by nomad » December 7th, 2009, 2:52 am
That brings up the whole question of what one means by "Christian" when referring to books, music or any work of art. Currently US culture seems to leave that determination to the marketing dept, something I suspect Lewis would have found distasteful. But it's a question that would merit it's own thread (surely there's been one or two?). Personally, there are works of art that I consider "Christian" by artists I know to be non-Christians, but who have managed to capture some aspect of Christianity or the Christian experience with an inspiring purity.
***spoiliers***
TWHF is one of my favorite books ever, but not because it reinforces my beliefs, because it challenges my assumptions about belief in general, about my beliefs and about myself. That's why I never tell people anything about this book other than they have to read it. It's power lies in making that journey with Orual.
Also, it's set in a pre-Christian time, so Christianity isn't really an option for Orual and I'm not sure how you would write a book set in a pre-Christian, non-Jewish time and location that would meet the marketing dept's standards for "Christian" literature. Which ironically allows Lewis to dig deeper into the question of God and belief.
member of the 2456317 club
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best -- " and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.