Lipscomb professor to speak at Cambridge University on C. S. Lewis
Chris Pepple |
Prentice Meador, Lipscomb University’s Batsell Barrett Baxter Chair of Preaching, has been selected as a presenter for the C. S. Lewis Summer Institute – Oxbridge 2008. Oxbridge 2008 is a two-week summer conference held on the campuses of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. This triennial interdisciplinary academic conference seeks to advance a renaissance of Christian scholarship among university faculty. This year’s conference will focus on the theme “The Self and the Search for Meaning.” Meador’s paper was chosen by a peer review committee of Lewis experts. He will read his paper on August 5, 2008.
For this conference, Meador chose to explore Lewis’ last work of fiction, Till We have Faces: A Myth Retold. Lewis considered this his best work of fiction, though it remains the least popular of his works. The book retells the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche narrated through the voice of Psyche’s sister Orual. This tale of two princesses, one beautiful and one unattractive, exposes the human soul and takes the reader on an odyssey portraying the spiritual and psychological struggle between sacred and profane love, between reason and faith.
Meador’s paper titled “Lewis’ Critique of Post-Modernism: the Rhetoric of Storytelling in Till We Have Faces” suggests that the ancient art of rhetoric informs us on how Lewis constructs his story in the book. Meador will present his paper at Cambridge as part of the second week of Oxbridge 2008. Keynote speakers for the conference include Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary; Philip Yancey, popular Christian author; Paul Vitz, professor and senior scholar at the Institute for Psychological Sciences in Arlington, Va.; and Malcolm Jeeves, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
“I consider this opportunity to be one of the highlights of my academic career. This is a special moment for me, a high honor for Lipscomb University,” said Meador. “Lewis is one of my heroes. I was introduced to his works when I was a student at Lipscomb and heard Batsell Barrett Baxter quote him often. Lewis’ words helped me have an understanding of my faith and my walk with God.”
Meador recently completed 19 years as senior minister at Prestoncrest church of Christ in Dallas, and he and his wife Barbara have worked with congregations in Tennessee, Illinois, California, Washington, and Missouri. He writes for several publications and has authored several books in the field of religion, including Walk with Me, Genesis: The Great Story, Promises to Keep and Stories That Astonish: The Parables of Jesus. In 1992, Meador became managing editor of 21st Century Christian magazine. Meador earned his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University in 1960 and his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1961 and 1964, respectively. His teaching career includes UCLA, the University of Washington, Missouri State University, and Abilene Christian University.
Since 1999, Meador has conducted over 15 lectures on Lewis and his writings, including presentations in England and Russia. He has lectured on Lewis’ work at Lipscomb and Pepperdine Universities and led a lecture series called “The Curious Life of C. S. Lewis—Man behind Narnia” for a Princess cruise. He also led a tour to Oxford University entitled “A Week with C. S. Lewis.” This study was presented by Abilene Christian University in 1999. As part of this tour, Meador and his wife led reflections on the works of Lewis each morning at Oxford. He plans to teach a course at Lipscomb focusing on the life and works of Lewis.