I just can't get over that mythic cycle we talked about in class today; realizing that just about every story can be demonstrated through that, or rather every story is actually the same story just at different points and with some variations. It's intriguing to apply it to the bible as well, especially to the Christmas Story,that Christ was born in the winter season, or in the middle of death; "The life" was born in the middle of death. I think this concept is apparent/demonstrated in C.S. Lewis's work as well. When, for instance Mr. Tumnus states that it's "always winter,never Christmas," does it seem like this can be seen as illustrating the fallen state of man before Christ,always dead without hope of rebirth?
C.S. Lewis's statement on being a pagan before a christian is definitely interesting; I wonder if it could have anything to do with his being an atheist before a Christian.The idea of being "a Pagan" before a Believer is strange to me, especially since I grew up in a church which often holds a more conservative outlook; for instance, dressing up is for most, the unspoken norm; the majority of the congregation is made up of what appears to be members of a mid to high social class; and to not all, but some of our members, associating with music, movies, or individuals that are too secular is viewed with a sort of underlying stern caution and fear, so being Pagan in the first place is a foreign and forbidding concept. But people aren't just "born" believers, and everyone has sinned, so in essence, we've already been there, at least to some degree.
The quote does remind me of separate quote by another Christian, though reportedly controversial author, Ted Dekker in which he says that he writes his stories with the intent of "speaking the language of his readers," or something to that effect.
It seems to me that being a pagan, one would think like a pagan, and so if they were to be presented with the gospel that takes neither their pagan views or outlook into account, then the Gospel may not have any sort of impact; however, when presented with the Gospel in a way that computes with that thinking, so that they can see the meaning, perhaps then one would begin to understand and maybe be lead to search further until finding the Truth of the Gospel, now thinking or seeing the world from that perspective- still thinking nonetheless, but with a new understanding and nature that comes with being saved. It sounds similar to when Christ would speak in parables so that people could understand what he was communicating. Likewise, if we can use our past as those dead in sin, we can still related to those who don't believe; we don't have to look like we have it all together or that we ever did, with the intention of appearing saintly before them and others.
I don't know if that's what C.S. Lewis meant by the statement, but that is what I got out of it.
C.S. Lewis's statement on being a pagan before a christian is definitely interesting; I wonder if it could have anything to do with his being an atheist before a Christian.The idea of being "a Pagan" before a Believer is strange to me, especially since I grew up in a church which often holds a more conservative outlook; for instance, dressing up is for most, the unspoken norm; the majority of the congregation is made up of what appears to be members of a mid to high social class; and to not all, but some of our members, associating with music, movies, or individuals that are too secular is viewed with a sort of underlying stern caution and fear, so being Pagan in the first place is a foreign and forbidding concept. But people aren't just "born" believers, and everyone has sinned, so in essence, we've already been there, at least to some degree.
The quote does remind me of separate quote by another Christian, though reportedly controversial author, Ted Dekker in which he says that he writes his stories with the intent of "speaking the language of his readers," or something to that effect.
It seems to me that being a pagan, one would think like a pagan, and so if they were to be presented with the gospel that takes neither their pagan views or outlook into account, then the Gospel may not have any sort of impact; however, when presented with the Gospel in a way that computes with that thinking, so that they can see the meaning, perhaps then one would begin to understand and maybe be lead to search further until finding the Truth of the Gospel, now thinking or seeing the world from that perspective- still thinking nonetheless, but with a new understanding and nature that comes with being saved. It sounds similar to when Christ would speak in parables so that people could understand what he was communicating. Likewise, if we can use our past as those dead in sin, we can still related to those who don't believe; we don't have to look like we have it all together or that we ever did, with the intention of appearing saintly before them and others.
I don't know if that's what C.S. Lewis meant by the statement, but that is what I got out of it.
In terms of starting life as a Pagan and then later moving forward into true Christianity, isn't that what each person must go through anyways? Thinking back on the history of my faith; I was brought up being told that Christianity was the only way. Having never known anything else, I saw loving Jesus as a habit and going to church as what we did prior to watching football games on Sundays. So whether or not a person is brought up as a nonbeliever or as a believer, taking that first step into Christianity and accepting Christ is up to the individual. I believe it to be impossible to be born straight into the Christian religion because until a person understands and acknowledges their actions and the reasons for which they are doing them, then what motivation and path of logic is that person being prompted by? For the Christians that turn up their noses at Pagans, well how hypocritical, because I can guarantee that they didn't come out of the womb bellowing gospel music and spreading the word. We all start at the same place with a future and a choice to make, but where we end up determines which path we took and if we ever dared to step outside of the predictable and comfortable world of a pagan.
ReplyDeleteYou know in Lewis' third chronicle Prince Caspian (depending how you count) when Aslan returns Bachus, the pagan god of wine, is the master of ceremonies. In Lewis' mind pagaism isn't just a phase to get through on your way to redemption, it's the very fabric of redemption. Paul essentially says the same thing when he wrote in Romans 8 that "all of nature groans for a coming redemption".
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