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Loading... Christian Mythmakers: C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, J.R.R. Tolkien, George Madonald, G.K. Chesterton, and Othersby Rolland Hein
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Plunge into the soul of Lewis's Space Trilogy, L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, and Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Dwarves, elves, princes and princesses, dark powers, unlikely heroes and fantastic places open up to us in this excellent introduction to Christian mythopoeia. This overview of the major Christian mythmakers explores how they influenced and inspired one another, and identifies the symbols and emblems in their works.Rediscover the characters and worlds of authors such as- C. S. Lewis - George MacDonald- G. K. Chesterton - J. R. R. Tolkien- John Bunyan - Madeleine L'Engle- Charles Williams - Walter Wangerin No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)820.93823Literature English English literature in more than one form History, description, critical appraisal of works in more than one form Literature dealing with specific themes and subjects Philosophic and abstract themes Religious themesLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Also enjoyable was Clyde Kilby's forward on the nature of myth. Myth in the writings of these authors is not the low definition of discredited stories. Rather, this book discusses the higher meaning of myth. In the words of Kilby, "Myth is the name of a way of seeing, a way of knowing in depth, a way of experiencing -- a way that in being disinterested contains the freedom of unending and vital interest." Myth is necessary because "Systematizing flattens, but myth rounds out. Systematizing drains away color and life, but myth restores." Any translation of idea into language, reality into system loses some depth. Myth is what recaptures that depth by providing sidelong glimpses of some sensed truth.
Hein makes the assumption that the truth that myth points to is embodied in Christianity -- the Bible presents myth that is also factual truth. This is not a bad assumption in so far as it is what the authors under discussion believed. However, it is an assumption and one that fails to carry its own weight upon further examination.
In the end, this book was a worthwhile read, but the large number of authors surveyed and lack of willingness to examine the basic assumptions Christianity's relationship to myth made it somewhat shallow. ( )