An Analysis of C. S. Lewis &
The Chronicles of Narnia;
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
By: William Frederick, M. Div.
(Originally Published in 2005)
Author of The Coming Epiphany;
Because You Need to Know the truth About the End Times.
On December 9th, 2005 Disney released
a movie based on and named the same as the C.S. Lewis book; The Chronicles of
Narnia; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Many Christians are heralding the movie and for that matter the book as
a great Christian work designed to engage the participant in a great spiritual
experience. God tells us as a Christian; “Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (I Jn 4:1) In this short paper we will do just that “try
the spirits” to see whether The Chronicles of Narnia are a work of God.
The Author
In examining any written work of a spiritual
nature it is standard procedure to examine the spirituality of the author. The spirituality of the author encompassed in
the doctrines and beliefs of the author are a good barometer as to whether or
not the literary work should be accepted as good Christian reading. This is especially true in the realm of
fantasy writing where doctrines and beliefs can be veiled and easily
misinterpreted. Let us now examine the
spiritual beliefs/doctrines of C. S. Lewis.
The Word of God
C. S. Lewis does not believe that the Bible is
inspired and inerrant. Here are some
quotes from his works that demonstrate this fact.
…all Holy Scripture is in some sense, though not all parts
of it in the same sense, the word of God.[1]
Either this [John’s Gospel]
is reportage, though it may no doubt contain errors, pretty close up to the
facts; nearly as close as Boswell. Or else, some unknown writer in the second
century, without known predecessors or successors, suddenly anticipated the
whole technique of modern, novelistic, realistic, narrative.[2]
Naivety, error, contradiction, even (as in the cursing
Psalms) wickedness are not removed. The total result is not “the Word of God”
in the sense that every passage, in itself, gives impeccable science or
history.[3]
…whether a particular passage is rightly translated or is
myth (but of course myth specially chosen by God from among countless myths to
carry a spiritual truth) or history.... But we must not use the Bible (our
fathers too often did) as a sort of Encyclopedia out of which texts...can be
taken for use as weapons.[5]
Lewis says not all parts of scripture can be
considered the Word of God. He says John’s gospel in no doubt contains errors.
He describes the Psalms with words such as naivety, error, contradiction, and
concludes that they are not part of the Word of God. He plainly says the true
Word of God is not the Bible. He also equates scripture with myth. It is clear by his words that C. S. Lewis
does not believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
The Deity of Christ
Lewis denied that Jesus was truly God in a
discourse about Mk 13:30, 32 by claiming that Christ and scripture were in
error.
“Assur-edly, I say to you, this generation will by no means
pass away till all these things take place,” certainly the most embarrassing
verse in the Bible. The one exhibition of error and the one confession of
ignorance grow side by side. That they stood thus in the mouth of Jesus
himself, and were not merely placed thus by the reporter, we surely need not
doubt.... The facts, then, are these: that Jesus professed himself (in some
sense) ignorant, and within a moment showed that he really was so.[6]
Here Lewis is saying that Christ was in error in
what He said. Thus he is asserting that
Christ was not truly God, for God cannot commit error. Lewis also made unholy
and blasphemous connections between Christ and pagan deities. As you see in the
quote below he actually believes that Apollo, the sun god/Baal, was a sub
specie of Christ.
I had some ado to prevent Joy and myself from relapsing
into Paganism in Attica! At Daphni it was hard not to pray to Apollo the
Healer. But somehow one didn't feel it would have been very wrong - would have
only been addressing Christ sub specie Apollinis."[8]
Here he gives credence to paganism and asserts
his belief that Christianity is an offshoot of paganism by saying that it would
not be wrong to pray to Apollo because he was a sub specie or forerunner of
Christ.
Salvation
Lewis did not believe in Salvation by faith
alone. John W. Robbins after an
extensive study of Lewis’ works stated;
Finally, missing from Lewis’ litany of theological formulae
that will save us is the full Gospel: justification by faith alone. He did not
even mention it.[9]
Lewis also asserted that Salvation was imparted
through sacraments.
It explains why this new life is spread not only by purely
mental acts like belief, but by bodily acts like baptism and Holy Communion....
He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us.[10]
Lewis
believed that Salvation could be achieved through other religions.
There are people in other religions who are being led by
God’s secret influence to concentrate on those parts of their religion which
are in agreement with Christianity, and who thus belong to Christ without
knowing it. Many of the good Pagans long before Christ’s birth may have been in
this position.[11]
I think that every prayer which is sincerely made even to a
false god or to a very imperfectly conceived true God, is accepted by the true
God and that Christ saves many who do not think they know Him.[12]
This short expose on the doctrines and beliefs
held by C. S. Lewis make it clear by his own writings that he does not believe
in the verbal plenary inspiration of scripture, the deity of Christ, and
salvation by faith alone. John Robbins
after an extensive analysis of the writings of Lewis summed up the spirituality
of C. S. Lewis like this.
These statements demonstrate that Lewis not only denied the
inerrancy of Scripture, but he also denied the inerrancy of Christ. Time will
not permit me to discuss many other doctrines that Lewis believed and taught
that contradict the doctrine of justification by faith alone, but a brief list
is in order. Lewis taught and believed in purgatory, said prayers for the dead,
believed in the physical presence of Christ’s body and blood in the bread and
wine, a sacrament that he came to call “Mass,” practiced and taught auricular
confession, believed in baptismal salvation, and free will. As we have seen, he
rejected the inerrancy of Scripture and justification by faith alone, as well
as the doctrines of total depravity and the sovereignty of God.[13]
In my opinion Lewis taught grievous
errors. The most grievous being; that he denied the inerrancy and
inspiration of scripture, the deity of Christ, and salvation by faith in Christ
alone. We have examined the beliefs and
doctrines of the author C. S. Lewis; we will now examine the story itself.
The Story
The Chronicles of Narnia; The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe is a fantasy story based upon the beliefs and doctrines adhered
to by C. S. Lewis. Even though many
Evangelicals have adopted the book and promoted it as a good Christian book
that teaches good doctrine I view it quite differently. As a matter of fact there is no religion in
the book, there is a concept of salvation taught but it is not attributed to
any religion. In actuality there are
more pagan elements in the book than Christian as one author has observed.
Consider, for example, C.S. Lewis's The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. A child from the normal
everyday world hides in a wardrobe during a game, and finds herself transported
by magic into another world, where she has tea with a faun, a figure from
ancient Roman pagan mythology. A faun is half human, half goat, and the
encounter is an introduction to a world of intelligent talking animals -
beavers with sewing machines and the like. Lewis has no hesitation in blending
Christian and pagan mythology in his Narnian books. There is even salvation.
Salvation is at the centre of the plot of the book, but one would have to look
hard to find it attributed to any religion at all, Christian or pagan.
The next book in the Narnian series, Prince Caspian, is even more
populated with pagan deities - Bacchus and Silenus, nymphs and Maenads, and
even a river god. Lewis does not identify these with the forces of evil - they
are not "satanic", as many Christians seem to think pagan deities
ought to be (and many neopagans think that Christians think neopagans' deities
are). They are rather part of the army of liberation, and are themselves
liberated from the powers of evil in the course of the story.
One could give more examples from the other books in the
series, but the picture one gets from all of these is far removed from some of
the common Western perceptions of the Christian attitude towards paganism and
pagan deities, whether seen from the point of view of Christians or of
neopagans. That is, the perception that Christianity and neopaganism are, and
perhaps ought to be, hostile to each other.[14]
Did you catch what the author said about Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series; “but the
picture one gets from all of these is far removed from some of the common Western
perceptions. That is, the perception that Christianity and neopaganism are, and
perhaps ought to be, hostile to each other.”
So what this author is concluding is that Lewis’ fantasy books promote
the idea that Christianity and paganism can be melded together in agreement
with each other. However we know that
Paganism in its various forms is satanic.
How can satanic paganism and Christianity be melded together? They cannot, they are diametrically opposed
to each other. Any book whether fantasy
or not that attempts to do that is not of God but is from the devil himself.
Still not convinced? Let’s dig a little more
deeply into the Chronicles to see what they reveal. The main character in the book, the supposed
Christ figure, is a lion named Aslan. Aslan
is Turkish for lion. Upon examination of
the details of this character in the book we see that Aslan the lion, though he
possesses attributes of Christ, is actually a representation of the melding
together of Christ and the pagan sun god.
Here are some quotes from the book that show the connection.
At the name of Aslan, Lucy got the feeling you get when you
wake in the morning and realize it's the beginning of spring. p.65
Tell us about Aslan...once again that strange feeling -
like the first sings of spring had come over them. p.74
An old rhyme in these parts...when he bares his teeth
winter meets its death and when he shakes his mane we shall have spring again. p.74
Speaking of Aslan, "He'll be coming and going, one day
you'll see him and another you won't...he has other countries to attend to. p.180
The plot of the story also gives reference to
Aslan being the sun god. When Aslan returns to the land of Narnia the snow
begins to melt. There are 7 books in the
Chronicles of Narnia series and Aslan appears in all of them. Here are some quotes from some of the other
books in the series that reveal further information about the true identity of
Aslan.
It was a Lion. Huge, shaggy, and bright it stood facing the
risen sun. The Magician’s Nephew
Digory saw the lion and it was so big and bright he could
not take his eyes off of it. p. 114 The
Magician’s Nephew
Aslan swings his head around scattering golden gleams of
light as he does so. p.173 The Magician’s Nephew
These passages all show connections to the sun
god concept. The next series of quotes
clearly show the real identity of Aslan and his connection with paganism and
the occult.
The crowd and the dance round Aslan (for it had become a
dance once more) grew so thick and rapid that Lucy was confused. She
never saw where certain other people came from who were soon capering among the
trees. One was a youth, dressed only in a fawn-skin, with
vine-leaves wreathed in his curly hair. His face would have been almost
too pretty for a boy's, if it had not looked so extremely wild. You felt,
as Edmund said when he saw him a few days later, 'There's a chap who might do
anything --- absolutely anything.' He seemed to have a great many names
--- Bromios, Bassareus, and the Ram, were three of them. There were a lot of
girls with him, as wild as he. There was even, unexpectedly, someone on a
donkey. And everybody was laughing: and everybody was shouting out,
"Euan, euan, eu-oi-oi-oi. p. 152 Prince
Caspian
Maybe you missed the significance of the
passage; let’s examine it in light of pagan teachings. Here is what author Mary
Van Nattan said about this discourse.
Note the wild dance, the extremely wild faced youth that is
Bromios (otherwise known and Dionysus or Bacchus), the wild girls (Maenads),
the man on the donkey (Silenus) who is also said to cry
"Refreshments!" (which in the context of Dionysus would be
wine), and the cries of "Euoi!". What Lewis is describing
here is nothing other than a Bacchanalian orgy![15]
This next passage shows the pagan connection
more clearly.
Bacchus and the Maenads --- his fierce, madcap girls ---
and Silenus, were still with them. Lucy, fully rested, jumped up.
Everyone was awake, everyone was laughing, flutes were playing, cymbals clashing.
Animals, not Talking Animals, were crowding in upon them from every direction.
'What is it, Aslan?' said Lucy, her eyes dancing and her feet wanting to dance.
'Come, children, said he. 'Ride on my back again to-day.' 'Oh lovely!'
cried Lucy, and both girls climbed on to the warm golden back as they had done
no-one knew how many years before. Then the whole party moved off --- Aslan
leading. Bacchus and his Maenads leaping, rushing and turning somersaults,
the beasts frisking round them, and Silenus and his donkey bringing up the
rear. p. 192 Prince
Caspian
Note in the above passage that Aslan is leading
the acchanalian orgy! The next quote
shows the group participating in the occultic summer solstice sabot.
Then three or four of the Red Dwarfs came forward with
their tinder boxes and set light to the pile, which first crackled, and then
blazed, and finally roared as a woodland bonfire on midsummer night ought to
do. And everyone sat down in a wide circle around it.
Then Bacchus and Silenus and the Maenads began a dance, far
wilder than the dance of the trees, not merely a dance for fun and beauty
(though it was that too) but a magic dance of plenty, and where their hands
touched, and where their feet fell, the feast came into existence -- sides of
roasted meat that filled the grove with delicious smell, and wheaten cakes and
oaten cakes, honey and many-coloured sugars and cream as think as porridge, and
as smooth as still water, peaches, nectarines, pomegranates, pears, grapes,
strawberries, raspberries -- pyramids and cataracts of fruit. Then, in great
wooden cups and bowls and mazers, wreathed with ivy, came the wines; dark,
thick ones like syrups of mulberry juice, and clear red ones like red jellies
liquefied, and yellow wines and green wines and yellowy-green and
greenish-yellow. p. 205
Prince Caspian
This latest discourse is a description of the
occult satanic festival; the high day of sun worship on the witch’s sabot of
the summer solstice as explained by Mary Van Nattan.
Next, we note that it says a woodland bonfire on midsummer
night. This is not just any fire and not just a midsummer night. This is the
real thing. A high day of sun worship. This comes from the burning of the bones
from the sacrifices in the bonfire (bone-fire) on the summer solstice. It is a
sabot of witchcraft as the marriage of the death goddess or moon goddess to the
sun god. The days become shorter from this point as the sun god dies and is
sent for his yearly visit to hell. On December 25th he will be reborn. Everyone
sits in a circle around it. Again this is a powerful witchcraft symbol. Another
pagan/witchy thing is the wild, magic dance of plenty. Those of "The
Craft"are famous for their magic dances. The fruit is stacked in a pyramid
- a powerful witchcraft/Luciferian/Masonic symbol. The whole thing, with
Bacchus involved, sounds like a mixture of a typical English pagan/Wiccan
midsummer night celebration and a Bacchus orgy.[16]
These discourses about Aslan from the Chronicles
allow us to very easily see that Aslan is a representation of the pagan sun
god. His leading of the party depicted
in Prince Caspian and the characters attending him make it clear that
Aslan is not a depiction of Christ.
Would Christ partake in a Bacchanalian orgy, a satanic festival? No, and
it is pure blasphemy to even make the suggestion and to try to meld the two
together.
Putting it all together
C.S. Lewis by his own admission believes that
the Bible contains errors and thus is not inspired. He also believes that Christ committed errors
and thus is not truly God. He also made
it clear that he believes in a works salvation via sacraments and that other
religions are valid ways to God. It is also clearly evident that his Chronicles
of Narnia fantasy series, which are rooted in and stem from his beliefs, meld
Christian and pagan elements together in a very unholy manner.
In light of the information presented above I
conclude that C. S. Lewis believed and promoted grave doctrinal errors.
His Chronicles series serves as an introduction for children into the
philosophies of the occult/pagan world. Scripture strictly forbids the melding
of pagan and Christian concepts.
Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as
God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor 6:14-18)
What concord has Christ with Belial? What concord has Christian with Pagan? There
should be none, there is none. It is
forbidden but that is exactly what Lewis has done. He has melded together Christian and pagan
concepts and is attempting to indoctrinate children with them. This is a great evil indeed.
Sun worship was one of the main abominations to the
LORD practiced in Bible times. It has continued throughout the ages to this
very time. That Lewis would write stories for children to indoctrinate them in
this revolting religion is bad enough, but that those stories should be passed
off as an allegory of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a horrible blasphemy
beyond description![17]
It is interesting to note that his books are sold in occult
bookstores and were recommended by the makers of the occult game of Dungeons
and Dragons.[18]
The Chronicles are also one of the favorite reading of pagans; “Pagans also read the
Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis.”[19]
After reading this article here
is what a pagan wrote to me; "I am a pagan in belief and do not understand
why Christian parents would necessarily endorse this movie as a way to promote
the religion. The pagan references are actually stronger than the Christian
ones."
Unfortunately most Christians
do not have enough discernment to realize this and herald his books as
great Christian works. Here is what
Pastor Meyer who was a former witch said about the Chronicles.
As a former witch, astrologer, and occultist who has been
saved by the grace of God, I know that the works of C.S. Lewis are required
reading by neophyte witches, especially in the United States and England. This
includes The Chronicles of Narnia, because it teaches neophyte, or new witches,
the basic mindset of the craft. Isn’t it strange, though, that many “Christian”
churches and organizations have used The Chronicles of Narnia as Sunday School
curriculum?
When I saw the release date of this new movie, I was not surprised. December
9th is the 13th day before the witches’ quarter-sabat of Yule. The full cold
moon is midway between the release date and the sabat of Yule. The waxing moon
is also directly on the equinox on the release date of the movie. This is far
too precisely occultic to be coincidental, and the producers of the movie no
doubt consulted upper-level witches regarding the perfect day to have the
Chronicles of Narnia open."[20]
In light of the information presented above I
believe it would be wise for the Christian to follow the admonition given us in
I Tim 6:3-5.
If any man teach otherwise, and
consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but
doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings, Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that
gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
The Child Care Action Project has done an
excellent analysis on the movie and can be read at the link below.
About The Author
William Frederick has written a prophecy book
entitled The Coming Epiphany which
will teach you essential truths about the end of the world. His experience from
teaching the Bible for 28 years, the formal training he received from Bob Jones
University, when he got his Master of Divinity degree, his years
of prophecy research, and his compassion to please the Lord and help
others have all culminated in the writing of this "must read"
prophecy book that you won't be able to put down!
Here is what one reader said about The Coming
Epiphany.
“Mr. Frederick, through rigorous adherence to scripture,
has pieced together the puzzling aspects of Biblical prophecy. His
book, The Coming Epiphany,
provides vital information for
Christians in these times and the times to come. I believe that it should
be required reading for individuals as well as for study groups, and perhaps
most importantly, for pastors upon whose discernment many Christians
depend. This book is a wake-up call to all believers, that it is time to
fully awaken to the will of God in our lives. Mr. Frederick; Thank you for
the privilege of reading your profound volume. I believe that your work
can reach millions, and help them to see the signs, and avoid the deceptions
that have been crafted by the adversary.”
An Epiphany Will Come
To All.
Have You Had Your
Epiphany Yet?
Read The Coming Epiphany Today—FREE
download.
[1]
Lewis, C. S. Reflections on the Psalms, 19. Harvest Books, 1964.
[2]
Lewis, C.S. Christian Reflections, 154-155. Eerdmans, 1967.
[3]
Reflections
on the Psalms, 94.
[4]
Lewis, C.S. Letters of C. S. Lewis, p. 428, Harper, 2001.
[6]
The
World’s Last Night and Other Essays, pp. 98-99. Harvest books. 1960.
[7]
Reflections
on the Psalms, 129
[8]
C.S. Lewis: A Biography, Roger Lancelyn Green, p.276
[10]
Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity, pp. 64-65. MacMillan 1952.
[11]
Mere
Christianity, 176-177.
[12]
Letters
of C. S. Lewis, 428.
Posts
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Dear Sir Frederick,
ReplyDeletethanks for another great article, very well put and profound information to know.
I never watched the movie, just saw few promo stuff here and there (mainly posters). When I heard that it is by C.S. Lewis who I randomly heard to be a known author of christian literature, I thought it to be kinda weird for a christian author to write fantasy novels like narnia. I gotta inform my mother about this information as she read a few of his christian writings.
thanks for your valuable blog and especially your profound book!
May this all be a guide for people to find Christ our only truth and saviour!
Greetings, a constant reader since years
Thank you for your encouraging words and for your years of reading. I give all the honor to Jesus who saved me and works through me even in spite of myself.
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