But then this still ignores what I said before; a movie is not going to be a fair representation of the book. Also, I doubt that a Yahoo! summary is going to do much justice to the story either.

Im not sure discussing a book with someone who has not read it but still has strong opinions about it is well spent time. I could aswell try to explain electicity or cars to some stoneage tribe living in the middle of amazonas... (that would get them started about magic for sure)

For those of you who do not wish to have anything to do with this movie: Good enough, but please stop shouting wolf until you have either seen it or at least heard it howl.

For those who wish to continue discussing Narnia but have not yet read any of the books, go to the local library and spend the 1-2 hours it would take you to read the first book, then you will be able to pursue an inteligent discussion on the subject.

For those who wish to continue talk about CS Lewis and have not yet read any of his books but wouldnt be caught dead with a work of fiction, borrow or buy any of the books mentioned by Dave. They are all good christian books.

It is always more edifying when one actually knows what one is talking about, for all parts involved.

/Thomas

I knew we would agree some time Thomas

I wonder how many will take up our suggestion.

Im not holding my breath

British author Colin Duriez, who wrote the article "Tollers and Jack" in issue #78 of Christian History, explains why this is so in his forthcoming book Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship (Hidden Spring). Duriez tells the story of how these two brilliant authors met, discovered their common love for mythical tales, and pledged to bring such stories into the mainstream of public reading taste.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/134/52.0.html

Tolkien and Lewis shared the belief that through myth and legend—for centuries the mode many cultures had used to communicate their deepest truths—a taste of the Christian gospel's "True Myth" could be smuggled past the barriers and biases of secularized readers.

http://www.thevalve.org/go/valve/article/adam_gopnik_on_cs_lewis_fairy_tales_and_the_religious_imagination/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1209_051209_narnia_lewis.html

http://frankrogers.home.mindspring.com/fairy.html

http://chestertonandfriends.blogspot.com/2005/11/lewis-on-fairy-tales-true-myth.html

"It is the fact that the Chronicles are fairy stories that makes their spiritual richness shine out, and it is that richness that makes them the sort of fairy stories to be enjoyed by everyone — both children and adults."

this above quote is found in the CS Lewis site, Link below:

http://cslewis.drzeus.net/papers/originsofnarnia.html

No, I have never read anything by Lewis, nor by Toklkein, nor do I have a desire to do so. Neither do I want to put my opinion on this board for what others "should do" for we all must make our own decisions. The above links are so that anyone can read if they want to know more, and assess and decide for themselves what they believe. I know nothing of the reliability of these quotes within these links, I just found them on the 'net, as you, too, may have done.

The quotes in the links below are considered by me to be inspired truths. The first one is from TM & Gospel workers. In my opinion, there is no way of escaping the truth of what these quotes say...at least to me. Again, everyone will have to make that decision themselves. Thankfully, God wants only obedience prompted by love, and our own choices. Please understand again, I am not trying to tell anyone what or what not to think or do...only sharing my own convictions, which in a way is my testimony.

Dora

...............................................

Even fiction which contains no suggestion of impurity, and which may be intended to teach excellent principles, is

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harmful. It encourages the habit of hasty and superficial reading merely for the story. Thus it tends to destroy the power of connected and vigorous thought; it unfits the soul to contemplate the great problems of duty and destiny…….



Myths and Fairy Tales

In the education of children and youth, fairy tales, myths, and fictitious stories are now given a large place. Books of this character are used in the schools, and they are to be found in many homes. How can Christian parents permit their children to use books so filled with falsehood? When the children ask the meaning of stories so contrary to the teaching of their parents, the answer is that the stories are not true; but this does not do away with the evil results of their use. The ideas presented in these books mislead the children. They

Page 447
impart false views of life and beget and foster a desire for the unreal.

The widespread use of such books at this time is one of the cunning devices of Satan. He is seeking to divert the minds of old and young from the great work of character building. He means that our children and youth shall be swept away by the soul-destroying deceptions with which he is filling the world. Therefore he seeks to divert their minds from the word of God and thus prevent them from obtaining a knowledge of those truths that would be their safeguard.

Never should books containing a perversion of truth be placed in the hands of children or youth. Let not our children, in the very process of obtaining an education, receive ideas that will prove to be seeds of sin. If those with mature minds had nothing to do with such books, they would themselves be far safer, and their example and influence on the right side would make it far less difficult to guard the youth from temptation.

We have an abundance of that which is real, that which is divine. Those who thirst for knowledge need not go to polluted fountains. MH446, 447

To those on here who believe I should either read C.S. Lewis' books or stop discussing, I will have to say...ok, I can do that...stop discussing, I mean. I can't read his books.

We have heard enough from our pulpit re C.S. Lewis, even the story of the "Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe, and read enough in our Sabbath School lessons, no one could be uninformed in our church, unless they were deaf and/or blind.

Incidentally, we have heard little concerning Ellen White's writings for a long while, and never her name from our pulpit.

Sorry if I have offended anyone, but someone has to tell the truth of their convictions, based on the Bible and SOP. I know there are others on here who feel the same as I.

In His Love,

I doubt that Lewis is at fault for your pastor not quoting E. G. White. I have read a lot from her in the lessons however.

If one was going to place that standard on all fiction, one would have to discount what E. G. White said about Pilgrim's Progress and also need to take out two of the four gospels of the New Testament. Either there was a principal in what E. G. White said about fiction that would lead her to say what she did about Pilgrim’s Progress, or we have a satanic verse in the SOP. If it is a principal, we must apply that principal to other works of fiction than just the one book.

Of course, this does not help to deviate anyone reading C. S. Lewis' non fiction books. I believe there is too much of a schema in Adventism.

And yet again, a critical review or biographical sketch is not enough to be a judge of the works of C. S. Lewis. If you really want to know what kind of fruit he produced, read what he had to say!

Now isn't this more or less what non Adventist do with Ellen White? They listen to all the rumors about her, they read a small except of her writings here and there, and they form a conclusion without being educated in what she really has to say; people just believe what they hear.