They’re basically one big Christian analogy. They’re infinitely better written and more appropriate for children to have anything to do with than the bible, though.
The funny thing is we can blame Tolkien for that. It was Tolkien who got Lewis to convert, though he became a protestant while Tolkien was a Catholic, and hilariously Tolkien found Lewis’ use of Christian symbolism too overdone and lacking in subtlety.
I’m just very tickled at how much it backfired - Lewis turned outright anti-Catholic. If I’d been a religious man I might have tried to read something into that (but I’m not, so).
I never read the bible and the little I retained from the Narnia Chronicles resumes to talking creatures battling over the common trope of good vs evil.
I’m an atheist and I was able to take some entertainment from those works without feeling dragged into a christian analogy.
Okay, that point is clear but, again, to what degree the author of the Harry Potter series being an atheist prevents her from enjoying the Narnia Chronicles as just a fantasy series?
We’re both atheists and we managed. Although you were able to read more between the lines; for me, the talking lion was just that.
I have to be honest, I read the Narnia Chronicles as a child, and never once made the leap of “wait, is this allegory for that stuff they make us sing about at school?”.
Because allegories aren’t always super obvious. If it had been, the series wouldn’t have been anywhere near as successful or indeed worth reading at all 🤷
What is stopping an atheist of enjoying the Narnia Chronicles?
They’re basically one big Christian analogy. They’re infinitely better written and more appropriate for children to have anything to do with than the bible, though.
The funny thing is we can blame Tolkien for that. It was Tolkien who got Lewis to convert, though he became a protestant while Tolkien was a Catholic, and hilariously Tolkien found Lewis’ use of Christian symbolism too overdone and lacking in subtlety.
Well, pobody’s nerfect 🤷
I’m just very tickled at how much it backfired - Lewis turned outright anti-Catholic. If I’d been a religious man I might have tried to read something into that (but I’m not, so).
I never read the bible and the little I retained from the Narnia Chronicles resumes to talking creatures battling over the common trope of good vs evil.
I’m an atheist and I was able to take some entertainment from those works without feeling dragged into a christian analogy.
Hence why I made sure to point out that it’s much better written than the source material it’s based on.
Just because Aslan is basically Jesus as a lion doesn’t mean that atheists like you and myself can’t enjoy it 🤷
Okay, that point is clear but, again, to what degree the author of the Harry Potter series being an atheist prevents her from enjoying the Narnia Chronicles as just a fantasy series?
We’re both atheists and we managed. Although you were able to read more between the lines; for me, the talking lion was just that.
Unless FlyingSquid is married to JK Rowling, nobody said whether or not the author of HP is an atheist 🤷
In fact, a quick search reveals that the transphobic ass is a Christian herself.
Squids. Too close to Chthulu to be trusted.
I resent that.
Being calles untrustworthy or being related to Chthulu?
It helps that The Chronicles of Narnia are fantasy books.
Hot take here, but you can be atheist and enjoy religious stories all the while knowing they’re fake.
I have to be honest, I read the Narnia Chronicles as a child, and never once made the leap of “wait, is this allegory for that stuff they make us sing about at school?”.
Because allegories aren’t always super obvious. If it had been, the series wouldn’t have been anywhere near as successful or indeed worth reading at all 🤷