Good Magic? Bad Magic?

I say this with all respect to your feelings, but according to the Scriptures which tell us who God is and how to know Him, no, you do not have a personal relationship with God because John 14:6 says “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”

“No one” is a very exclusive term. It’s wonderful to see that you seek God though, and I’m interested to learn why you aren’t a Christian.

In my opinion- this is not a work of Classic Christian Literature – any more than Superman is.
Both draw on Christian themes, yes, but drawing on Christian themes, some of which can be argued have their echos in the mythos of cultures that precede Christianity by 1000’s of years, does not make any story film or tv show “Christian” per se, let alone a Christian classic.

In a town whose most influential powerbrokers are jews,gays and secularist democrats, it’s hard to image Disney NOT secularizing the movie -but since Doug Gresham who produced the film is Lewis’ stepson- I’ve heard from several of my friends in Tinseltown that the Christian themes have not been watered down. Having said that, these people are hypersensitive to “Christian themes” so what they would consider “not watered down” may differ from what Christian conservatives have in mind.

As a student of comparative religion, and as someone with judeo christian roots- I don’t believe that TLWW will have the emotional evocative impact of “The Passion” simply because Lewis’ story bears the echos of many classic myths, and while the Narnia series most certainly contains Christian themes, it is not overtly or soley Christian.

Christian themes are prevelant in many stories and films, that Hollywood produces, including Smallville, a modern retelling of the Superman mythos. Personally, I consider “Superman” and by fiat “Smallville” to contain far more Judeo-Christian themes than simply NT Christian themes. Sending Kal El ( Hebrew for “all that God is”)to a “new world” to escape his own death in a world that is about to be destroyed borrows from the OT stories of Moses, and also serves as an analogy for modern day kindertransports that occured in Europe when Jews sent their kids to the “new world”(America) as they sensed the impending doom that Hitler would bring. The concept of a superhuman protector contains echos of OT stories about the “Golem”.

The Matrix and Star Wars, as well as Touched by An Angel, and Joan of Arcadia were all ecumenical, offering themes compatible with a Judeo-Christian worldview, but were not “Christian” per se.

“What the Lion’s filmmakers do with the charming storytelling that surrounds them is—theologically—optional. But if these key ideas are muddled, the film may be a classic, but never a Christian classic. And its revenues, large as they may be, will reflect that.”

His thinking seems to imply that the books were Christian classics, and I would respectfully disagree. The books were classics…PERIOD. The film will succeed at the box office with or without the inclusion of the four lines,because kids movies traditionally attract repeat viewings by kids. This is not “The Passion” nor has it been marketed in the shameful way “The Passion” was. In my opinion, even with the inclusion of the four lines, its doubtful this movie will have the impact on Christian Conservative adults that David Biema seems to believe.

After all, TITANIC remains the highest grossing movie of all time, followed by Star Wars: A New Hope, and Shrek. So I m not quite clear as to where David is coming from.

“What makes certain books “Christian”? Or music? I think we as Christians do a disservice when we have various litmus tests in order to label something as Christian. We then fall into creating a false dichotomy between the sacred and secular”

I ‘m not Christian, but I do have a personal relationship with God, and I agree with Dignan.

One interesting example is the many heated conversations one finds on various message boards as to what qualifies as “Christian rock” Is it simply a great marketing tool? If not,then where do we draw the line in defining or labaling something as “christian” rock, let alone “christian classic” or “christian literature”.

If the members of a rock group are Christians, but the songs they write don’t soley reflect Christian themes, or celebrate their relationship with Christ, then should their music be considered “christian rock”? Or must Christian rock soley reflect their relationship with Christ?Is Christian rock music made only by Christians for Christians? Can non Christians write songs about Jesus, and by fiat, have their music deemed “Christian rock”?

Ben Harper did a great CD with The Blind Boys from Alabama “There Will Be Light” which is considered by many as Christian rock- but is it? I’m not Christian but I loved that CD, okay I LOVE ALL things Ben Harper, (especially Blessed To Be Witness) and I also enjoy Mercy Me, Live, Pivitplex, Switchfoots “Meant To Live”, and Dust In The Wind, and Carry On My Wayward Son,by Kansas (who many consider to be one of the first Christan Rock bands well over 20 yrs ago). These songs resonate with me deeply.

My journey through life does not separate the secular and the spiritual.My relationship with God is the cornerstone of my life, and the most important relationship I have. It is intrinsic to all I do and to who I am. My life isn’t divided into relationship with God and ALL other things. My relationship with God is my life and my life is about my relationship with God. The sacred and the secular are interconnected for me personally, which is why I find it challenging when Christians themselves embrace a dichotomy between the sacred and secular. I guess it comes down to how you answer the question: Does the choir sing both sacred and secular music?

It is true that each of these stories can be tied in some way to some other culture’s mythology, but given Lewis’ deeply felt religious belief, why dig that far? Why not take it as given that these are intended to invite children to dig deeper into Christian faith, as surely as Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” an unabashedly Christian book, was intended to do some generations earlier.

Lewis said that he wrote his imaginative fiction by first visualizing one or more climactic scenes and then building a story around them. Most readers of the Narnia books will be easily able to imagine what those scene(s) may be in each book. In the “Great Divorce” there are probably two: the first glimpse of the great, gray expanse of Hell where a cold drizzle falls through even the most impressive structure and where it is always about to become night, extinguishing whatever hope remains; and the hard, bright reality of the decision field of Heaven where individuals either renounce the smallness of their treasured illusions of worthiness or victim hood, or prefer to clutch these tiny treasures to their breasts for eternity as they board the bus for the return trip to final separation from all that is Good.

There is probably no such climactic scene in his serious work on the oft-debated question of the power of God vs. the obvious presence of evil in the world, “The Problem of Pain”. But, in those of his WW2 radio talks that have been collected into “Mere Christianity”, at least one stands out.
After describing various forms of “Life”, starting with plants which grow but are immobile, passing through the fecundity of the swarming insect kingdom, and noting the extent to which some animals display almost human characteristics, Lewis contrasts the level of life we now enjoy with what he understands is promised. He says it is as though we are all, though lovingly and creatively fashioned, the inmates of a great sculpture shop through which is sweeping the rumor that we will all soon come to life.

Love this post and the discussion it has fostered. But I think you need to elaborate on what you mean by “Christian”. You say you would hesitate to call the Narnia series “Christian”, but you don’t really elaborate other than to say that you have a problem with the magical elements in the story. I know God’s word condemns sorcery, but that is in the real world. And the “Chronicles” are allegory in a fictional world. I would argue that they even reach the level of parable, Lewis was trying to illustrate much greater truths. Jesus often used the same teaching technique as you know.

The Narnia tales certainly are more than just interesting stories. I define Christian as being like Christ. And Aslan is certainly a Christlike figure. The Chronicles are not just about good vs. evil. They are about sacrifice for an unworthy soul, the fact that there is a horrible penalty to pay for “sin”, that pain is so often needed for true character growth, and many other truths are illustrated. I would argue these are very harmonious with biblical teaching. Just because Lewis uses a fictional world with magic and sorcery and the like IMO doesn’t negate the truths behind the parables. I think your critique of the Chronicles could be used to negate some of Jesus own teaching. What I mean is when Jesus used hyperbole to illustrate a point. For example, Jesus said if your eyes cause you to sin, poke them out for it is better to enter heaven blind than to enter into hell with your full eyesight (total paraphrase I know). Now everyone knows that even a blind man can lust, but Jesus was saying do whatever it takes, no matter how radical, to remove sin from your life. Would it be valid for me to discount that lesson from Jesus because he used an example that isn’t based in reality? Or any of the lessons He taught us using parable?

I read the Chronicles about 3 years after I had been born again and I could clearly see the parallels between Aslan and Christ. I also remember particular episodes which had a strong impact on me spiritually. Are the Chronicles a replacement for Bible reading? No. But none of us are monks living in a monastery who can devote ourselves to 24/7 bible study (few of us realistically have that discipline anyway). I plan on reading the Chronicles with my kids and using the Bible illustrate what Lewis was trying to show.

My favorite line from the Narnia books is when someone says that Aslan, ie Christ, is not a tame lion. Lewis really emphasizes and plays with this. I translate the line into Our God is not a tame God and I am reminded of how true that is all the time. Its something subtle about The Lord that Lewis just nails better than anyone, I think. Our Lord doesnt play to what we humans think is reasonable or possible or proper. Christianity is the only faith that openly admits (and glories in it) that it runs counter to human wisdom while so many other faiths have been invented since its advent which seek to return religion to more easily believable territory.

I love it that our God is no tame “lion”. He’s a “Real Lion” as the Narnia books are fond of saying. Doesnt the Good Book say that The LORD is the Lion of Judah? Just think about it for a second. That Lion is on our side but is not ever our pet. Its hard for me to explain why , but its a immensely comforting thought. Its the way the truth should feel. Am I right?

You cited many Keanu Reeves movies in which his characters sacrifice themselves to save the world. What is missing from those plots is the substitutionary sacrifice. In each, the Reeves character is a garden variety hero saving the innocent and good from the evil doers out to destroy the world. See the difference? I wouldnt really call a figure in a work of fiction a messiah figure unless he dies to save the unworthy. I fear that the word messiah is thrown around a bit too lightly by a lot of people and the true meaning of the word has been obscured and confused with the noble hero type.

I think the Time writer gets it right. What would make the Narnia movie Christian would be the same lines that make the Narnia books Christian. Aslan substitutes himself for a traitor who after his corruption by the evil is being claimed by death. This couldnt be more Christian.

I have my reservations about some of Lewis’ ideas. I think he sometimes takes things a shade outside of orthodoxy. But Aslan in particular is as solid and orthodox a Christ figure as there is in kid’s lit. He, more than anything else, makes the Narnia books Christian. The rest is window dressing to entertain the kids while they are absorbing that message.

In response to comments that Harry Potter books were anti religious because of their wizardry/witchcraft theme she had a simple response.

She has children who had never picked up a book and started reading Harry Potter. These are children who needed to read but wouldn’t. Harry Potter may well have changed the lives of these children. Not because they were about wizardry/witchcraft but because they were adventure books that held their interest.

LaShawn Barber had a lively discussion going earlier in the day about what makes literature Christian…
But does that mean that the protagonists use of magic in a fantasy story makes the story incompatible with Christianity, or even unChristian?

http://marklaroi.blogspot.com/2005/04/christian-musicchristian.html

This one is related to the first response I made, but a better explanation.
http://marklaroi.blogspot.com/2005/07/harry-potter-and-other-charming.html