C.S. Lewis is one of the most beloved writers and Christian apologists of the twentieth century. This summer, we will take a close look at some of his most important books and wrestle with the wisdom he offers.
These courses are offered at three different levels for different age groups, making this is a rare chance for members of a family to study the same material in age-appropriate settings. Adults and high schoolers will read common books, while grades 5-8 will learn and practice the art of world-building, imitating the work Lewis did on Narnia.
Following in the Footsteps of Narnia
This seminar works with young writers and aspiring writers to teach the principals that can transform a setting into a world. We will do this in conversation with C.S. Lewis' Narnia: one of the most beloved fictional worlds ever written. In addition to discussion of the various aspects of the Narnian setting, students will develop aspects of their own world and have an opportunity to share these with the class and receive feedback to help develop them further.
Grades 5 - 8
C.S. Lewis: Worlds and Works
Students in this course will read seven of Lewis' most important works, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as three of his short stories. Through our discussion of these texts, students will be led to reflect more deeply on their faith, to think about ways of presenting that faith winsomely to the world, and encouraged to explore ways to integrate the life of faith and the life of the imagination.
Grades 8 - 12
More than Myth: The C.S. Lewis Seminar
In this course, we will read eight of Lewis' most important works, both fiction and nonfiction. They will be the occasion for deep discussion over the most important things in life. We will evaluate how well his thought holds up after several decades, and more importantly, we will allow him to lead us to places where our own thinking needs to be challenged and corrected.
Ages 18+
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Participating in a course led by Dr. Junius Johnson is a wonderful journey of exploration, seeking hidden gems in unexpected places. It is an opportunity to learn to look deeper than the surface, both in reading and in the mundane of life. A delightful feast for the mind that lasts far beyond the actual banquet.
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This course was a quirky online educational option shared with us by a friend during a tough, miserably boring (and educationally uninspired) quarantine period of the pandemic. But I quickly became a fan of Professor Junius Johnson and dragons, as my son became completely entranced by both the class materials and the professor’s excitement. I loved that the professor was so engaged with the students and included a broad discussion of readings from philosophy, classic children’s literature, and more mainstream stories. My son has now taken two additional courses with Professor Johnson, each better than the last, and I hope he will continue to offer more courses even after the pandemic is over.
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Every time I hear Junius Johnson speak, I walk away asking: "Did I forget how exciting and joyful the life of the mind can be?”
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A deep perspective on the human need for wonder, and the essential desire for things powerful and uncontrollable.
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Why do you suppose dragons have possessed the imagination of writers and readers for most of our recorded history. Junius Johnson has come away from the dragons hoard with a few secrets to share. I found his treatment personally encouraging and a call to pick up my lance (or my pen), and join in the battle.
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Junius shares such a wondrous view of the purpose of dragons in literature and why we need our imagination to be refreshed and invigorated by them.