Posted on 12/07/2005 7:37:30 PM PST by xzins
Newly Discovered Letter Reveals Narnia Story is About Christ
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005 Posted: 8:51:21PM EST
This Friday, when tens of thousands head to the theaters for the motion picture release of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” church groups will have with them a new piece of evidence that the children's story tells a Christian message.
This Friday, when tens of thousands head to the theaters for the release of ''Narnia,'' churchgoers will have with them a new piece of evidence that the children's story tells a Christian message.
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Recent reports revealed the discovery of a letter written by the famed author in 1961. The letter, addressed to a child fan, reads: "The whole Narnian story is about Christ," according to The Sunday Times of Britain. It was found by Walter Hooper, literary adviser to the Lewis estate.
Christians and secularists have been tugging at their ends in debating Lewis' message in the popular children's series. Churches have cited allusions to the gospel and Jesus while others, including Douglas Gresham, Lewis' stepson, simply regard it as an adventure story.
Professor Andrew Quicke, professor of Cinema Television at Regent University, said Narnia was not written as "an evangelical religious tract" but rather "as a story."
"The nonbelievers and believers are getting much too uptight about this," he said.
Speaking more to the literary art of the allegory, Quicke quoted T.S. Eliot, who he said "summed up the discussion perfectly."
"Literary criticism (for us film criticism) should be completed by criticism from a definite ethical and theological standpoint," he said.
"The subject of literature was too important not to be completed from a theological perspective," he added.
Quicke attributed credibility to the recent letter finding.
"I'm sure the letter is genuine. I don't disagree with it at all," he said.
However, he clearly stated, "C.S. Lewis writes allegory and we should judge his stories in terms of their literary merit when we look at the story and cinematic merit when we look at the film."
While Narnia is not written as a way of promoting the gospel, Quicke says Lewis wrote stories "very much within the Christian tradition with strong Christian undertones and overtones."
Lewis converted to Christianity as an adult after having abandoned it as a child.
A volume of Lewis letters is slated for publishing in 2006.
Lillian Kwon lillian@christianpost.com
Wait till they find out what Easter is about. The bunny supporters won't like it.
Isnt it illegal to mention Christ in a theater ?
It's allowed. But only as an explicative.
Professor Andrew Quicke, professor of Cinema Television at Regent University, said Narnia was not written as "an evangelical religious tract" but rather "as a story."
Some don't like to admit it. It's a basic liberal disease. They also don't like to admit that terrorists are our enemies and that our troops are winning in Iraq.
Mostly -- more than anything -- they hate to admit that from the 20th century onward anything demonstrating genius could possibly be by a Christian or about Christ the Savior of all who call on Him.
"Shocking!"
Yep. But, these books are actually good reads even for non-believers. To the non-believer, these books are just fictional thrillers. When I read these books as a child, I never realized there was a deeper meaning contained within. When I was in 6th grade many moons ago, I checked the whole series out of the school library for our Summer Reading Program, because I was into that sort of genre.
Speaking of.... FYI.
ROFL!
'Till We Have Faces'
'The Great Divorce'
'The Abolition of Man'
'Mere Christianity'(Just to name a few)
And now this?! Imagine that.
I am so glad those folks exist.
I'm also glad there's a "Coast to Coast" with whoever nouri (or whatever his name is)
Mere Christianity and The Reluctant Believer should be required reading for anyone who either is a Christian or wants to attack Christians.
And how about the science fiction trilogy? One of my favorites. You don't have to look to far to find the Christian message there either!
Absolutely. Have that sitting on my shelf as well.
Have you read 'The Taste for the Other' by Gilbert Meilaender?
"Mere Christianity and The Reluctant Believer should be required reading for anyone who either is a Christian or wants to attack Christians."
Yes. Because if they read and understand Mere Christianity at least they will be attacking Christianity from a well informed perspective rather than the idiotic popular point of view.
Most likely though, if they read and understand Mere Christianity they will likely say "wow I never thought of it that way.." then pass on their attack or become Christians themselves.
Wasn't Lewis an Anglican?
Perelandra
That Hideous Strength
Out of the Silent Planet
Wonderful series indeed.
"the fact that it was based on Jesus was pretty much a no brainer."
It is a no brainer. His step-son said that it was not meant to be an allegory of Christ and that always confused me because it was just so obvious.
Yes, he was.
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