All these Christian groups out to exploit the Christian message of the Narnia stories have completely missed the point, actually undermining the power of the stories as propaganda for them.
The point was that one should read the stories as a child, and love them, possibly rereading repeatedly into young 'adulthood', without being aware of the Christian message. Their power as tools of moral formation is most effective in this way. The later discovery of the the clear Christian allegory becomes a powerful moment in an individual's moral, religious or philosophical development.
I should add, this is a double-edged sword. I've seeen committed, active Christians, deep lovers of the Narnia stories since childhood, who had never been aware of its religious payload, and felt the underpinnings of their religious certainty shake just a little when they were informed of it.
Shepherding in the kids into the movie, explicitly informing them of the Christian message they are about to imbibe, completely undermines the power of this wonderful piece of allegorical literature. After all, if it was that easy, there was no need for him to write the books in the first place.
Thankfully, it isn't that easy. Although in his time, Lewis was surprised by how few recognised the stories for what they were, and at how easy it had been to "smuggle" Christian propaganda in the guise of fiction.
Still, accident has a role in all good art.
ed/pub:NB
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Good post - myths gain validity only because they are able to penetrate our belief systems without our realizing, after which their verisimilitude is irrelevant.
Of course, most evangelicals probably overlook or miss the militant aspects of the religiosity in these tales
2 - Michael J. West
EXCELLENT post. It's true--I read the book in fifth grade, even saw the bad BBC movie, and still never put the pieces together until I was in college. I always thought it was a beautiful fairy tale and was truly wowed once I realized the Christian allegory.
I have to say, though, that if the publicity around it prevents my kids from being able to read it in public school, my heart will be broken. It's just such a wonderful story for children to read, even for the non-religious.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Chromatius, your first four words are "All these Christian groups."
Could you give us an example of one?
4 - SFC SKI
It could be more that the Narnia series has always been recognized as a Christian series, so Christians can rally 'round it in a way they couldn't for "Lord of the Rings", written by another Christian, or the "Harry Potter" series. I have no idea if J.K. Rowling has any religious beliefs, it's not important to the story, but I do know that some Christians did not like it's population of witches, magic, etc.
5 - Nukapai
Some good observations here. And ultimately, even after discovering the Christian message within the stories, you can just think of them as fairy tales. Fairy tales often contain "teachings", which do not have to have anything to do with organised religion. Ethics, morals, philosophy, emotional intelligence: nothing wrong with introducing concepts like these to your children.
Of course this could now turn into a larger, philosophical debate about whether people need the moral yardsticks of rights and wrongs that organised religion attempts to provide, in order to actually know what the right and wrong things in life ARE. I happen to think no - that we do not need religion to tell us these things, but that it's excellent to be able to teach children about human nature and about life. Like adding tools to their toolbox. Life's so hard; why not help them deal with it.
Trouble is, that many aggressively atheist individuals sneer at the Narnia series. And on some level, I can see why, but for me, the messages would have had to be "in your face" for the whole saga to become offensive.
6 - Dave Nalle
How anyone Christian or not could read the final book in the series and not immediately be aware that it's all a bigass allegory is beyond me. There must be some pretty dense christians out there.
That said, I'm not sure that the foam-flecked brand of fundamentalists we breed here in the US should necessarily embrace the books, as they promote a more rational, humanistic take on the Christian faith. People might go on from Narnia to read some of Lewis' other books and end up corrupted and turning into Gay-Bishop loving Episcopalian/Anglicans.
Dave
7 - chromatius
For Matthew T. Sussman who seems to doubt Christian groups are trying to exploit this release - I have more, but the number of links is limited by comment rules:
Narniaresources.com
timesonline article
christiantoday.com
I didn't try too hard; there's no doubt better examples, but the point is there's no shortage. Churches here in the UK and in the US are block-booking the thing and giving away tickets to kids in the hope of hooking them (fisherman metaphor, guys, before anyone decides to get upset).
One point I didn't make; your average child around the age of puberty and adolesence, of the 'uncommitted' type the proselytisers are trying to influence, will avoid like the plague (and/or ridicule) a movie they've been told is 'religious'.
And at least a generation to come won't be able to read the stories without being aware of the connection.
Seems like a carefully aimed foot-shooting to me.
[chromatius: comments allow 3 active links and more in text if you need. Comments Editor]
8 - chromatius
Couple more links:
christianity magazine
necchurch.com
usnewswire.com
9 - chromatius
I don't think I'm that dim, but I didn't notice for several readings actually (between the ages of 6 and some time into adolescence).
It's obvious when you know, but even The Last Battle (with Aslan's execution/crucifiction on the stone table) didn't do it for me. Or his singing creation into being in The Magician's Nephew. I can't really remember, but I might not have noticed until I went to university.
Also it's one thing to notice some parallels, some morality, another to realise it is nearly all allegory (well - the first and last stories - I'm not sure how some of the middle stories fit into this rigid schema). And another to realise it was designed and Christian propaganda - for that you have to read some of his comments in interviews and essays.
The Out of the Silent Planet/Perelandra/That Hideous Strength trilogy are much more obvious, but even reading them didn't make the connection for me. Of course I'm working from old memories here.
But certainly it's more obvious that 'Frodo as Christ' (that old chestnut).
PS I'm not what many people would call Christian either.
How anyone Christian or not could read the final book in the series and not immediately be aware that it's all a bigass allegory is beyond me. There must be some pretty dense christians out there.
10 - Matthew T. Sussman
Thank you for the links Chromatius -- no, I wasn't doubting their existence, I was simply asking for some examples because I'm sick of people making sweeping generalizations of "groups" without attributing it to anyone in particular.
So now that we have some concrete examples, we can actually talk about this.
These Christian groups -- known better as churches and parishes -- are organizing trips to see the movies.
Now, I'm sure many a homily will also incorporate this book, but they've always mentioned this book series and its message during mass.
The image I'm getting from this post is that priests and devout parents are saying "Go see this movie because it has a Christian message. And you're gonna LIKE IT!!!!!!" And if people are doing that, shame on them. But I think that's the exception rather than the rule, and in no way do I consider this a type of exploitative propaganda.
11 - Chromatius
My examples probably aren't that good.
Yes, plenty of well-meaning churches and church-goers will pack the kids off in block bookings, sermonise and make the most of the opportunity in well-meaning but misguided/counter-productive ways - the footshooting I refer to in my comment (after all, the child who regularly obeys and believes the requisite authorities - parents, churches - and goes to movies in church-organised groups doesn't need engaging, converting or saving). So nothing new there.
What's more disconcerting is Disney's own role in this, as well as the way various groups (publishers, think tanks, FOX propagandists, right wing pundits and the like) are exploiting the opportunity.
For instance, Disney hiring Christian marketing groups.
And from "Disney has aggressively marketed the movie to evangelical Christian churches and organizations, using the same company -- Motive Marketing -- that Mel Gibson utilized in pushing "The Passion of the Christ."
Among the gambits: Disney gave hundreds of thousands of tickets to churches and Christian organizations for early "Narnia" screenings. Saddleback Church, the Orange County mega-church run by Rick Warren (author of No. 1 best seller "The Purpose-Driven Life") has bought 20,000 tickets for a special "Narnia" screening before the film's general release in theaters.
"Narnia" outreach materials have been given to the 1,500 pastors and religious leaders who attended special preview events held in the past couple of months in several cities. "
The word 'church' also covers a multitude of sins here; some are little neighbourhood churches, but others are massive marketing operations (like Saddleback Church).
Sorry I can't present better arguments/evidence. I'm working and time's a pressing.
But finally, I believe all these efforts will simply ghettoise the stories as inspirational literature, and they deserve a wider readership. Or condemn them to relative obscurity for a generation, probably the best outcome at this point....
12 - ss
I read the books when I was very young (2nd and/or 3rd grade), no one told me about the connection, and all I really remember from the books were the dead flies in the windowsills of the professors estate, Lucy going through the wardrobe, and the lion coming back to life.
I think I remeber a satyr or something selling them out the queen too.
I probably did see the link between Aslan's resurection with JC's, since my parents took me to church, Although the Judas connection (if I'm even remembering this right) I just made right now. I can even vaguely remember the lion coming back to life being pretty powerful for me as a small child.
By the time I was a young teen I also linked ET the extraterrestrial and Jesus, but in a far more sarcastic way.
Today I'm about, at best, as agnostic as they come and genuinely hostile towards all organized religions.
When I see an example of someone singled out to suffer horribly by accident or history or apathy even the idea of someone claiming there could be a just or benign god behind human behavior just pisses me off.
On the other hand I thought THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS were pretty good and THE EXORCIST did scare the hell out of me, so I guess the propaganda worked on some level.
But maybe not the one Lewis intended.
13 - Guppusmaximus
I don't understand all of the Christian bashing that I see on this site... If the author actually was Christian and weaved that message into his books than why is it so bad to explain that underlying message to children especially if they are my own!?!
14 - Nancy
A friend of mine just saw the movie & was absolutely incensed in a way I've seldom seen her, to the effect that the whole story was dishonest & a "fake"; when pressed, she explained that a sacrifice is no sacrifice if you know you're going to survive, or come back, or be resurrected, or whatever. In other words, you're not sacrificing anything if you have any sort of insider info that this isn't The End for you.
I never did finish LWW, mainly because even as a kid I found it too preachy & sententious for words, so I can't comment on her reaction, but I'd be interested to know if anyone else had that reaction, either to the books or the movie?
Whaddya think, BC-ers?
15 - Chromatius
Guppusmaximus, if you read closely, you'll discover my point is for the stories to be most effective as Christian inspirational allegory and tools of proselytisation, the readers/viewer should not have the association explicitly made for them before encountering the stories. This was certainly CS Lewis' view.
16 - Chromatius
Nancy, I don't think we can blame CS Lewis for that weakness in the narrrative - after all, the same criticism can be made of the original crucifixion.
17 - Eric Berlin
This story has been chose as a Blogcritics Editor's Pick for the week, congrats!
You've honored yourself up the right to select your favorite story over the next week for the new column, which will be published on Wednesdays or thereabouts. In any event, please feel free to nominate your fave piece under this week's column. The time frame will always run between Wednesday (today in this week's case) and next Tuesday night.
Thanks and congrats again ~ EB
18 - Rick
A "serious" piece of literature can't be written without tapping consiously or not into the realm of myth. Lewis drawing so heavily from the New Testament has a couple of effects:
1)The "story" is a powerful and proven formula (it can't miss if written well).
2)The bible-ignorant and/or uncritical reader will enjoy the story on its own merits.
3)Critical readers with knowledge of the New Testament will catch the strong Christian correlation and either be turned on or off.
In _general_, I agree that the story is best digested on its own. I was put off by the "hidden" Christian references and "Crusades" analogy in light of the Christian/Muslim conflicts going on and the politics of the day. Bad timing.
19 - Caleb
SS. In response to your comment, "When I see an example of someone singled out to suffer horribly by accident or history or apathy even the idea of someone claiming there could be a just or benign god behind human behavior just pisses me off." Even I as a Christian sometimes wonder why God lets certain things go on. But as the Bible says, our thoughts are not his thoughts, nor His ways our ways. Sometimes bad things just happen to good people, or for no reason at all. But we have to have faith that God does everything to work toward His glory. There is a story in the Bible where Jesus and his disciples see a man blind from birth and they asked Jesus, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" Jesus answered and said,"Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." (John 9) My dad died of cancer, and as a result I have viewed the world through a different lens, whereas if this had not happened I wouldn't have learned what I have. God saw fit to take him, as much as it hurts, so I must trust that He knows best. Besides, "I do not mourn like those who have no hope", but rejoice in the knowledge I will see him again someday.
20 - Liz
"..a sacrifice isn't a sacrifice if you know you're going to come back to life.."
hmm.. undergoing humiliation and pain itself was a sacrifice.. and you're operating on faith until you actually rise again.. sounds like a fairly large sacrifice to me..
according to c s lewis, he didn't write it as an allegory but as more of a parallel universe.
I just watched it and loved it, not having been familiar with the book itself.
i prefer Narnia to harry potter- the potter children run around disobeying all the time but it all comes out for the best.. also i prefer Narnias childrens unwillingness to participate until forced by circumstances (exept for edward/judas who falls to greed but at least experiences the results) rather than the potter childrens learning magic to have power over thus control their world. Ah, silly Christian me.
21 - Steve
Hmmm...very interesting comments.
I've never been a huge fiction reader but after I became a Christian around the age of 19, I did, at some point after, try to read the Narnia books, but I felt they were for folks younger than me and didn't finish reading them. I just saw the new movie recently, and had pretty much the same response. Though, certainly, there are Christian parallels in the story, I think you have to be looking for them to see them. I am a big fan of Lewis's non-fiction books by the way (or at least the half dozen or so that I've read).
Re. Harry Potter, though I understand the concerns about the disobedience of the children in that series, I think it's important to note that the books (and I think even one of the films so far) make it clear that they were only allowed to get away with much of what they did because Dumbledore was keeping a close eye on Harry at all times, because of his significance to the future. I don't think it's fair to argue that Harry's situation is a normal one for any child, therefore, the parallel between Harry and real children is not that direct. What I find interesting about the 'magical' world in HP, is that it shows that good and evil still exist and are still in battle with one another, irregardless of what magic can do. I think this is key, if you substitute the magical world for our world of technology, the result is also the same. Good and evil reside in the human heart, not in technological gimmicks or magic tricks, and it is that that must be recognised. As you can probably tell, even as a Christian, I prefer HP over Narnia any day. Narnia, though it has the same truths, is much more simplistic about them, HP is not. I guess that's why I find HP more interesting.
22 - Some Guy
To call this movie Christian propaganda is purely Hypocritical! with all the worldy media dead set on promoting mostly hatefilled violence and perversion with propaganda intent, such as rock music influencing satanism, rap just flat out embracing and ecouraging death and self destruction, and hollywood movies stuck on sinful perversion, for you to try and diss on movies that try to have a Christian theme is Bogus! all this antichrist sentiment is as bad as racism.
23 - chromatius
Pay attention!
Or at least read more than just the title.
"Christian propaganda" was Lewis' own description of his books.
24 - Lauren
While I agree with the point that is made, I must point out that Lewis never even admitted that the Narnia chronicles were allegory, much less propaganda. He did not set out to write a Christian parable, he merely began writing a novel for children, out of which Christian themes emerged. Yes, Aslan is a Christ figure, but he was not created to force Christianity onto children.