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Post by preacher on Dec 18, 2004 13:45:42 GMT -5
Do you think that the Chronicles of Narnia Series is good or bad?? God Is Still God, Adam Lafferty
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Post by Brother Ben on Feb 16, 2005 13:56:30 GMT -5
Dear Bro. Adam, I am sorry that I didn't respond to this sooner. The Lord broght your post to mind this last weekend. My son and I were going to town and the local Christian radio station was playing a boradcast of one of the C.S. Lewis works. Though I am not a authority on C.S. Lewis, I'll share my observations. I understand the idea behind an alagory. I really like the Pilgrims Progress and Christianna. Mansoul is also a neat variation. However, when I was listening to the Narnia story there were several references to witches, and other mystical beings and it was hard to follow the story line and make the alagorical connections in my mind. We are very careful when it comes to childrens stories and this one sent up a question mark. I am not condemning Lewis, but I would put a cautionary note on his delivery method and types.
Some food for thought, Bro. Ben
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Post by 2bgracious on Feb 16, 2005 14:31:06 GMT -5
May I take the opposite side, Pastor Ben? I just wanted to note that the Witch is representative of Satan. There are no "good witches" in the Narnia Series. The other creatures are meant to be just that, created beings, created by God Himself. CSL just used mythical creatures that we would be able to recognize, yet he gave them for the most part different characteristics than that which they would have in the myths. But for the type of creature that we would not wish to encourage our children to entertain, the witch, she is there as exactly what scripture states of witchcraft....it is of Satan.
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Post by valientfortruth on Feb 16, 2005 17:16:31 GMT -5
Dear Brethren, The Bible says, 1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. CS Lewis constantly and shamelessly uses characters such as witches, magicians, mythical creatures, and such like. These are not harmless, they are the "apearance". As for the children, The Bible says, Rom 16:19 : but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. Its OK for children to know that there is such thing as a witch, but even that should be limited. This alegory is a little to border line, a little to much into mysticism. If you want a exelent alegory, try John Bunyan's Pilgims Progress. There are two books, Christian, and Christiana. It does not leave room for doubt about its purity, and, you can get it on audio! Look Into God's Book, in the Lord, Benjamin
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Post by 2bgracious on Feb 16, 2005 18:39:56 GMT -5
Again, the Witch represents Satan and the Magician one of his followers. Does not Scripture mention Satan and his tempting of others? And does it not also mention a witch possessed of demons? Pilgrims Progress also mentions such...Satan, his minions, giants, etc.
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Post by valientfortruth on Feb 16, 2005 21:25:37 GMT -5
Dear 2B Gracious, My point is that CS Lewis goes to deep into mysticism and ocultism. For example, Bunyan goes into his story thuslike. That in his travles he layed down to rest, had a dream, thus pilgrims progress. It is also known that Bunyan was a very Godly pastor who was also thrown into prison by England becouse of his powerfull preaching. Lewis on the other hand, starts off his story with some children going into a closet wich is some door in between this world and the spirit world. This does not naturaly happen, cults believe in methods of visiting the spirit world. Like astrall projection. You might be interested to know, that when Lewis was working on "The Magician's Nephew" it started out about a boy who had magical powers to talk to trees, and plants, etc. and a neighbor named Polly, but when he cut a tree branch off to help Polly make a raft he lost his magical powers. This had to be abandoned becouse Lewis could not figure out a proper ending. This is enough to tell me this is off limits for the God fearing believer. Does a little good values in somthing bad, make it good? If so the communist manifesto is good, becouse it has quite a few good tenants that we could belive. Thank you for posting, In the service of The King, Benjamin
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Post by 2bgracious on Feb 17, 2005 9:32:18 GMT -5
Each took from that which they were familiar as most authors do. One took from a common european's life (and some fairy tales)...the other took from literature and olde stories, both of which he was expert in. CS was into mysticism and such, BEFORE he was a Christian. After he became a Christian he struggled with various doctrines...who amoung us has not? Very few. I have read the entire Narnia Series (several times). I do allow my children to listen to them. They will even (on their own) point out that Aslan gave himself sacrifice on the Table to save others just as Christ did on the Cross. And that he rose again "momma, that's what Jesus did...it's like the story of Jesus!" They also pick up the same from Pilgrim's Progress...but PP is more difficult for the younger children to understand (and I even have a children's version!). Do not throw away something because the man wasn't perfect. Just as I didn't throw out my covering when I left the mennonites.
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Post by valientfortruth on Feb 17, 2005 13:24:45 GMT -5
Dear 2B Gracious, Please undersand that I do not hold my veiw with condemnation of the man, Lewis. But rather of his beliefs which he indocternated his books. Another thing is, that he did not strugle with his "former" ways of thinking. It is proven that he, even after he became "saved" ( There is no record that he ever got born agian, rather he became religious) he still condoned, used and exepted mystical, new age doctrine. It is the spirit in wich he wrote this book set that I reject. Also, the point I made about the boy with magical powers, this was done while working on this very bookset, not, before he was "converted". All throughout this bookset the characters are strangly conveyed inbetween relms. This is bad enough. Also these books are filled with mythical creatures. Note: not all are made out to be evil. I dont remember all the names of these creatures, but most do not corespond with scripture, The Bible says: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, Philippians 4:8 Where do you find a Farn ( or however you spell it) in the Bible? When it comes down to it, I consult my Bible. None of Bunyan's characters conflict with scriptures. I chose to err on the side of righteousness. Please do not take this as an attack on Lewis but rather on his error. God loves the sinner, not his sin. Lord Bless you, Benjamin
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Post by Brother Ben on Feb 17, 2005 13:32:15 GMT -5
O.k., I see I need to do some more study on this. So here is installment one. I did some research on the Narnia Chronicles and found the following info: My observation here, if we are to continue comparing Pilgrims Progress to the Narnia Tales, is that the Pilgrims Progress has stood the test of time. Now, on the other hand, just fifty years after their origin, the Narnia Chronicles are going to be redone, without Christ. It is said that Tolkein's work is also allagorical, but after the recent rash of Hollywoods adaptation, I would not want to point anyone in that direction (not that I would have in the first place.) This coming secularization of this story is likened to the secularization that brought us Christian (so-called) rock, rap, etc. In another article the writer said: Again, here we see that these works are about to be transformed into something that will lead people away form the message of Christ, while lining big businesses pockets with extra money. The Bible says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." I Tim. 6:10 We see here that the love money is the root of all evil and has as a byproduct erring from the faith. C.S. Lewis is not here today to defend himself, and I am not going to judge his salvation, or commitment to Christ. I must, though, repeat my original word of caution. Christ said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Matt. 7:17,18 As the old timer's say, 'Proofs in the puddin' and this puddin is starting to go bad. With brotherly concern, Bro. Ben The first article can be found at slate.msn.com/id/110460/The second article can be found at www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/010/8.19.htmlAn alternative interesting read, The Narnia Chronicles are likened unto bait used by the enemy to draw people into a greater sinister plan. www.themoorings.org/life/separation/television/ban.htmlYet another interestintg article www.keepersofthefaith.com/BookReviews/BookReviewDisplay.asp?key=4
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Post by 2bgracious on Feb 17, 2005 19:07:12 GMT -5
I agree that CSL would be very upset to see some modern publisher doing what they are to his writing. I do not believe this has anything to do with the "test of time" with the original series...as we have also seen Pigrim's Progress redone in a sad modern format and all the horrible "translations" of Scripture. The boy with "majic powers" was a child playing with that which he should not have (which many young ppl do), caused alot of trouble, and suffered long term consequences...(if you are refering to the Magician's nephew is was allegorical to Adam and Eve eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, releasing sin and death into the world).
I do reccomend the Narnia Sourcebook which gives the allegorical references, scripture references, and complete background of the series...the hows and whys.
I don't expect you to agree with me...I just ask that you just don't take ppl's word or speak from ignorance (not saying you are...just throwing it in)
With Christian Charity, 2B
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Post by learningtosubmit on Jan 13, 2006 11:25:41 GMT -5
I just found this thread and found it very interesting, especially now that there is a major motion picture from this series. I do have a serious problem with the company Harper Collins (who also now owns Zondervan). They have exclusive rights to publishing the satanic bible. Here is the link on their website: www.harpercollins.com/global_scripts/search/search.asp?sortby=date&b=satanic&pulldown=Here is my question: how do we apply what Christ said in Matthew to this? This is a struggle that I am having. Zondervan publishes a great deal of books, many Christian. But to me, this just screams "unequally yoked". I would appreciate others' thoughts on this. Sis. Shanna
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Post by Sister Penny on Jan 13, 2006 13:10:56 GMT -5
That was a big piece of knowledge to read about Zondervan's being owned by Harper Collins...I wonder if all the Christian bookstores who carry Zondervan publications are aware of the other books they publish?
I plan to mention this when I am in the bookstore again..
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. God bless, Sister Penny
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Post by Brother Ben on Jan 13, 2006 13:13:07 GMT -5
You hit the nail on the head! Here is another unequal yoke about that movie. I work in a secular work place. Normally I work in the field so I have control over what I listen to on the radio, tapes, etc. Today, however, I am in the shop and my immediate supervisor listens to a wicked station.
A song was playing that was something along the lines of searching for the world. Turns out at the station break, that was off the title track for the 'Narnia' movie. Wicked things make strange bedfellows! Why is the wicked station playing the song from the "supposed" Christian movie?
I haven't seen the wicked world running out to do a copy of the Pilgrims Progress. That is the difference, one was forged on the knees of a godly, persecuted, preacher, the other was devised by a man who believed all kinds of strange doctrines.
Just my observations.
Bro. Ben
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Post by George on Jan 13, 2006 18:40:14 GMT -5
To go one farther, there are a lot of folks who think that if it says "Disney" on it, it is wonderful.
Disney owns a company called "Touchstone Pictures." The sole purpose of this company is to produce "R" rated movies for the Disney company without attaching the Disnay name to them.
You are completely correct in that we should be aware of the things we are buyin gin all aspects.
Yours in Christ, George
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Post by nightingale on Jan 14, 2006 0:12:04 GMT -5
Zondervan's being owned by Harper Collins..
Disney owns a company called "Touchstone Pictures." The sole purpose of this company is to produce "R" rated movies
Ok...here is the question...we are to avoid supporting companies that sell or promote wicked things, right? How are we to know...and if we do know and it is the only service in the area, what do you do? I know of many big companies that support the "Gay Games"...an abomination to the Lord....there are stores that we all shop in that sell evil ungodly stuff...Example: "Hastings" a large book store that you can buy good books in, but they also sell the evil books..."Walmart" sells things I would not allow into my home.."KMart" Porn books...the gas station I get my gas, porn books..."Taco Time" serves alcohol...grocery store sells alcohol, and porn books or close to it...I had someone tell me one time, that if you try to avoid companies that sell or promote worldly evil, you would have to hide your head in the sand...what to do...I was walking through Walmart the other day, and there they had their posters out for the whole world to see including my five year old...she went to look and I had to grab her and turn her head the other way...I just said we don't need to look at that...It is getting harder and harder to keep your dear children from the worlds pull...because it's in their face every turn...I would love to hear from you all on what you think....Love Sis Debbie
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