by David Jack » July 2nd, 2007, 11:00 pm
the 'unorthodox' comment almost certainly refers to macdonald's universalism which lewis of course did not share (nor chesterton, i would imagine.) as to that, however, some would consider lewis and chesterton unorthodox, and as far as i know universalism wasn't the taboo subject in the first few centuries of the christian church as it is now (i even heard that some of the church fathers held to it, but i forget where.)
in any case, anyone is free to believe macdonald was barking up the wrong tree with universalism. what is not in doubt however is the profound debt owed by lewis, chesterton and tolkien to his fantasy writings (and, in lewis' case at least, to his unspoken sermons) and the undeniably christlike character of the man himself. chesterton's endorsement could hardly be more glowing-and i'm sure it had as much to do with macdonald's spirituality as with his literary prowess-and lewis once remarked that he "had never read anyone who was closer, or more continually close, to the spirit of christ." even from the small portion of macedonald's works i've read thus far, i don't think that's an overstatement.
"This is and has been the Father’s work from the beginning-to bring us into the home of His heart.” George MacDonald.