Narnia: One Woman Who Definitely Does NOT Get It.
Polly Toynbee, columnist of the British publication, Guardian Unlimited, has unleashed a scathing attack on the new movie, "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe." 
Actually, in reality, her beef is with the Christianity behind the story.
I must admit, I have heard many reasons that people have offered against believing Christianity to be true, but I'm not sure that I have ever heard the heart of the opposition rest on the very fact of Christ offering himself as a sacrifice for the sins of man. She really seems mad that he did that. How dare he take the blame of the world without being asked! Surely, many have doubted the veracity of the event, though it can hardly be contested historically, but I don't recall hearing someone express anger over the fact that He did it. Nevertheless, that seems to be the case here:
My suspicion is quite solidified toward the end of the article. Clearly, Ms. Toynbee is projecting her own, unfortunate experiences onto all of Christianity and Aslan, the Great Lion, takes the brunt:
For me, though, the most striking thing Ms. Toynbee says belies her misunderstanding of reality and demonstrates that she has not carefully thought through her own worldview, but instead has assumed the reality of a very important aspect which she cannot give account for: Ms. Toynbee states that the only thing we need is "a very human moral compass."
Much to her surpise, perhaps (if she were to take the time to think it through!), Ms. Toynbee will find it impossible to give a logical and coherent account for the origins of that "moral compass" she relies on or explain why any of us should trust that compass to lead us in the "right" direction (though in her world, there is no such thing as "right." If so, who determines it and who enforces it?). In short, Ms. Toynbee simply assumes its presence because she knows that it is there. She experiences it, but she cannot explain it. What she has done, though, is borrowed from the very worldview she so despises, for no other worldview adequately offers an explanation for that "moral compass" that we all know we have, but have no reason to trust unless there is something transcendent, good, and intelligent behind it.
The bottom line is, whether Ms. Toynbee believes it or acknowledges it, we all really do need an Aslan.
Actually, in reality, her beef is with the Christianity behind the story.I must admit, I have heard many reasons that people have offered against believing Christianity to be true, but I'm not sure that I have ever heard the heart of the opposition rest on the very fact of Christ offering himself as a sacrifice for the sins of man. She really seems mad that he did that. How dare he take the blame of the world without being asked! Surely, many have doubted the veracity of the event, though it can hardly be contested historically, but I don't recall hearing someone express anger over the fact that He did it. Nevertheless, that seems to be the case here:
Of all the elements of Christianity, the most repugnant is the notion of the Christ who took our sins upon himself and sacrificed his body in agony to save our souls. Did we ask him to? Poor child Edmund, to blame for everything, must bear the full weight of a guilt only Christians know how to inflict, with a twisted knife to the heart. Every one of those thorns, the nuns used to tell my mother, is hammered into Jesus's holy head every day that you don't eat your greens or say your prayers when you are told. So the resurrected Aslan gives Edmund a long, life-changing talking-to high up on the rocks out of our earshot. When the poor boy comes back down with the sacred lion's breath upon him he is transformed unrecognisably into a Stepford brother, well and truly purged.Did you catch that? "Poor Edmund...must bear the full weight of a guilt only Christians can inflict". Clearly, Ms. Toynbee is the victim of the old-style Catholic school in which nuns mercilessly poured the guilt of the death of Christ on those poor children under their influence. They totally miss the point that what Christ did was voluntary and done in order to remove guilt, not inflict it. As a matter of fact, there is nothing within the story of "The Chronicles of Narnia" that even hint at that kind of guilt being borne by Edmund and, more importantly, there is nothing of the sort in the Gospels, either. For that experience, I am truly sorry for Ms. Toynbee and all those other poor victims who have been under the influence of those who, themselves, have missed the heart of the Gospel.
My suspicion is quite solidified toward the end of the article. Clearly, Ms. Toynbee is projecting her own, unfortunate experiences onto all of Christianity and Aslan, the Great Lion, takes the brunt:
So Lewis weaves his dreams to invade children's minds with Christian iconography that is part fairytale wonder and joy - but heavily laden with guilt, blame, sacrifice and a suffering that is dark with emotional sadism.Sadly, Ms. Toynbee misses the point and the brevity of the situation. She underestimates the depth of human depravity and the inability of anyone, on their own merits, to "redeem" themselves. She seems comfortable with the idea of suffering for her own sins, and being left alone to fend for herself. Strangely, according to Ms. Toynbee, everyone needs ghosts, spirits, marvels and poetic imaginings, but there is no room for Aslan. In other words, there is no room for Christ...a savior. There is no room for something real that affects every fiber of our being. We need to be entertained, spooked perhaps, tantelized by strange mystics, but not delivered or changed or re-made.
Children are supposed to fall in love with the hypnotic Aslan, though he is not a character: he is pure, raw, awesome power. He is an emblem for everything an atheistobjects to in religion. His divine presence is a way to avoid humans taking responsibility for everything here and now on earth, where no one is watching, no one is guiding, no one is judging and there is no other place yet to come. Without an Aslan, there is no one here but ourselves to suffer for our sins, no one to redeem us but ourselves: we are obliged to settle our own disputes and do what we can. We need no holy guide books, only a very human moral compass. Everyone needs ghosts, spirits, marvels and poetic imaginings, but we can do well without an Aslan.
For me, though, the most striking thing Ms. Toynbee says belies her misunderstanding of reality and demonstrates that she has not carefully thought through her own worldview, but instead has assumed the reality of a very important aspect which she cannot give account for: Ms. Toynbee states that the only thing we need is "a very human moral compass."
Much to her surpise, perhaps (if she were to take the time to think it through!), Ms. Toynbee will find it impossible to give a logical and coherent account for the origins of that "moral compass" she relies on or explain why any of us should trust that compass to lead us in the "right" direction (though in her world, there is no such thing as "right." If so, who determines it and who enforces it?). In short, Ms. Toynbee simply assumes its presence because she knows that it is there. She experiences it, but she cannot explain it. What she has done, though, is borrowed from the very worldview she so despises, for no other worldview adequately offers an explanation for that "moral compass" that we all know we have, but have no reason to trust unless there is something transcendent, good, and intelligent behind it.
The bottom line is, whether Ms. Toynbee believes it or acknowledges it, we all really do need an Aslan.
Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 12/14/2005 06:15:00 PM
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3 Comments:
Yes, it's spelled F-I-C-T-I-O-N. Stories are primarily entertainment - you may get some deep messge ..OR NOT, but this is all reading something between the lines. If someone is getting worked up over fiction, they need to get a grip on reality.
I realize that reality is not at all popular these days (probably never was) but I'm torn between amusement and horror when I see what human thought and culture has amounted to.
David, thanks for this posting. I have covered the story and linked to you on it.
Guardian Unlimited is the online arm of The Guardian newspaper.
Great post. I once heard a preacher say that "where do you think we get our schools, our hospitals, our charities?" All from the Christian church. He also said, although off-topic, that when you are in true need, run down to your local country club and see what they say. And then go to any church. Guess which is more likely to help you?
We do have a moral compass--so where is it derived from? Where do you find your code for living? Well shocker--many of these are from the Bible.
I do feel bad that she misses the point of the gospel. "Without an Aslan, there is no one here but ourselves to suffer for our sins, no one to redeem us but ourselves: we are obliged to settle our own disputes and do what we can. We need no holy guide books, only a very human moral compass. Everyone needs ghosts, spirits, marvels and poetic imaginings, but we can do well without an Aslan."
That's the crux--some think they do not need forgiveness for their sins, or that their sins are just part of life. I say thank you Jesus, who gave His life for me when I was still a sinner. Ghosts and the like won't save my soul.
I am a sinner. I am weak. I need a savior. Praise God my eyes, ears and heart were opened almost 12 years ago. We should be praying for her.
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