“Do you believe all those old stories?” asked Trumpkin [the reddish haired dwarf].
“I tell you, we don’t change, we beasts,” said Trufflehunter [the badger]. “We don’t forget. I believe in the High King Peter and the rest that reigned at Cair Paravel, as firmly as I believe in Asian himself.”
“As firmly as that, I daresay,” said Trumpkin. “But who believes in Asian nowadays?”
“I do,” said [Prince] Caspian. “And if I hadn’t believed in him before, I would now. Back there among the Humans the people who laughed at Asian would have laughed at stories about Talking Beasts and Dwarfs. Sometimes I did wonder if there really was such a person as Asian: but then sometimes I wondered if there were really people like you. Yet there you are.”
“That’s right,” said Trufflehunter. “You’re right, King Caspian. And as long as you will be true to Old Narnia you shall be my King, whatever they say. Long life to your Majesty.”
C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia The Chronicles of Narnia (1951, this edition Harper Collins, 1994) 70.
Isn't this what we see today? “But who believes in Aslan nowadays?” In our broader culture, who believes in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, nowadays?
ReplyDeleteI recently read that this book in the Narnia series is about exploring what happens when religion causes a faith to go stale and become distorted. How can faith be renewed?
Let's start with those believe in Jesus nowadays. What has given them this tenacious faith when all around us people have abandoned the notion of the uniqueness of the Son of God.
Fascinating passage from a fascinating novel. I'm reading it now. My boys love the movie. Just 20 days to go for the new movie, Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The release of this movie is actually the central part of my son Mark's birthday party!
Lewis himself said in a letter to an American girl that Prince Caspian is about "the restoration of the true religion after a corruption."
ReplyDeleteKen
ReplyDeleteWhat is the purpose of the tales of Narnia? Are they modern day parables by C.S. Lewis? Did he write them as an escape for the peoples of Great Britain during the aftermath of the second world war as Europe was rising up out of its ashes?
I'm not sure what he means by "true religion" there are many religions and many more denominations, but which one is true and how does one define truth?
In John 17:17 in Jesus's prayer He says "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." The Holy Bible is the word of God, although some may argue that point, however we need a starting point a bench mark if you will.
You bring up a good question "who believes in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, nowadays?" I know we believe a lot of things about Christ, but do we believe that He is truly God, Who came to set us free from the bondage of sin.
Many believe in Christ or so they claim, scripture tells us that even the demons believe and tremble. Belief is not enough. One needs to act upon what he or she believes if belief is to be effective in ones life and to benefit others.