Nest Book Club
GilliC
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S/O Magic Against Christianity: Chronicles of Narnia
You hear so much about people refusing to read Harry Potter because magic is "satanic" or "against Christian beliefs" or whatever, but you don't hear so much about other magic/fantasy books. Does it happen, and you just don't hear about it because the books aren't as famous? Or does it not happen because the books aren't as famous?
I'm especially curious what some of these extreme anti-HP "Christians" say about The Chronicles of Narnia. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe contains tons of magic and obviously witchcraft (Hello, title!), so do they have the same problem with it? Or does the fact that C.S. Lewis is famously Christian, and the book is so clearly an allegory of the New Testament trump the "no reading about magic being good" sentiment?
Re: S/O Magic Against Christianity: Chronicles of Narnia
"One of the easiest ways to know whether a fantasy book or film has real world magick in it is to just ask a simple question, 'Can my child find information in a library or bookstore that will enable them to replicate what they are seeing in the film or the book?' If you go to The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings what you see in, story magic and imagination, it is not real. You can't replicate it. But if you go to something like Harry Potter, you can find references to astrology, clairvoyance, and numerology. It takes seconds to go into a bookstore or library and get books on that and start investigating it, researching it, and doing it."
So maybe that is "their" maker, but really I doubt that most people think that deeply about it and just like to buck against something popular.
I also found, while reading that while a lot of the outcry has been from evangelicals, the orthodox and Muslim churches are also anti-hp.
"Several Christian writers have compared Rowling to the Inklings, a group that included C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams, who explored Christian themes and morality in a fantasy context.[124] Dave Kopel, citing John Granger's book, draws comparisons between Rowling's and Lewis's common usage of Christian symbols, such as lions, unicorns and stags. He compares the work to Lewis's Christian allegory:[125] "In the climax of Chamber of Secrets, Harry descends to a deep underworld, is confronted by two satanic minions (Voldemort and a giant serpent), is saved from certain death by his faith in Dumbledore (the bearded God the Father/Ancient of Days), rescues the virgin (Virginia [sic] Weasley), and ascends in triumph. It's Pilgrim's Progress for a new audience."[126] (This quotation predates Rowling's revelation that Ginny Weasley's full name is Ginevra, not Virginia.)
Other Christian writers find Rowling's treatment of magic less acceptable than Lewis's and Tolkien's. In his essay "Harry Potter vs. Gandalf," Steven D. Greydanus notes that in the works of Tolkien and Lewis, magic is confined to alien realms with their own laws, whereas Rowling's world coexists with our own; he thinks this is wrong: "Lewis goes to great lengths to make clear just how dangerous and wrong, how incompatible with Christianity, is any form of attempted magic in our world."[104] John Andrew Murray similarly observes that Rowling's work portrays magic as a natural force to be manipulated, while Lewis and Tolkien portray magic as a gift bestowed by a higher power: "Despite superficial similarities, Rowling's and Lewis' worlds are as far apart as east is from west. Rowling's work invites children to a world where witchcraft is 'neutral' and where authority is determined solely by one's cleverness. Lewis invites readers to a world where God's authority is not only recognised, but celebrated — a world that resounds with His goodness and care."[107]
Rowling's attitude toward the Inklings, and to Lewis in particular, has undergone change. In 1998, in one of her earliest interviews, she said that she had a lifelong love of C. S. Lewis. "Even now, if I was in a room with one of the Narnia books I would pick it up like a shot and re-read it."[127] However, in later interviews she expressed a different opinion. "I adored [Lewis' books] when I was a child," she told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2001, "I got so caught up I didn't think C. S. Lewis was especially preachy. Reading them now I find that his subliminal message isn't very subliminal."[128] In an interview with Lev Grossman in 2005, she said, "There comes a point [in Lewis' The Last Battle] where Susan, who was the older girl, is lost to Narnia because she becomes interested in lipstick. She's become irreligious basically because she found sex. I have a big problem with that."[129]
"I did not set out to convert anyone to Christianity," she told Time in 2007; "I wasn't trying to do what C. S. Lewis did. It is perfectly possible to live a very moral life without a belief in God, and I think it's perfectly possible to live a life peppered with ill-doing and believe in God."[13]"
Ditto this. While HP, JKR, & Tolkien's book are clearly fantasy, I feel like Dan Brown's books are a bit blasphemous and I understand why there is controversy around them. That being said, I read both The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons. I feel like I am strong enough in my faith to read such books and not have them alter my beliefs. People need to remember that they are fiction.
I think if people are concerned about their children reading fantasy books, they just need to have a talk with their kids prior to allowing them to read it and make sure that the child understands that it is just a made-up story.
Ditto this. While HP, JKR, & Tolkien's book are clearly fantasy, I feel like Dan Brown's books are a bit blasphemous and I understand why there is controversy around them. That being said, I read both The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons. I feel like I am strong enough in my faith to read such books and not have them alter my beliefs. People need to remember that they are fiction.
I think if people are concerned about their children reading fantasy books, they just need to have a talk with their kids prior to allowing them to read it and make sure that the child understands that it is just a made-up story.
This exactly. I have no problem with children reading Harry Potter; I actually love the idea that it gets more children reading! I think if you take one book away, you have to start looking at every book a kid reads. I also agree with pp statements of Dan Brown books. I read them, and it didn't change an thoughts or convictions I have about my faith.Cinnabun and Junebug say, "Go Wildcats!"
This. I get the controversy. But at the same time, I feel strong enough in my convictions with regard to religion that reading Dan Brown's fictional books did nothing to sway me. I understand why they don't like them, but to me preaching against them just draws more attention to what they are supposedly trying to dissuade people to read.
~Lauren~
Read in 2011: 56/55
Read in 2012: 31/30
Read in 2013: 49/40
Read in 2014: 42/40