I am an SDA who has just read through this thread for the first time.
First, I would like to clarify something. In an earlier post, someone mentioned that the first book of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia should, at least, be read. I assume that poster had meant "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" (or TLTWATW). There is some controversy as to which constitutes the "first book". Lewis WROTE TLTWATW (which is an allegory of the Gospel story) first, then wrote "The Magician's Nephew" (TMN) (an allegory of Creation) as a PREQUEL to TLTWATW. If you only read one book in the series, read TLTWATW, but you really should read TMN first, then read TLTWATW, for, otherwise, there will be elements in TLTWATW that you will not fully understand.
(And isn't that just like reading the Bible? If you read the Gospels without having read Genesis, you will not really understand why it was necessary for Christ to die for your sin.)
Secondly, I am deeply concerned and saddened for those of you who would condemn any of C.S. Lewis' Christian writings (i.e. those works that he wrote after his conversion), without first reading them. If you are basing your opinions on what others have told you, or what you have read about Lewis' works, then you are letting others do your thinking for you. Our Lord gave you wisdom and a mind to use. I strongly urge you to read what you are talking about before commenting about it.
For example, suppose someone had never read any of EGW's writings, but had only heard about her books and her prophecies from other sources (for example, Hokema's "The Four Major Cults"). Without personally reading EGW's works, such a person could very easily come to the conclusion (as, sadly, all too many non-SDA Christians do) that she, herself was a sorceress or a witch or some such. (Please do not misunderstand me; I am only using this hypothetical comparison to make a point. I believe that EGW was a prophetess of God.)
Would you not think that it would be terribly unfair of someone to condemn any of EGW's books without first reading them? If so, then, likewise, it would be unfair to condemn TLTWATW without first reading it.
(As someone else has pointed out, it would only take a couple of hours to read superficially, but you should probably take a little bit more time to read and analyze it more deeply. Like Lewis Caroll's books, The Chronicles of Narnia can be enjoyed and understood by both adults and children.)
Thirdly, it has been suggested that reading the book or watching the movie without understanding the Gospel and and without knowledge of the Bible, will cause a person NOT to see the allegory. I have read "user reviews" of the movie (for example, at
www.imdb.com) by atheists who were upset at the patent Christian theme of the movie! So, (apparently) the Gospel story comes out so clear in this movie, that even atheists and agnostics "get it."
Fourthly, I have read both here and elsewhere that the movie is remarkably true to the book.
I had previously been planning NOT to see the movie because I was (predjudicially) "certain" that it would not have any resemblance to the book and would either downplay, or altogether omit, the Christian allegorical themes of the book. However, I am now given to understand that the allegory is in no way diluted from the original book, so now I DO intend to see it for myself.
By the way, it may interest some of you to know that C.S. Lewis' grandson was involved in the production of the movie. This is probably the reason why the Christian allegory was not diminished (if, what I have read, is true).
So, I do not intend to let others do my thinking for me. I will see the movie and come to an opinion after having viewed it.
If you are worried that Lewis was not really a Christian, or that TLTWATW will, somehow, pollute your mind, then I would suggest reading one of his non-fiction works first, such as "Mere Christianity". (I would also suggest "The Screwtape Letters" but that, after all, is a ficitional allegory, or, if you will, a parable, not a work of non-fiction.)
You might also be interested in his other non-fiction works such as "The Problem of Pain", "Surprised by Joy" or "The Four Loves".
After first meeting the Saviour and a few other folks, I, for one, very much look forward to meeting Mr. Lewis in the Kingdom (or be extremely surprised if he is not there; but it is not my place to judge who will or will not be there).
In His Love and Mercy,
"Steddy" (a.k.a. "Edmund" :-)