# Latest **URL:** https://talk.spare-oom.com/latest.md [Latest](https://talk.spare-oom.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://talk.spare-oom.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://talk.spare-oom.com/tags.md) --- ## [Welcome to SpareOom](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/welcome-to-spareoom/7)
**Author:** [@system](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/welcome-to-spareoom/7 "2019-10-29T23:42:52Z")
SpareOom is a forum for discussion of matters relating to, or inspired by, the life and works of C.S. Lewis (1898-1963). We ask that at least half of topics relate in some way to C.S. Lewis, though we recognize that his… --- ## [Bearing Our Cross](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/bearing-our-cross/38536)
**Author:** [@dzarechnak](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dzarechnak)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/bearing-our-cross/38536 "2026-11-06T17:23:51Z")
In a letter to Mary Willis Shelburne of August 3, 1959, Lewis wrote: "You remember the Imitation \[of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis\] says ‘Bear your cross, for if you try to get rid of it you will probably find another and … --- ## [Is history repeating itself?](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/is-history-repeating-itself/38535)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2026, 8:07am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/is-history-repeating-itself/38535 "2026-11-05T08:07:31Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Is history repeating itself? https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/11/is-history-repeating-itself.html Regards, --- ## [Christ's humor](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/christs-humor/38533)
**Author:** [@dzarechnak](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dzarechnak)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/christs-humor/38533 "2026-10-30T02:19:44Z")
At the end of “Orthodoxy”, Chesterton wrote: “There was something that He \[Christ\] hid from all men when He went up a mountain to pray. There was something that He covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous isola… --- ## [Second-generation planets](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/second-generation-planets/38532)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2026, 8:17am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/second-generation-planets/38532 "2026-10-29T08:17:56Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Second-generation planets https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/10/second-generation-planets.html Regards, --- ## [The purpose of suffering](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/the-purpose-of-suffering/38221)
**Author:** [@dzarechnak](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dzarechnak)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/the-purpose-of-suffering/38221 "2026-10-24T23:54:44Z")
In The Problem of Pain, Lewis famously wrote: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world”. Bu… --- ## [Confession](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/confession/38530)
**Author:** [@dzarechnak](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dzarechnak)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/confession/38530 "2026-10-23T02:25:51Z")
Lewis wrote that he would go to confession once a month. Here is what he writes about confession in chapter XVIII of Letters to Malcolm: “Anyway, in solitude, and also in confession, I have found (to my regret) that the… --- ## [A city on the Moon?](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/a-city-on-the-moon/38528)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2026, 7:12am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/a-city-on-the-moon/38528 "2026-10-22T07:12:45Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: A city on the Moon? https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-city-on-moon.html Regards, --- ## [A planet, or a satellite?](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/a-planet-or-a-satellite/38526)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2026, 7:18am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/a-planet-or-a-satellite/38526 "2026-10-15T07:18:10Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: A planet, or a satellite? https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-planet-or-satellite.html Regards, --- ## [Lead us not into temptation](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/lead-us-not-into-temptation/38524)
**Author:** [@dzarechnak](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dzarechnak)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2026, 10:02am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/lead-us-not-into-temptation/38524 "2026-10-13T10:02:02Z")
These are Lewis’s thoughts in Letters to Malcolm about that petition in the Our Father, which I always keep in mind when reciting the prayer: "I was never worried myself by the words lead us not into temptation, but a g… --- ## [Ontological proof of God’s existence](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/ontological-proof-of-god-s-existence/38523)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2026, 7:13am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/ontological-proof-of-god-s-existence/38523 "2026-10-08T07:13:05Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Ontological proof of God’s existence https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/09/ontological-proof-of-gods-existence.html Regards, --- ## [The Origin of the Universe and the Immortality of the Soul](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/the-origin-of-the-universe-and-the-immortality-of-the-soul/38222)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/the-origin-of-the-universe-and-the-immortality-of-the-soul/38222 "2026-10-07T16:54:50Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: The Origin of the Universe and the Immortality of the Soul https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-origin-of-universe-and-immortality.html Regards, --- ## [Thy Kingdom Come](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/thy-kingdom-come/38522)
**Author:** [@dzarechnak](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dzarechnak)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/thy-kingdom-come/38522 "2026-10-06T18:15:56Z")
As I started to type this, I noticed that I already posted this, more or less, several times in the past. But the last time was in 2019, so I guess it won’t hurt to post it again, given the current state of the world’s a… --- ## [Time and Motion](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/time-and-motion/38220)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/time-and-motion/38220 "2026-09-24T19:56:55Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Time and Motion https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/09/time-and-motion.html Regards, --- ## [Using our talents](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/using-our-talents/38218)
**Author:** [@dzarechnak](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dzarechnak)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/using-our-talents/38218 "2026-09-22T16:50:33Z")
Last Sunday in our church, one of the gospel readings was Our Lord’s parable of the talents. Back in 2018, I posted on this subject, connecting Lewis’s thoughts and a meditation on scripture from the Russian book, Day by… --- ## [Evolution in Lewis](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/evolution-in-lewis/38216)
**Author:** [@dzarechnak](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dzarechnak)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2026, 7:24am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/evolution-in-lewis/38216 "2026-09-20T07:24:45Z")
Lewis believed in evolution, and in The Magician’s Nephew, I think he indicated how it could come about, namely that Christ breathed a soul into a wild animal to make it a conscious being. I think this is also the positi… --- ## [AI failures and successes](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/ai-failures-and-successes/38217)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2026, 7:16am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/ai-failures-and-successes/38217 "2026-09-17T07:16:37Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: AI failures and successes https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/10/ai-failures-and-successes.html Regards, --- ## [Human Dignity: Religion, Politics, or Natural Morality?](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/human-dignity-religion-politics-or-natural-morality/37614)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/human-dignity-religion-politics-or-natural-morality/37614 "2026-09-12T15:43:44Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Human Dignity: Religion, Politics, or Natural Morality? https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/07/human-dignity-religion-politics-or.html Regards, --- ## [Hypothetical science and dark matter](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/hypothetical-science-and-dark-matter/38215)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2026, 7:11am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/hypothetical-science-and-dark-matter/38215 "2026-09-10T07:11:47Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Hypothetical science and dark matter https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/09/hypothetical-science-and-dark-matter.html Regards, --- ## [Conference this month: "The undiscovered C.S.Lewis"](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/conference-this-month-the-undiscovered-c-s-lewis/38214)
**Author:** [@Hyoi](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Hyoi)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/conference-this-month-the-undiscovered-c-s-lewis/38214 "2026-09-07T03:01:10Z")
Dear all, A friend in NZ has just sent me this registration page for a C.S.Lewis conference in Oregon this month, which also offers online participation. Dates: 2026-09-24/27 (Online access through --10-05) Location: … --- ## [The dark side of AI](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/the-dark-side-of-ai/38212)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/the-dark-side-of-ai/38212 "2026-09-03T16:42:42Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: The dark side of AI https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-dark-side-of-ai.html Regards, --- ## [Office remodeling](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/office-remodeling/38210)
**Author:** [@dan](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/office-remodeling/38210 "2026-09-02T12:35:54Z")
Owing to a water heater leak late last year, I began a remodeling project on my home office that I’d been intending to do for some time–flooring, paint, and the item that had been on my list longest: built-in bookcases. … --- ## [Welcome to new users!](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/welcome-to-new-users/37902)
**Author:** [@dan](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/dan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/welcome-to-new-users/37902 "2026-08-31T17:21:04Z")
I see we’ve had a number of new users join recently.\[1\] Welcome to SpareOom! We hope you’ll find, and/or start, interesting conversations here. Let us know a bit about yourselves, and what brought you here. @Miles… --- ## [Persons cited in Populscience](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/persons-cited-in-populscience/37691)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2026, 7:08am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/persons-cited-in-populscience/37691 "2026-07-09T07:08:55Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Persons cited in Populscience https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/07/persons-cited-in-populscience.html Regards, --- ## [Paradoxes of Time Travel](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/paradoxes-of-time-travel/37612)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2026, 7:11am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/paradoxes-of-time-travel/37612 "2026-06-25T07:11:13Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Paradoxes of Time Travel https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/06/paradoxes-of-time-travel.html Regards, --- ## [Units of length](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/units-of-length/37607)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2026, 7:08am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/units-of-length/37607 "2026-06-18T07:08:25Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Units of length https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/06/units-of-length.html Regards, --- ## [A new Goldilocks zone](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/a-new-goldilocks-zone/37605)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2026, 7:07am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/a-new-goldilocks-zone/37605 "2026-06-11T07:07:10Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: A new Goldilocks zone https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/06/a-new-goldilocks-zone.html Regards, --- ## [The Death of Words](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/the-death-of-words/37587)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2026, 7:18am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/the-death-of-words/37587 "2026-06-04T07:18:49Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: The Death of Words https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-death-of-words.html Regards, --- ## [About the Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. Can it be called Luddism?](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/about-the-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas-can-it-be-called-luddism/37383)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2026, 7:10am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/about-the-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas-can-it-be-called-luddism/37383 "2026-05-28T07:10:00Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: About the Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. Can it be called Luddism? https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/05/about-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas.html Regards, --- ## [Craig Venter, rest in peace](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/craig-venter-rest-in-peace/37304)
**Author:** [@Manuel\_Alfonseca](https://talk.spare-oom.com/u/Manuel_Alfonseca)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2026, 7:07am UTC](https://talk.spare-oom.com/t/craig-venter-rest-in-peace/37304 "2026-05-21T07:07:50Z")
Latest post in my blog on popular science: Craig Venter, rest in peace https://populscience.blogspot.com/2026/05/craig-venter-rest-in-peace.html Regards, [Next page](https://talk.spare-oom.com/latest.md?page=1)