Some Christian spirituality pointers from the movie
”We have nothing if not belief.”
There are many lessons in the story, such as Lucy Pevensie’s desire to be different to who she is.
[I thought Will Poulter as Eustace Scrubb was astonishing.]
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” C.S. Lewis in The World’s Last Night: And Other Essays. {cf. Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.”} There is much worth reflecting on the value of stories that are true but did not happen… Here they are literally immersed in the story… We need to learn to enter the story… that metaphor is imaged here:
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It was good (and obvious!) to recognise New Zealand scenery, the Moeraki Boulders, White Island.
In relation to reaching Aslan’s land: C.S. Lewis: “If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world” [The argument from desire].
“Please, Aslan,” said Lucy. “Before we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again? Please. And oh, do, do, do make it soon.”
“Dearest,” said Aslan very gently, “you and your brother will never come back to Narnia.”
“Oh, Aslan!!” said Edmund and Lucy both together in despairing voices.
“You are too old, children,” said Aslan, “and you must begin to come close to your own world now.”
“It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”
“But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan.
“Are are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund.
“I am,” said Aslan. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – Chapter 16
I still regularly meet people who have not spotted the spiritual, the Christian message in the Narnia stories and movies. They may even know the writings of C.S. Lewis well! and yet consider the Narnia books as “just/merely children’s stories.” We can help people by bringing up connections in sermons, on blogs, in discussions. I knew of a secondary school chapel that had a stained glass window with Aslan in it!
There is some discussion whether the series will continue. There is a hint at the end of this movie, not present in the book, that it will. I very much hope so.
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In the Southern Hemisphere, and certainly in Aotearoa-New Zealand, this is our go-slow time… So – sometimes your comments may take longer than usual to get through moderation…
Unfortunately, these stories will only continue if they are a commercial success, which is why the folks who financed them to the tune of millions of US dollars, invested in them. This one looks to me to have a better chance at box office success than the last one, which I found incredibly boring.
But I am surprised that folks do not see the obvious Christian themes in the stories. It was the vocalized Christian community’s “ownership” of the movie that caused the last one to not realize the financial success that put the production of this one in jeopardy, as well as the next. But when Liam Neeson, the voice of Aslan, recently shared with the press that Aslan could, in addition to being a Christ figure, also be a figure of Buddha or Mohamed, as an effort to expand the appeal of the film to a non-Christian audience, the conservative Christian community was immediately up in arms.
Have not yet seen the film, but love the books. Getting the symbolism sometimes requires more than one read-through. And as in life, still many unanswered questions. “Why are we here?” Inspired by the hope and magic and destiny aspects of this.
Karen
p.s. The Moeraki Boulders rock!
I am wondering if the scene where Eustace becomes a boy again after being a dragon is in the movie? It is the most powerful part of the book.
Bosco, we must be channeling halfway across the world again. I had blogged about my EfM class Sunday night and we had used a bit from Lewis’ book for our Theological Reflection!
Saw this movie the other night. I was disappointed at the “extra” story-lines that weren’t in CS Lewis’ book. (green mists etc). Reepicheep will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope we get to meet him again by The Last Battle being filmed.
I havent seen the movie yet, but I heard it was really good. It comes out on DVD and Blueray April 8th, I know I am definitely going to buy it, I hope others do too because its an awesome story!