Museum of the Bible debuts new exhibit on C.S. Lewis

The museum in Washington, D.C., last week opened a new exhibit telling the story of the renowned author’s life and eventual conversion to faith in Jesus Christ. The exhibit includes C.S. Lewis’ letters, manuscripts, and other personal belongings that tell the story of how he turned from atheism to belief in Christ. Lewis believed the story of Jesus was a myth until he surrendered his life to Christ in 1931, according to his biography from the C.S. Lewis Institute. He later described himself as a reluctant convert.

He and other Christian authors like G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams associated with The Inklings literary group in Oxford. The Museum of the Bible’s Lewis exhibit shows the enduring impact of the Bible on literature, Chief Curatorial Officer Bobby Duke said in a news release.

What else is included in the exhibit? First editions of “The Chronicles of Narnia” are part of the collection, along with the annotated manuscript of his 1939 Oxford address titled “Learning in War-time.” Guests can view the collection until Feb. 14 of next year. The exhibit coincides with the Museum of the Bible’s World Stage Theater production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The production is sponsored by Compassion International and is scheduled to run through April 19.

Dig deeper: Read Thaddeus Williams’ opinion column about a warning from C.S. Lewis about society.