Friday, December 12, 2014

J.C. Comeau #1, Narnia and Allegory



The world of Narnia is an intriguing world to dive into.  Its creatures, its adventures, they provide a child with friends whom he might learn and grow alongside in his journey through the world.  As we read C.S. Lewis, it is interesting that he never considered his stories to be allegory.   He did not want Aslan to represent Jesus in Narnia; je wanted Aslan to be Aslan, to show us how God might act in a world such as Narnia.  Aslan was supposed to be more of an extension of the character of God, than a representation of God.  This is a unique distinction, the importance of which can be understood in the light of our class readings.  In our readings on myth, we have been taught that myth provides an avenue whereby we might experience and understand reality.  If we viewed Aslan as an allegory, we would constantly be looking for the lesson to be learned, or what his specific actions are supposed to symbolize.  However, if we view Aslan as how God might have acted in this other world, we experience his guidance, his welcome, and his love for the kids as they continue to learn from and walk with him.

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