Another Practical Guide to the Logic, Philosophy, and Thoughts of Christianity

Section 1 - Article 26

Article 26 - Prince Caspian (exposition of CS Lewis' work)

CS Lewis is one of the most famous Christian writers of all time. He has repackaged the gospel in the Chronicles of Narnia, and his many other works for children. In addition, his Christian writings were easily appreciated by serious Christians without the need of studying theology. This article draws out some of the themes from the movie based on his 'Prince Caspian'.

The Prince Caspian (2008) movie started off with the protagonists involved in a fight in the London Underground. They were unhappy with their lives in the real world, and were reminiscing of the world that they had left behind; where they were once adults and not treated like mere children; where they were kings and queens; and not little ordinary children who had to go to school in post WWII England.

Is this not like us? If old enough, we all have dreams of the past when we had a different life. While doing so, we miss out on the present. One way to look at this is to notice that our past gives us heartaches in the present.

When the children went back to Narnia later, they found that Narnia had been invaded by barbaric humans shortly after they left. This became one of the first things they asked Aslan (who is clearly the personification of Christ) on why he allowed such a thing to happen.

Is this not reminiscent of the questions we ask? If there is God, how could things like hurricanes, wars, and earthquakes break out killing so many innocent people? As it is for us, the Narnians soon began to doubt the reality of Aslan, whom they gradually dismissed as a myth or legend, because Aslan had allowed the Narnians to be wiped out by humans. As it is in human history, when persecution occurs and believers were forced to the edge, only those with strong faith would stand by their beliefs.

On the way to Narnia, Lucy had a short glimpse of Aslan, whereas none of the other children did. Aslan was beckoning them the way across the gorge, but because none of the kids saw it, they decided to try a route that they later found was heavily guarded. This wasted their much precious time. Yet that scene set a recurring question to why Lucy was the only who saw Aslan.

Here are the reasons to why I believe she was the only one. Here, I am reverse-explaining the Christian phenomenon where some individuals feel and see God, while others can live their life without ever noticing God.

1) She really wanted to see Aslan.

2) She had absolute trust (there was almost no doubt, but child-like faith was there) that Aslan was there around them, guiding them, and showing them the way.

3) She expected to see Aslan.

Later Susan seemed to confess that it had to be Aslan because they got across the gorge.

Do we see miracles of God when people repent from addictions to becoming contributive members of the society? Do we see miracles when people repent from past wrong doings? Do we see miracles when trains or any other transport arrive and depart punctually? Do we see miracles when we have a bed to sleep in, food to eat, things to enjoy? Do we see God when we read or write things that remind us of Him?

Or is everything chance? Coincidences do not exist, God governs all. To quote Stephen Hawkins, "God does not play dice" (Hawkin's god is an impersonal, mystic rule, rather than a personal intelligent God).

Later in the movie, Lucy had a dream. In her dreams, she heard and saw Aslan. Lucy asked Aslan why he didn't show himself, and he replied simply that nothing happens the same way twice.

Do we expect Christ to walk among us and get crucified again? Do we expect Christ to walk around us performing miracles again? Do we expect Satan to have a hold over us again, and the Lord to die on the cross over and over again? Jesus said, "It is finished." That's it, no more. He does not die and die and die again and again and again. Despite the underlying theology of transubstantiation, Jesus died once and for all. He has walked amongst us, it is now up to us to believe and trust in Him. He will not appear to each individual person to proof anything as He did for Thomas. We have to go to Him on His terms, and He had already bent over backwards to be human and be crucified for us. That was more than enough, and way more than we ever deserve.