in this episode:The Screwtape Letters by C.S. LewisThe Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis5 Things the Bible Does (and Doesn’t) Say About ModestySupport the showBecome a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here.OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts!Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribeFind me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcastFor fellow writers:Battling imposter syndrome?Purchase my 7-day journalling devotional for aspiring Christian writers: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/invited-by-joy-digital-devotional-for-aspiring-authorsEnrol in Pick Up Your Sword, my writing course for aspiring Christian writers who want to write their first book: https://christinalynnwallace.com/courseAlways wondered about the difference between a colon and a semi-colon?Join Swordsmanship, my free 21-day punctuation mark email course: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/swordsmanship.Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit, 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina.Or if you just want a little magic sent straight to your inbox each month to encourage and inspire your writing practice, you can get my free monthly newsletter, The Grammarian, here: https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletterClick here to find me on Fable This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Screwtape's 21st Letter: Why do we think time belongs to us? With Missionary, Paula Bostock.

    Screwtape's 21st Letter: Why do we think time belongs to us? With Missionary, Paula Bostock.
    Nov 5 2025
    This Screwtape letter was a real kick in the pants for me. Because y’all, I really struggle to relinquish control of my own time. But Screwtape reminds us that even the idea that our time is our own is an illusion. Why does this feel like such an assault? Why is it so hard to just release my sense of control? Paula Bostock is a missionary from Brazil who moved to the UK for what she thought would only be a year of missionary work in Belfast. 8 years later, she’s now married and a brand new mamma, still living in the UK, and she joins me to share her story of discovering the freedom which came when she released control of her time, her body, and her entire life to God.Mentioned in this episodeOur wedding story on The Remarkable OrdinaryMy private podcast for paid subscribers of The Battle CryMy podcast with Dusty HeggeConnect with Dusty Hegge (a business consultant who supports Kingdom-minded writers, coaches, therapists, and leaders)Support the showBecome a patron of Magic Like This for £5 a month here.OR leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts!Read my essays and join my Celtic Prayer Writing Workshops at The Battle Cry:https://christinalynnwallace.substack.com/subscribeFind me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/magiclikethispodcastFor fellow writers:Battling imposter syndrome? Purchase my 7-day journalling devotional for aspiring Christian writers: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/shop/p/invited-by-joy-digital-devotional-for-aspiring-authorsWanting to write a book about what God’s done in your life, but don’t know where to start? I teach a course to help with that! You can enrol in Pick Up Your Sword at https://christinalynnwallace.com/courseAlways wondered about the difference between a colon and a semi-colon?Join Swordsmanship, my free 21-day email course to help you master punctuation: https://www.christinalynnwallace.com/swordsmanship.Wanting personal support to develop your writing practice?Book a Writer’s Audit, 1:1 writing mentorship calls with Christina.Or if you just want a little magic sent straight to your inbox each month to encourage and inspire your writing practice, you can get my free monthly newsletter, The Grammarian, here: https://christinalynnwallace.com/newsletterClick here to find me on Fable This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit magiclikethis.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 hr and 28 mins
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