Divinity spread thinly

Iat Television has just about given up on religious programming over Christmas. Unless you’re up early to water the garden you’ll miss O Come All Ye Faithful entirely.

TV news reported on attendance numbers at the Auckland Central Mission’s free lunch and Christmas Eve at Bethlehem.

Very soon the Queen’s message will be preceded by the words ‘‘ this programme does not necessarily represent the views of this channel’’.

It’s best to play it safe when you work for TV One or TV3.

Somehow into this seasonal mix of programmes – the tinsel and tonsil of Christmas – came The Bible ( Vibe, Sky 6) and CS Lewis: Beyond Narnia ( Sky 73, Saturday). Lewis, who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters, was a powerful literary figure the 1950s and 60s.

His death 50 years ago – at the same time as John F Kennedy’s – went almost unnoticed, but then he wasn’t assassinated.

Anton Rogers ( Fresh Fields) played Lewis, the academic and the private man who wrestled with God. In his early life Lewis was an atheist who couldn’t get religion out of his system.

‘‘ I didn’t believe God existed but I was very angry with him for not existing.’’ Finally, among a group of friends at Oxford – who included JRR Tolkien ( The Hobbit) and other literary greats – he became a believer. ‘‘ God was God whether I wanted him to be or not.’’

What followed was an outpouring of incredible writing which included The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe as part of the Narnia Chronicles.

As a child I never went near my wardrobe for years in case there was a lion or witch inside. As a result I didn’t wear pants until I was 15.

Late in life he found another consuming love. He married Joy Davidman and was ‘‘ in total bliss’’ until her early death.

Rogers was convincing as Lewis’ story was told with generous flashbacks. However, in focusing on his inner turmoil, the doco overlooked his academic contributions and his acerbic relationship with students.

In later life regained covered my pants.

Quite by accident I stumbled over ( Vibe), which ran for several nights.

It was the United States’ most watched cable show in 2013. There was more than a touch of Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of Christ about the series. The crucifixion scene was so compelling I forgot to return to the programme I was originally watching. Now that’s great television – but it was shown at a time when most people were cleaning the barbecue.

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