"A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading"

C. S. Lewis, once an avowed atheist before his conversion to Christianity, understood the subtle interplay between literature, philosophy, and belief. The statement suggests that exposure to various forms of reading, particularly those grappling earnestly with questions of meaning, purpose, and the divine, can challenge and unsettle atheistic convictions. The process of reading is rarely passive, great books, whether ancient philosophy, profound poetry, or classical theology, pose questions that refuse to be easily dismissed. They offer arguments, experiences, and insights that often extend beyond the narrow confines of rationalistic skepticism.

Engagement with a broad literary tradition exposes the reader to different perspectives, especially those rooted in religious traditions or deeply spiritual experiences. Books such as the works of Dante, Dostoevsky, Augustine, and Pascal were written by individuals who wrestled with the reality of suffering, the possibility of transcendent truth, and the hunger for ultimate meaning. For an atheist, reading such works with an open mind can create dissonance; the authors’ accounts of encountering something beyond themselves may prompt uncomfortable reflections or evoke a sense of longing that strict materialism leaves unaccounted for.

Lewis’s remark also reflects his own journey. As a young intellectual, he discovered that mere arguments against faith are sometimes less compelling than the imaginative and existential realities explored by poets and theologians. He found that the great books of Western civilization are often saturated with religious assumptions, values, and yearnings, making it difficult to cordon off one’s mind from such influences. For the atheist determined to keep belief at bay, the act of careful reading becomes risky, opening oneself to transformative possibilities. Far from being merely academic, reading can awaken questions and feelings that challenge the certainty of disbelief, weakening the fortress of atheism through unexpected windows of wonder, beauty, and moral seriousness.