C. S. Lewis' View of the Bible

Abingdon Press, 2002

The following post was published on the now defunct Examiner.com two years ago on this date. It is an expansion version of a post I made here nearly 10 years ago. I reproduce it here for posterity.

C.S. Lewis on Scripture

It is not every day that a young graduate student gets a recommendation from Owen Barfield (a personal friend of C S Lewis), and Clyde S. Kilby (recognized authority on C S Lewis). But this is what happened to Michael J. Christensen in 1979. The book, C. S. Lewis on Scripture, came about as a result of a research project during Christensen's Senior year at Point Loma College. His professors encouraged him to seek publication, and Barfield and Kilby provided the Foreword and Introduction. (Christensen has now written a total of at least nine published books, as well as numerous articles and contributions to reference books and other volumes.)

C S Lewis, the famous Christian apologist and author of the Chronicles of Narnia series, is difficult to classify. He often admitted that he was not a Theologian, but a "translator—one turning Christian doctrine ... into the vernacular." [God in the Dock, cited by Christensen, p. 23-34.]

Conservative theologians have classified him as liberal, liberal theologians have classified his as conservative. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Perhaps anyone who has read his books have disagreed with him on more than one occasion. But this is perhaps how it should be. God has apparently chosen to use imperfect human beings to show himself to the world. It is only natural that imperfect people will disagree. God's intention seems to be that we should learn to learn from each other rather than using our differences as an excuse to build walls between us.

Lewis spoke about the mythical nature of the Bible. By this he did not mean that the Bible was untrue, or full of "fairy tales," but that it has a certain quality that is found in pagan mythology. He believed that God used mythology to reveal himself to the pagan world before Christ. As Christensen explains:

All the pagan myths were merely premonitions of "Nature's Original," as Lewis calls Christ. When the Word became flesh, when God became man in Jesus Christ, the process of myth was actualized and revelation was complete. Pagan myths, motifs, and rituals were noble yet inadequate vehicles of divine revelation—distorted reflections of the real thing. ... "Myth became Fact," ... God's progressive revelation, which appeared only faintly in the great myths, had culminated in historic fact. [p.75-76]

Realizing that the modern conception of "myth" is far from what Lewis meant, Christensen suggests the term "literary inspiration" for Lewis's view of the way the Bible is inspired. "The Bible is to be approached as inspired literature. Its literary element—images, symbols, myths and metaphors—are actual embodiments of spiritual reality, vehicles of divine revelation." This does not mean that the significance of a passage should be dismissed. As Lewis wrote:

Some people when they say that a thing is meant "metaphorically" conclude from this that it is hardly meant at all. They rightly think that Christ spoke metaphorically when he told us to carry the cross: they wrongly conclude that carrying the cross means nothing more than leading a respectable life and subscribing moderately to charities. They reasonably think hell "fire" is a metaphor—and unwisely conclude that it means nothing more serious than remorse. They say the story of the Fall in Genesis is not literal; and then go on to say ... that it was really a fall upwards—which is like saying that because "My heart is broken" contains a metaphor, it therefore means "I feel very cheerful." This mode of interpretation I regard, frankly, as nonsense. [Miracles, cited by Christensen, p. 77-78]

Liberals often claim that the Bible is not the Word of God in itself, but becomes the Word of God when God speaks to the individual through it. This subjective approach Lewis apparently rejected. The Bible should be accepted at "face value" just as any other piece of literature.

Some Conservatives, on the other hand, ignore the fact that the Bible is literature, and should be read as such. The vast majority of scripture is in Story form. God did not dictate to us a systematic theology textbook, but truth conveyed through narrative and poetry. There are exceptions, such as the Epistles and the Laws given to Israel. These direct statements help us to keep us from coming to the wrong conclusions about what is being taught in the narrative passages. But the narratives connect the doctrinal teachings to our life and emotions, giving flesh to the dry bones of Theology.

C. S. Lewis on Scripture was reprinted in paperback by Abingdon Press in 2002, and can be found in secondary markets such as eBay and Amazon Marketplace.

Tolkien Biography: The Carpenter Benchmark

The following was first published on this date in 2016 on the now-defunct Examiner.com. It is reproduced here for posterity. 

George Allen & Unwin 1977 (Fair Use)

Tolkien: The Authorized Biography

JRR Tolkien, the author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," expected to live beyond the 81 years he was given. His ancestors had lived much longer. But, although death surprised him in September of 1973, he had long since prepared to hand over his literary legacy to his son. Christopher, who had long collaborated with his father about his mythology, spent the next few years editing "The Silmarillion" for publication.

It is also evident that Tolkien knew that a biography would be forthcoming, and he prepared “a few pages of recollections” and made notations on a number of old letters. Humphrey Carpenter, a friend of Tolkien’s children, was given access to the family’s private papers, and interviewed family, friends, and Tolkien himself. 

This biography has been the standard since it was published in 1977, and has been the basis for virtually every Tolkien biography that was written in the twentieth century. Not until John Garth’s "Tolkien and the Great War" (2003) was much added to the general knowledge of his life history.

Tolkien himself did not think that much could be learned about an author’s writing by looking at his life. But it is evident that his life and interests had an influence upon his imagination. Three details in the book show how Tolkien's imagination was influenced by his personal life: Tolkien’s faith, his affection, and his perfectionism. Each of these affected how he wrote.

While Tolkien’s works are not overtly Christian, they are framed with the Christian worldview, and based on Christian morality and ethics. The God behind Middle-earth is clouded from our view in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," but is a little more obvious in "The Silmarillion." Middle-earth is not about his faith, but his faith certainly is ingrained within it.

Tolkien had a genuine affection for people. Companionship is a recurring theme in Middle-earth. A major theme in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" is the camaraderie of friends and companions. And his deep love for his wife is seen in "The Silmarillion"’s story about Beren and Lúthien.

Tolkien’s perfectionism helped create what he would call the verisimilitude of the story. The painstaking detail he went through to make sure the details have continuity is extraordinary, and much of the reason it took almost two decades from the time he began writing "The Lord of the Rings" until it was published. This desire to get every bit of minutia just right was many times a hindrance to completing the task, but we who read are blessed with the “suspension of disbelief.”

And we are blessed that Humphrey Carpenter was able to take up the task of writing about Tolkien’s life. There is something for everyone in this volume. The Tolkien novice will find the text easy to follow, while experienced aficionados will find an opulence of detail, including background on some of Tolkien’s more obscure works. There are also helpful appendices with a genealogical table, chronology of events, and bibliography of Tolkien’s published works.

The "Authorized Biography" is a valuable resource that every Tolkien fan should have in their personal library.

A definitive Tolkien biography for a new generation

The following was first published on this date in 2016 on the now-defunct Examiner.com. It is reproduced here for posterity. 

Lion Hudson 2012 (Fair Use)

J. R. R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend

What does war do to a person? For many of JRR Tolkien’s generation, the “Great War” left them jaded, cynical, and agnostic. Tolkien, on the other hand, came through it with his faith strengthened and his imagination stirred toward creating a Legendarium anchored in a morality based upon his faith. His was not merely an ethereal faith, but was well grounded in everyday life. He understood the importance of the ordinary. As Colin Duriez comments in his biography, 'J. R. R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend' (p. 81):

In a curious way, the climate of war was having an invigorating effect upon Tolkien’s imagination. Perhaps it was because war heightened the importance of ordinary life. Elements like love, friendship, enjoyment of art, and the free pursuit of knowledge, worship, and leisure, even if hard-won in poverty, in representing peace stood in contrast to war. … Tolkien’s creativity arose out of the ordinary, which is why the Shire, and its protection, is at the heart of The Lord of the Rings, standing for the wider protection of the human itself.

Arguably, part of what has made 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' so great is the “everyman” character of Bilbo, Sam, and, to a lesser extent, Frodo. For Tolkien, war and heroism are on the periphery. They are part of the story, and a catalyst for change in his protagonists, but they are never the main focus.

If “ordinary life” is what was important for Tolkien, and what is important in 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings,' it would be helpful to know a bit about the author’s life. What was “ordinary” for this “everyman?” While it is always a dangerous thing to make too much of an author’s life when interpreting his works, a good biography can help us gain insights, and perhaps help us understand what he was trying to say. There is no shortage of material about Tolkien the man, but some volumes are more helpful than others. Until the twenty-first century, the definitive source had been Humphrey Carpenter’s 'Authorized Biography.' Not until John Garth’s 'Tolkien and the Great War' (2003) was much added to the general knowledge of his life history.

Garth’s biography is a great source for information surrounding the first World War, but no comprehensive biography on Tolkien had come forth until now. Drawing from a variety of sources, including letters and memoirs of those who knew the Professor, Duriez’ biography should stand as the definitive source for this generation. The novice will find the book very readable and accessible, while the aficionado will benefit from a strong refresher, as well as a few new tidbits and ideas to chew on. The Select Bibliography and Index should prove helpful for scholars and devoted fans who want to explore deeper or find that bit of information they are looking for.

ABC LOST's final season and the Narnia connection

This article was originally published on this date back in 2010 on Examiner.com. I reproduce it here for posterity.

Charlotte Staples Lewis - promotional photo

Next Tuesday, February 2, the ABC Series LOST returns for its sixth and final season. There is a definite connection between the ABC show LOST and The Chronicles of Narnia.

In February of 2008, LOST introduced a new character named Charlotte Staples Lewis. The name is obviously derived from Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia series of seven children’s books.

C.S. Lewis was called “Jack” by his friends, and it has been speculated that the character Jack in LOST somewhat represents C.S. Lewis’s journey from Atheism (man of science) to Christianity (man of faith).

The first episode of Season 4 (”Confirmed Dead”) was aired on February 7, 2008, and was rebroadcast the following week in an “enhanced” version with clues and tidbits added to the bottom of the screen. In this episode, we received confirmation that LOST’s C.S. Lewis is indeed related to both the author and his books. The bottom of the screen reads:

This is Charlotte Staples Lewis… she is an anthropologist. Her name is inspired by C.S. Lewis… author of The Chronicles of Narnia… a story of an unlikely passage… to a most unusual place.

Charlotte is then seen in a flashback in a desert in Tunisia. She has learned about an archaeological dig there, and identifies some bones as that of a polar bear.

We’ve seen polar bears on the island… now here’s evidence of the furry creatures… in another unlikely location.

Charlotte does some digging through the sand near the bones and finds a leather strap.

A DHARMA logo from the Hydra Station… the discovery is very important to Charlotte.

Although there are no polar bears in the Narnia books, the Walden/Disney movie based on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe does show the White Witch being pulled by polar bears in a chariot during the battle scenes. Could that scene have been an influence for the TV series?

The reference to C. S. Lewis was quickly picked up by the media after this episode appeared. Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly was reminded of a scene from one of the books. When Charlotte first arrives, she is seen splashing around in the water. In Prince Caspian, the Pevensie children play in the ocean when they are returned to Narnia.

In the LOST episode “This Place is Death,” Charlotte reveals that she had indeed lived on the island as a little girl, and had been warned not to return. Her mother had taken her off the island, and had convinced her over the years that the island was just a child’s game—it was just make-believe. The sounds like Susan’s attitude toward Narnia as she grew older. But her discovery of polar bear remains with a DHARMA collar in the desert had rekindled her belief in the island.

Charlotte dies from the adverse effects of time travel, but the references to Narnia are not finished. In the sixth episode of Season 5, “316,” we are introduced to a DHARMA  Station, not on the island, but in Los Angeles. It is called the Lamppost, an obvious reference to the Lamppost (near the entrance to the Wardrobe) in the Narnia books. The Lamppost is used to “find” the island.

The title of the episode, “316,” is the flight number they must take to get back to the island, but it is also an apparent reference to John 3:16 in the Bible: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jack is compared to Thomas, whose fame is that he doubted the resurrection. Jack must become a “man of faith” instead of the “man of science” he has been (in contrast to Locke) since the beginning of the show.

But where will the series now go now that we have seen that Locke’s “resurrection” was apparently a ruse perpetuated by Jacob’s nemesis? And will there be more references to Narnia in Season 6?

For more information about LOST and the Narnia connections, see Preview to the Last Season on HollywoodJesus.com, and check out the provided links.

The order of the Narnia Chronicles

On this date in 2010, I wrote the following article for Examiner.com about the reading order of the Chronicles, and the order of the movies. Just over a year ago, Douglas Gresham made some comments about the movie order in a clip posted on the official Chronicles of Narnia Facebook page. You can view his comments here: The Chronicles of Narnia. Embedded at the bottom of the article below is a 2007 YouTube video by Brian Carnell, known better in online Narnia circles as Glumpuddle. More recently, Brian has published three new videos on the subject. I have included these below, also.  

The Chronicles of Narnia - HarperCollins box set

Why is it that The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is numbered as book 5, but the next Narnia movie is only the third one? Why did the moviemakers skip books 1 and 3?

Actually, the present numbering of the books began when HarperCollins became the publisher in 1994. MacMillan/Collier used the publication order to number the books. For those who read the series before the numbering was changed, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first to be read, and it became the best known and favorite book in the series.

It was only natural that Walden Media would choose the best known of the series to make a movie. And since the Pevensie children (as children) are key to Prince Caspian, it was only natural to use the four actors they already had before they got too much older.

Walden was also following the published order of the books. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first of the series to be written, and the first published, in 1950. An additional volume was added each year in the following order:

1.      The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2.      Prince Caspian

3.      The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

4.      The Silver Chair

5.      The Horse and His Boy

6.      The Magician’s Nephew

7.      The Last Battle

The new numbering system is based on the chronological order of the books. (The Horse and His Boy actually takes place before the end of The Lion, etc, while the Pevensies are still in Narnia the first time.)

1.      The Magician’s Nephew

2.      The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

3.      The Horse and His Boy

4.      Prince Caspian

5.      The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

6.      The Sliver Chair

7.      The Last Battle

Many Narnia aficionados recommend that the Chronicles be read in the published order, at least for new readers. C S Lewis wrote each book with the previously published works in mind, although they are self-contained well enough to be read independently.

Months before Prince Caspian came out in theaters, there were a series of videos about the movies and the books uploaded to YouTube by “glumPuddle.” Episode #17 about “The order Debate” is embedded below. Here are some other great articles on the subject:

C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia: The "Correct" Order for Reading? By Peter J. Schakel, Hope College
Reading Order of the Chronicles of Narnia by Emily Chauviere
What Order Should I Read the Narnia Books in (And Does It Matter?) by Andrew Rilstone

Is Narnia drifting from its Christian message?

The following is a news article I published for Examiner.com on New Year's Day, 2010. Although it is dated, it has some relevant facts (and personal opinion) which I think are worth preserving. (Examiner no longer is publishing to the web and has deleted all its content.)

Michael Apted Wikimedia

A New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2009) article in the Washington Times by Julia Duin expresses concerns by some in the Christian community about the direction the Narnia franchise is taking with its third film, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The article is rather confusing on several points.

The paragraph describing the various changes in dates for the release of Dawn Treader makes it sound like the delays only happened after Disney decided to pull out. Actually, some delays, due to the writers’ strike in 2008, and to the children’s schedules, had already been announced while Disney was involved. Problems with the drug wars in Mexico also prompted a change of filming venue to Australia.

That paragraph aside, the article causes further confusion by making certain unsubstantiated speculations.

First of all, Duin expresses doubt the “will and determination exist to finish the seven-part Narnia series.” This conclusion is reached from what she says are “weird remarks uttered by directors and producers of the first two films.” What remarks she is referencing are not specified.

On the contrary, since the success of the first movie, the filmmakers have continued to express that the series would continue to be produced as long as it received adequate support. The willingness of Walden to continue, even after Disney decided to discontinue its partnership in December of 2008, is also a strong indication of their intent.

The article goes on to reference C S Lewis step-son Douglas Gresham’s recent interview (citing a third-hand report) in which he is "ambivalent" to some changes made to the Dawn Treader script. (See "Douglas Gresham interview on Dawn Treader causes stir and discussions" on NarniaFans.com, and HollywoodJesus.com.) It seems doubtful that Douglas Gresham’s comments mean that he “caved” to intense studio pressure. He does not express any animosity toward the studio for the changes they made, and indicates the themes of the book are still well conveyed.

Duin then quotes from an interview with Michael Apted by a New Zealand Christian radio station. She fails to mention the interview was conducted in the summer of 2007, just after Apted had signed to be director for Dawn Treader. (Transcripts are available in the NarniaFans archives and at WaldenFans.com.)

Apted talks about the challenges of making a film that is directed at both the conservative Christian base and the public at large. She and some in the Christian community object to this “even-handedness,” and are also concerned about the activist stands of some involved the project.

The article concludes with a quote from Ted Baehr, the publisher of the Christian magazine Movieguide and president of the Christian Film and TV Commission. A former script advisor had reportedly told Baehr the movie “was drifting from its Christian vision… not expressing the intent of C.S. Lewis…”

She also claims Baehr told her that an early script of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe had “veered in a bizarre direction” and Dick Cook (President of Disney at the time) had to keep things from getting out of hand. However, this all seems to contradict what Baehr said in an article for WorldNetDaily last January. In comments about Disney pulling out of the franchise, he concluded

The Associated Press took my words out of context in an interview on this subject to make Disney's decision look like one of the parties in Hollywood was concerned about the movie's faith content. The fact is neither Disney nor Walden has hesitated from including faith in their movies. The book "Dawn Treader" has the least amount of time with Aslan, who is the Jesus figure in the series by acclaimed Christian author C.S. Lewis. It is much more logical that the economics of the movie did not make sense than that there was a concern over the Christian content of the book.

As “secular” as Walden and the other parties involved in this project may be, they are not afraid of the Christian faith. In fact, they seem to show much less prejudice toward Christianity than some Christians show toward them.