Author Archives: Rick D. Williams

About Rick D. Williams

Teaching and writing have been my life's work for over three decades as a journalist and educator. My degrees in History were earned at Illinois State University, and I've done additional graduate work at Lincoln Christian Seminary and Urbana Theological Seminary. Over the years I’ve led conference workshops and authored articles and book chapters on topics ranging from religious education and international student ministry to state and local history.

Sons and Daughters: the Children of Narnia

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The four Pevensie children at the center of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe are referred to in Narnia as “Sons of Adam” and “Daughters of Eve.”  No doubt C. S. Lewis intends for readers to see in these … Continue reading →

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Images of Joy in Lewis’s “Surprised” and “Pilgrim’s Regress”

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The idea of “Joy” is among C. S. Lewis’s most famous and familiar contributions to Christian literature.  Its influence on “the shape of his early life” is the central theme of Surprised by Joy (SJ), and its attainment is the … Continue reading →

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Mere Reality: Reflections on C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

C. S. Lewis was working simultaneously on the material that appeared in these two works–perhaps his best known writings outside of the Narnia books.  Mere Christianity was a compilation of a series of radio talks Lewis gave on BBC Radio … Continue reading →

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Show Me The Way

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The Question of God Part 8 (Lewis Segment, “Defender of the Faith“; Conversation 8, “Moral Law“) As we near the end of our journey, our focus centers on Lewis and the question of an absolute basis for moral law.  Just … Continue reading →

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Good, Bad & Ugly

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The Question of God, Part 7(Freud segment, “Civilization and Its Discontents”; Conversation 7, “The Human Condition”) One of the most significant transitions in the Story of Western Civilization is that from a “Pre-Modern” to the “Modern” worldview.  The “God-Centered” order … Continue reading →

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Libido & Love

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The Question of God Part 6 (Freud segment–“Libido”; Lewis segment–“The Four Loves”; Conversation 6–“Love Thy Neighbor”) In 1905 Freud wrote a series of essays on sexuality which associated sex— or libido — as the driving force of our desires and … Continue reading →

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Before Captain America: Young Steve Rogers

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

Steve Rogers, the boy who would become Captain America, was born in New York on July 4, 1917 the only child of Joseph and Sarah Rogers. His parents are described as immigrants living on New York’s Lower East Side who … Continue reading →

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The Discarded Image

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The Question of God, Part 5 (Freud Segment, “Human Mythology“; Lewis Segment, “From Spirits to God“; Panel Discussion, “Miracles“) Freud was determined in his research and writing to demonstrate that religious sentiments could be traced to historical, cultural, and psychological … Continue reading →

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True Statesmanship

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

This particular piece has been on my mind for some time and far too long neglected.  In response to one of my earlier “Civics” posts, written in response to last November’s elections, a former colleague of mine asked, “Where are … Continue reading →

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Return to Me

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Rick D. Williams

The Question of God, Part 4 (C.S. Lewis segment, “A Leap in the Dark”; Panel Discussion, “Why Believe?”) C. S. Lewis seemed a reluctant atheist, keeping God at bay through intellectual pride and accusations of injustice and infidelity.  Yet the … Continue reading →

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