Tuesday, October 19, 2010
A Metaphor and a Journal - C.S. Lewis
Because I was helped on my journey to Orthodoxy by Touchstone Magazine, and certainly also by C.S. Lewis, my eye was caught this morning by word of a debate on the extent and meaning of Lewis's metaphor of a house with rooms, in his book Mere Christianity. The subtitle of Touchstone is A Journal of Mere Christianity, so it is understandable that the editors would have an interest in keeping true to a proper understanding of the author. By the way, the current issue of the journal features an article on how the new Narnia films "Subvert Lewis's Hierarchical World," and another article reviewing a book that treats the development of the author's view of women. Those are both available for reading on the website.
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6 comments:
And such comments these articles are accruing, one could read all day.
Thanks for the head's up. I love reading about Lewis, who has been very important to me for many years.
Hope all is well with you!
xofrances
Interesting discussion...
I'm curious about what you think the house stands for. :-)
Janet, as some have said by now on that page I linked to, Lewis's house metaphor reflects a Protestant understanding, and doesn't work for me. Before I became Orthodox, though, when I was working within a similar paradigm, I seemed to be consigned to the hallway. I used to feel that I was "everywhere and nowhere," as long as I considered all the rooms to be equally habitable.
But you may have been asking only how I think Lewis would expand his own metaphor. I have no idea. :-)
The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 3 seems deeply applicable here...
As far as houses go:
1 Cor 16 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"
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Analogies and metaphors are very helpful and I appreciate them and then I need also to remember
1 Cor19:" For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.."
21 "...so then no more boasting about men."
so we must keep this attitude about our most favorite of men...especially including ourselves.
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