Comments on: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/ Mon, 14 May 2012 13:18:49 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eric http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-743 Eric Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:12:22 +0000 http://www.ibiblio.org/griffey/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-743 Thanks for the trailers, although, to be quite honest, I'm concerned with your remark that discovering that the Chronicles are "Christian propaganda was disappointing" for you. I'm not quite sure that "propaganda" is the most accurate description. The fact that the Chronicles are written by C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest Christian apologist in modern times, would suggest that Christian theology played an extremely important part in the development of the story and its "universal" morals. I understand what you mean by saying that they are universal, but I argue that these morals lose their virtue when separated from their theistic context. Thanks for the trailers, although, to be quite honest, I'm concerned with your remark that discovering that the Chronicles are “Christian propaganda was disappointing” for you. I'm not quite sure that “propaganda” is the most accurate description. The fact that the Chronicles are written by C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest Christian apologist in modern times, would suggest that Christian theology played an extremely important part in the development of the story and its “universal” morals. I understand what you mean by saying that they are universal, but I argue that these morals lose their virtue when separated from their theistic context.

]]> By: Jason Griffey http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-742 Jason Griffey Thu, 12 May 2005 14:01:36 +0000 http://www.ibiblio.org/griffey/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-742 Eric: Well, better minds than mine have described them as "propaganda," although Lewis himself described them differently. My disappointment comes from my humanist leanings, combined with a firm realistic/scientific bent for the ontological. In other words, I'm not exactly what you'd call a fan of religion of any sort, especially that of most Western mythology. But as fantasy novels, I'm pretty happy with the Narnia books. I should re-read them and see what I think these days. Eric:

Well, better minds than mine have described them as “propaganda,” although Lewis himself described them differently. My disappointment comes from my humanist leanings, combined with a firm realistic/scientific bent for the ontological. In other words, I’m not exactly what you’d call a fan of religion of any sort, especially that of most Western mythology.

But as fantasy novels, I’m pretty happy with the Narnia books. I should re-read them and see what I think these days.

]]> By: Shel http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-741 Shel Thu, 12 May 2005 13:41:12 +0000 http://www.ibiblio.org/griffey/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-741 You know, I remain fascinated with these books. As part of the English degree, I did a series of papers on the concept of Story within the Narnia chronicles. It was actually fun to write the papers and led me to the love of fairy tales I have today. My point, in the papers, was that while the Narnia books may most certainly be viewed as Christian propaganda, the stories themselves were often lost in that viewpoint. Children read the books not for the Christianity, but because the story draws them "further up and further in...". So don't be disappointed in the series at all, and appreciate them as you did when you were a child - as stories full of talking animals, royalty, love, and adventure. You know, I remain fascinated with these books. As part of the English degree, I did a series of papers on the concept of Story within the Narnia chronicles. It was actually fun to write the papers and led me to the love of fairy tales I have today. My point, in the papers, was that while the Narnia books may most certainly be viewed as Christian propaganda, the stories themselves were often lost in that viewpoint. Children read the books not for the Christianity, but because the story draws them “further up and further in…”. So don’t be disappointed in the series at all, and appreciate them as you did when you were a child – as stories full of talking animals, royalty, love, and adventure.

]]> By: Jason Griffey http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-740 Jason Griffey Wed, 11 May 2005 13:52:41 +0000 http://www.ibiblio.org/griffey/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-740 Not sure what possessed Al to make that somewhat contentious philosophical statement. There are dozens of philosophers who do indeed base their ethics in theology, and if one is a deist, it is a perfectly reasonable assertion. I can't turn on a Talk Radio station without hearing statements like "The reason that the country is falling into a moral abyss is that we are distancing ourselves from God." Of course, that's a bunch of codswallop. So I suppose I agree with Al...but like a good philosopher, I thought I should at least point out the other side. :-) Not sure what possessed Al to make that somewhat contentious philosophical statement. There are dozens of philosophers who do indeed base their ethics in theology, and if one is a deist, it is a perfectly reasonable assertion. I can’t turn on a Talk Radio station without hearing statements like “The reason that the country is falling into a moral abyss is that we are distancing ourselves from God.”

Of course, that’s a bunch of codswallop. So I suppose I agree with Al…but like a good philosopher, I thought I should at least point out the other side. :-)

]]> By: Al http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-739 Al Wed, 11 May 2005 03:59:15 +0000 http://www.ibiblio.org/griffey/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-739 If a moral loses its virtue when separated from its theistic context, the moral never truly had any virtue. If a moral loses its virtue when separated from its theistic context, the moral never truly had any virtue.

]]> By: Eric http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-738 Eric Tue, 10 May 2005 21:26:14 +0000 http://www.ibiblio.org/griffey/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-738 Thanks for the trailers, although, to be quite honest, I'm concerned with your remark that discovering that the Chronicles are "Christian propaganda was disappointing" for you. I'm not quite sure that "propaganda" is the most accurate description. The fact that the Chronicles are written by C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest Christian apologist in modern times, would suggest that Christian theology played an extremely important part in the development of the story and its "universal" morals. I understand what you mean by saying that they are universal, but I argue that these morals lose their virtue when separated from their theistic context. Thanks for the trailers, although, to be quite honest, I’m concerned with your remark that discovering that the Chronicles are “Christian propaganda was disappointing” for you. I’m not quite sure that “propaganda” is the most accurate description. The fact that the Chronicles are written by C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest Christian apologist in modern times, would suggest that Christian theology played an extremely important part in the development of the story and its “universal” morals. I understand what you mean by saying that they are universal, but I argue that these morals lose their virtue when separated from their theistic context.

]]> By: el jefe http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-737 el jefe Tue, 10 May 2005 19:34:39 +0000 http://www.ibiblio.org/griffey/wp/2005/05/10/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/#comment-737 SAAHWEEET I'm really excited.. I just hope Hollywood doesn't destroy another one of my childhood favorite books.. I can't even think of LOTR now without seeing Orlando Bloom's stupid, stupid face.. Crap! SAAHWEEET I’m really excited..

I just hope Hollywood doesn’t destroy another one of my childhood favorite books..

I can’t even think of LOTR now without seeing Orlando Bloom’s stupid, stupid face.. Crap!

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