I'm not sure I understand why CS Lewis wrote the things he did, it seemed like he was christian but then he wrote about lions and witches and wardrobes.
i remmeber seeing this movie as a child and I did not think it was actually christian. It was more fairy tale. Actually it scared me a bit when I was young because it suggested that wardrobes could be portals to this other world.
Later when I became a christian CS Lewis writings didnt make much senese either. It seemed he was advocating anglicanism as a religion rather than actually being born again.
I tried to read 'mere christianity' but nothing registered, just seemed like an out of date apologetic for religion. Screwtape letters seemed to glorify demons. I did not enjoy reading the screwtape letters, I thought, very clever, but no gospel in it.
What do other people think? Anybody actually know him personally? Why was he writing about witches etc when we are meant to avoid all appearance of evil? I would not say chronicles of narnia are christian. Its fantasy, with twisted elements of christianity in it.
I am the most biased person you will ever find on CS Lewis. He is awesome.
I was an Atheist, but Mere Christianity broke my shell of scepticism and gradually, kicking and screaming, God dragged me onto my knees and into prayer and grace.
CS Lewis and his apologetic works had a big part to play in this. I find him clear and descent, logical and understandable.
If you read the Preamble to Mere Christianity, you will see he had a strong ecumenical streak. He just cares if you are Christian, ie saved, not which Church you belong to. Most of his Inkling buddies were Catholic, but he remained staunch Anglican and generally held that all Churches are searching for God in their own way.
CS Lewis was an Oxford Don, a professor of English Literature. Mostly mediaeval and age of Discovery writings were his speciality, especialy Milton (on whom he wrote the textbook). He was not a Theologian, he was a layman, but he has an extensive background in Philosophy and Theology as this was the background of the texts he studied in his daily work as a Don.
He also wrote extensively on his own conversion (Surprised by Joy, Pilgrims regress) and multiple apologetic works.
He was originally an Atheist with a love of Norse mythology and extensive training in latin and greek, before his conversion. This can be seen in his apologetic and fictional works. He explains Christianity from base principles, which is why some call him the Apostle to the Atheists, I am living proof of its effectiveness.
I confess I am not a big fan of Narnia, I feel he wrote much better books, but there is nothing unchristian about it. He called it a supposition, not a metaphor, of how the incarnation could have occured in a world of animals. He covers much of the Christian story therein, but weaves Dwarves and witches and the ilk in, because that is what he likes, it is his mythological background seeping through.
In his book 'God in the Dock' there is an extensive explanation of mythology being something that readies man to accept the Truth, as mythology becomes Historic Fact in Jesus. This is in answer to Golden Bough like speculation etc. but we see the same idea present in Narnia.
As to use of Lions etc. this is established Christian usages as has been said. In Voyage of the Dawn Treader they meet a Lamb who turns out to be Aslan. Aslan also appears in multiple Christian settings, not least his Sacrifice on the Stone Table for the salvation of everyone from the White Witch.
As to those who say he was a heretic. He was a humble man, multiple times in his works he will say he is but a layman and will always defer to those that are better Christians than he or know more about the issue. He was a sincere Christian struggling with issues (see a Grief Observed for instance) and never claimed any of his speculative writings were to be taken as true. They were discussions on issues, a sort of debate on concepts with the reader.
He discussed Universalism and God speaking through other religions as introductions to Christianity and ideas of semi-formed souls etc. but he never forced them or tried to contort the Bible or Christianity to fit them. They were merely considered, never adopted as articles of faith, as his training in Philosophic Enquiry had taught him. To call him a heretic is ridiculous.
To quote him: "If it helps you then I have done a good thing, if not, then discard it by all means".
Now CS Lewis will tell you in all his works that he is a sinner. That there are better Christians out there. If you read the excellent biography mentioned above, CS Lewis: a Life by Allistair McGrath, you will see a flawed man, a sinner, a person who struggled with his faith. You will see in short, a human, not a saint. But CS Lewis was a man of God if I have ever come across one. He has been a great inspiration to me, a guide in the Faith, a fellow traveller to God. I have no doubt that someday if I make it to heaven, I will find him there and I relish the opportunity and I will thank him with all my heart.
I am saddened by your appraisal, I think you are missing out on a great spiritual guide to the Christian religion, but he is not for everyone. He tends to assume his readers are acquanted with concepts few people are in our modern world as we have largely abandoned the Classical Education that he was a product and practitioner of. But don't think he is occultic or whatever, there are those such as myself, who he has helped immensely. I think you are just not properly acquanted with his works, as you yourself said you struggled with Mere Christianity. This is not really your fault.
To quote my favorite CS Lewis quote:
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
These are the words of a great and sincere Christian.