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85 YEARS AGO TODAY: J. R. R. TOLKIEN CONVINCES C. S. LEWIS THAT CHRIST IS THE TRUE MYTH
The Gospel Coalition ^ | September 20, 2016 | Justin Taylor

Posted on 09/21/2016 12:30:55 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper

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Lord of the Rings, The Screwtape Letters, Chronicles of Narnia, etc....and a devotion to the One Creator of the Universe.
1 posted on 09/21/2016 12:30:55 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: SoFloFreeper
Everyone should read Mere Christianity.
2 posted on 09/21/2016 12:32:32 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Later


3 posted on 09/21/2016 12:41:43 AM PDT by preacher
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To: SoFloFreeper

When Lewis accepted Christ ‘elite’ God-haters turned against him and did all in their considerable power to make him as miserable as they were.


4 posted on 09/21/2016 12:46:43 AM PDT by spirited irish
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To: SoFloFreeper

Three people die on the same day: Aldous Huxley, John F. Kennedy, and C. S. Lewis. Very different lives, concluding in very different ways.


5 posted on 09/21/2016 12:47:58 AM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Is mistletoe considered an assault tool now?


6 posted on 09/21/2016 12:53:23 AM PDT by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Bookmark


7 posted on 09/21/2016 12:54:30 AM PDT by TXBlair (We will not forget Benghazi.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Here's the conclusion from Lewis:

Now the story of Christ is simply a true myth: a myth working on us in the same way as the others, but with this tremendous difference that it really happened.

He was referring to mostly Greek mythology and how it had worked itself on people. He claims the story of Christ also works like a myth but with the awareness that it actually happened.

8 posted on 09/21/2016 12:56:14 AM PDT by Hostage (ARTICLE V):)
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To: Hostage

Lewis and Tolkien Debate Myths and Lies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=39&v=NzBT39gx-TE

Worth a look.


9 posted on 09/21/2016 12:59:53 AM PDT by Hostage (ARTICLE V):)
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To: SoFloFreeper

bokmark


10 posted on 09/21/2016 1:02:21 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: Hostage

Is the story of Christ a myth? Certainly it is, the most powerful myth ever. Why? Because it is true. Christ is the Son of God. All other truth, all other myth, crashes upon the shore of Christ as Savior of the world.


11 posted on 09/21/2016 1:09:17 AM PDT by Louis Foxwell (Stop the Left and save the world.)
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To: Louis Foxwell

Your statement and that of C.S. Lewis’ in the video I linked to, shows you two are of like mind, kindred spirits. That should be considered a great compliment.

As for me, I am not sure if the term ‘myth’ fits with the life of Christ. To me, Christ is real and His fleshly life in scripture is real, not a myth.

His resurrection may be considered by some as a ‘myth’, but to me it is true because if it were not, then all scripture fails and is false. So it must be true or we are all lost.

But then, I haven’t studied the nuances in meaning of the word ‘myth’.


12 posted on 09/21/2016 1:16:38 AM PDT by Hostage (ARTICLE V):)
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To: skr

Aargh, wrong article! Please ignore


13 posted on 09/21/2016 1:19:12 AM PDT by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: SoFloFreeper

bookmark


14 posted on 09/21/2016 1:39:33 AM PDT by GOP Poet
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bfl


15 posted on 09/21/2016 2:10:54 AM PDT by Faith65 (Isaiah 40:31)
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To: Hostage

Not really answering your post, just throwing out some thoughts sparked by this thread.

In itself Myth simply means ‘story’ or dramatic narrative, typically with a supernatural component.

As Tolkien averred: human myth is sub-creation: because we are created, we yearn to create.

Not just the ancient world, but the modern world also has created thousands of stories that (at their best) elevate and enoble us. For instance: think of “Star Wars” or the “Magnificent Seven”. These stories are not true, but they capture noble truths and/or engender childlike wonder.

And - being fallen humans - we also create stories that degrade and shame. I’m thinking here of “Saw”, “Evil Dead” and similar movies and novels. They are not true, and they are also degrading and hollow.

Now the Myth of Christ is no mere human story: it is The Whole Drama of Reality and it is told by God. It is not only true and real, it is more true and more real than we can understand.

The God that is both Priest and Victim. The God who is forsaken by God on the cross. The God who feeds us with His Body and Blood.

We can walk round these tremendous truths and examine them again and again, but never get to the bottom of them.

Also: we’re not passive observers of This Story. We are an intrinsic part of it. We only exist, after all, because The Author of All Things wrote us into being.

I don’t remember who said it, but “the great thing about God is the care that he takes with his minor characters”.

Hope this is helpful.


16 posted on 09/21/2016 2:18:17 AM PDT by agere_contra (Hamas has dug miles of tunnels - but no bomb-shelters.)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Bump


17 posted on 09/21/2016 2:41:06 AM PDT by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
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To: Hostage; agere_contra; Louis Foxwell
"But then, I haven’t studied the nuances in meaning of the word ‘myth’."

Perhaps it would facilitate understanding to use the word "mythic" instead.

Meaning that a story can be 100% true and still carry nuances, ramifications
and impact on the human psyche that give it the force of myth,
but with the certainty of fact.

18 posted on 09/21/2016 2:49:16 AM PDT by shibumi (Dancin in the Dark with Tramps in the Park, I'm the Fleetfoot VooDoo Man)
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To: agere_contra

Beautifully written!


19 posted on 09/21/2016 2:58:35 AM PDT by Wneighbor (I'm deplorable.)
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To: Wneighbor

Thank you, you are very kind.


20 posted on 09/21/2016 3:21:50 AM PDT by agere_contra (Hamas has dug miles of tunnels - but no bomb-shelters.)
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