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From: Maia Cheli-Colando <maia>
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 13:24:35 -0800
Beth,
I'd have to say that I think that the Narnia novels are explicitly preaching a Christian doctrine, while HDM is explicitly questioning a Christian doctrine. I feel that the religious themes in both are very overt, but Christianity is so enculturated in America that many folks simply gloss over those details as they gloss over "In God We Trust,"
"One Nation Under God," and Christmas carols -- references to an embedded Christian framework.
From Narnia we learn about unquestioning obedience, wicked women, sacrifice and salvation, penitence, and the dangers of growing up and wearing stockings. It is unhesitatingly Christian in its context, and much more unforgivingly so than, for example, Madeleine L'Engle's work.
(I find Madeleine to be splendid with paradox, complexity, shades of grey and alternate viewpoints.)
Narnia has similar moral overtones to George MacDonald's work, but I think that Narnia is more absolutist in its religious hierarchy than MacDonald's tales were (question not Aslan, or suffer). Plenty of folks are "bad" in Narnia; some folks are good, but you better be careful, because a misstep could leave you out after the Last Battle. Whereas in the worlds of L'Engle, LeGuin and Yolen, there are no clear delineations of good and evil, but simply people on life's journey, making choices.
And to the discussion on women and Narnia -- in Narnia, there was room for/ girls/. Not women. There is a distinct lack of mothers, while the father is everpresent.
Maia
Received on Mon 29 Nov 2004 03:24:35 PM CST
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 13:24:35 -0800
Beth,
I'd have to say that I think that the Narnia novels are explicitly preaching a Christian doctrine, while HDM is explicitly questioning a Christian doctrine. I feel that the religious themes in both are very overt, but Christianity is so enculturated in America that many folks simply gloss over those details as they gloss over "In God We Trust,"
"One Nation Under God," and Christmas carols -- references to an embedded Christian framework.
From Narnia we learn about unquestioning obedience, wicked women, sacrifice and salvation, penitence, and the dangers of growing up and wearing stockings. It is unhesitatingly Christian in its context, and much more unforgivingly so than, for example, Madeleine L'Engle's work.
(I find Madeleine to be splendid with paradox, complexity, shades of grey and alternate viewpoints.)
Narnia has similar moral overtones to George MacDonald's work, but I think that Narnia is more absolutist in its religious hierarchy than MacDonald's tales were (question not Aslan, or suffer). Plenty of folks are "bad" in Narnia; some folks are good, but you better be careful, because a misstep could leave you out after the Last Battle. Whereas in the worlds of L'Engle, LeGuin and Yolen, there are no clear delineations of good and evil, but simply people on life's journey, making choices.
And to the discussion on women and Narnia -- in Narnia, there was room for/ girls/. Not women. There is a distinct lack of mothers, while the father is everpresent.
Maia
Received on Mon 29 Nov 2004 03:24:35 PM CST
