Favorite Christian message from Narnia?

[Valiant]

AnnasStar2010, Of course! How can we forget that one! It connects Aslan with the reader in an even more intimate way!

i always wondered how the Pevensies did find him in our world. All of them besides Susan obviously did.

[Lilygloves]

I also love the scene with Puddleglum. Even if there is no God, I stand by Him. And if my faith is silly, it doesn't hurt me. It makes me happier than if I had no faith in a loving God. And I love the part where Aslan reveals himself to Shasta. It shows how God always has a perfect plan for us even if we don't see it. Shasta's life was perfectly orchestrated to work for the best. I get chills when I read that part.

[moo25]

I've always loved the scene where Puddleglum stands up to the Lady of the Green Kirtle. It's always identified with me the most, especially when I was struggling with my faith. I agree with him in that even if there is no God I still live my life as if there is, because a world without Him is so much bleaker.
There are so many other beautiful moments in the series, and I seem to find more of them every time I read them. All of the ones mentioned here are wonderful

[Queen Emmie]

Hmm.... there are so many wonderful parallels! I'd have to say one of my favorites is what you mentioned, Valiant-- the scene with Puddleglum and the LotGK. So powerful!!

I also love the "Courage, dear heart" scene and am disappointed that it's not in the movie. That line has come to me several times when I felt like life was so dark and scary.... God is with us, even in the dark, and He will lead us out.

Eustace's redemption is wonderful too.

OH! And in the movie when Aslan says "It is finished". I don't remember if that's in the book or not, as it's been a while since I read it.

[Andrew]

I like the concept of "deeper magic from before the dawn of time." What is it that binds Aslan to its laws, what force is so powerful even he cannot overcome it?

[Ithilwen]

^^ I think that the deep magic was something the Emperor Over the Sea put into place. He was Aslan's father, after all.


~Riella

[Tesseract]

^^ I think that the deep magic was something the Emperor Over the Sea put into place. He was Aslan's father, after all.

That would mean that Aslan is not omnipotent, and less powerful than the Emperor Over the Sea. Is that the case?

God was Jesus's father, but Christians don't view one as being more powerful than the other.

[Ithilwen]

^^ I could be wrong about this, but as far as I know, the Christians I've met believed God was more powerful than Jesus. At least, during the temporary time Jesus was on Earth... Not 100% sure though.


~Riella

[fledge1]

WOW! I have LOTS. Eustace being turned back into a human was great. I think my favorite one was at the end of Voyage. When Lucy and Aslan were talking......
“It isnt Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It’s you. WE shant 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?” 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.

Gives me chills everytime...

[Tesseract]

but as far as I know, the Christians I've met believed God was more powerful than Jesus.

As far as I know, Christians view Jesus and God as part of the "trinity", which is three persons in one divine Being. Since Christianity is a monogamous religion, and Jesus and God are both referred to as the divine being, I don't see how one could be more powerful than the other.

[Ithilwen]

but as far as I know, the Christians I've met believed God was more powerful than Jesus.

As far as I know, Christians view Jesus and God as part of the "trinity", which is three persons in one divine Being. Since Christianity is a monogamous religion, and Jesus and God are both referred to as the divine being, I don't see how one could be more powerful than the other.

Yes, they are three seperate parts of one whole being. But keep in mind that Jesus was taking a temporary human form while he was on earth, and even admitted that during that time, he did not know as much as the Father did. Even though there is a one-ness among the Three, there is also a seperation. And the fact that he was in a temporary human form also caused a bit of difference in the situation.


~Riella

[waggawerewolf27]

St Patrick, whose day is famously March 17th, that is to say yesterday according to Aussie time, famously explained the Holy Trinity as something like the Irish shamrock. That is to say, like a leaf with three lobes. He held up a shamrock, with its tripartite leaf formation to explain how the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost still remained the same person.

But then the Apostle's creed, the Nicene creed and the Athanasian Creed also address this point. I can also see this threefold persona as somewhat similar to the different 'hats' people wear throughout life. For example, I go to work and as such am an agent like the Holy Ghost, so long as I do my work well. But I am also a parent and the child of someone else. Just as we have God the Father and God the Son.

Can anyone think of a better explanation of the Trinity?

Since Christianity is a monogamous religion, and Jesus and God are both referred to as the divine being, I don't see how one could be more powerful than the other.

I know what you are trying to say, but I think the word you meant was monotheistic not monogamous. Mono is an English prefix derived from the Greek which means 'single'. 'Gamous' is the suffix used in relationship with marriage and women in particular, eg Polygamy and Bigamy, meaning many wives and two wives. Theism, by contrast, is to do with God and belief.

[Tesseract]

Whoops! Yes, you are right, waggawerewolf27, I meant to say monotheistic. I mistyped.

[Narnia_Fan12]

Yes, they are three seperate parts of one whole being. But keep in mind that Jesus was taking a temporary human form while he was on earth, and even admitted that during that time, he did not know as much as the Father did. Even though there is a one-ness among the Three, there is also a seperation. And the fact that he was in a temporary human form also caused a bit of difference in the situation.

No- Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit are all one. Jesus knew all. Jesus /did/ take a human form on earth, but that didn't affect his knowledge of all things past, present, and future. If it had, how would he know that Judas was going to turn him in before the fact?

In this old movie I watched, about St. Joseph of Cupertino (I think), Joseph used "One blanket, three folds" to explain the trinity.

My favorite Christian message from Narnia... woah, there are many. There are four in particular that I like.

1). The Magician's Nephew: the creation of Narnia. It parallels our world's creation somewhat- and every time I read how Lewis described it--- it is really, really moving to me.

2). The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Aslan's sacrifice and resurrection. 'Nuff said.

3). The Voyage of the Dawn Treader- Aslan's great reveal: Aslan is Jesus. This is one of my favorite scenes in the series.

4). the Last Battle: The whole book. It's so... entrancing, and scary. I can't really describe it at all.

[Graymouser]

I was once told by a Christadelphian that the theology of Narnia was Arian, rather than orthodox Christian trinitarianism (even though Lewis was of course an orthodox Christian.)

Aslan is clearly subordinate to the Emperor-Over-The-Sea, Aslan is the Creator of Narnia, and the Spirit emanates from him in the form of his breath.

The letter of Auxentius,[8] a 4th-century Arian bishop of Milan, regarding the missionary Ulfilas, gives the clearest picture of Arian beliefs on the nature of the Trinity: God the Father ("unbegotten"), always existing, was separate from the lesser Jesus Christ ("only-begotten"), born before time began and creator of the world. The Father, working through the Son, created the Holy Spirit, who was subservient to the Son as the Son was to the Father. The Father was seen as "the only true God". First Corinthians 8:5-8:6 was cited as proof text.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism

[Ithilwen]

No- Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit are all one. Jesus knew all. Jesus /did/ take a human form on earth, but that didn't affect his knowledge of all things past, present, and future. If it had, how would he know that Judas was going to turn him in before the fact? In this old movie I watched, about St. Joseph of Cupertino (I think), Joseph used "One blanket, three folds" to explain the trinity.

I don't think you quite understand what I'm saying, 12. I'm saying basically the same thing as St. Joseph. He said three folds of one blanket. I said three parts of one being. I even stated in one of my posts that I agreed they were One.

But, although Jesus did know many things divinely, He didn't know as much as the Father. Such as, say... the day the world would end. They are One, but there is still a level of seperation at the same time. After all, if they were not seperate at all, it would have been a little difficult for Jesus to say, "The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me." in John 14:10. If God and Jesus were exactly the same, no difference whatsoever, then He could say that the words were His own. But there are times when He credits things to His father and not to Himself.

Plus, if there was not at least some seperation, then we wouldn't say three parts of one blanket. We would just say one blanket.

Also in Genesis 1:26A, it says, "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image..."" (bold added by me), which shows it is plural. If there was no seperation at all, it would read 'Let Me make man in My image'.


~Riella