tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037568074224135598.post5980018219269257472..comments2023-04-27T02:38:24.236-07:00Comments on Yellow House News: November 2010 CSFF Blog Tour, Day 2: The Skin MapT C Booherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05076755815599489170noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037568074224135598.post-30383286814903938042010-11-05T06:17:29.150-07:002010-11-05T06:17:29.150-07:00Thomas,
I think you and I have different opinions...Thomas,<br /><br />I think you and I have different opinions as to what makes a novel "Christian" ... which is fine, and interesting, because I do like the way you focus on the gospel, and the necessity to lead toward God.<br /><br />To me, the question is about how best to do that and still reach a secular audience outside the CBA/"Christian" market.<br /><br />I wrote an article on this topic, and if you have time, could you read it and comment? I'd like to know your thoughts.<br /><br /><br />Here's the link: <br /><br />http://www.epictales.org/blog/robertblog.php?title=what-is-christian-fantasy<br /><br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />-RobertRobert Treskillardhttp://robert.epictales.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037568074224135598.post-24954904370939140092010-11-03T05:30:53.603-07:002010-11-03T05:30:53.603-07:00Robert,
First, I am not condemning Lawhead in thi...Robert,<br /><br />First, I am not condemning Lawhead in this depiction of God. It fits probably with the non-Christian so-called scientific thinking of the time. If Lawhead is trying to establish that kind of philosophical/theological context for his story, that is fine. My point is that, so far, the story is not Christian. There is really nothing in it that is distinctively and explicitly 'gospel' which is what distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. Merely, acknowledging God or even having a somewhat sophisticated explanation of God does not make anything Christian unless it is the God of the Bible.<br /><br />Second, your observation proves my point this is not a Christian novel. You can't simply ignore God's identity as the 'Elemental Ether' and a 'field of energy,' it's part and parcel to Sir Henry's (and apparently the 'august' group to which he is speaking as well) world and life view. I agree with you that it does 'cleverly disguise the more important truth' but the effect is to not lead one toward the God of the Bible but away from it. It's an example of Romans 1:18ff in which man suppresses the truth of God's deity and power though it is clearly (emphasize clearly) seen by the things he has made.<br /><br />Again, I don't believe this is Lawhead's position (else he needs to go back and check his faith) but an element of the story, the setting of the world he has crafted. He's not attempting to teach pagan philosophy. Also, we don't know what Lawhead has in mind with this. It may be that Lawhead is trying to illustrate the truth of Romans 1:18ff, which if this turns out to be the case, I would have to say in hindsight that The Skin Map is, in fact, a Christian novel. It may be that Sir Henry's world-view will change (assuming that you know what happens, I don't want to spoil this for the one who hasn't read the book).<br /><br />Thanks for the comment, I appreciate your opinion.<br /><br />TCBT C Booherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05076755815599489170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037568074224135598.post-26017020251832029962010-11-02T13:05:35.244-07:002010-11-02T13:05:35.244-07:00Thomas,
The question as to whether or not The Ski...Thomas,<br /><br />The question as to whether or not The Skin Map is "Christian" has to do with intent of audience. SRL's intent is to reach a broad audience, which means that he is not writing strictly for "churched" Christians.<br /><br />Therefore, to me, this description of God is interesting, and may, in fact, reach and speak to people outside the church as to God's attributes.<br /><br />"All the universe is permeated, upheld, knit together, conjoined, encompassed, and contained by the Elemental Ether, which we recognise as an all-pervading, responsive intelligent field of energy, eternal and inexhaustible, which is nothing less than the ground of our being, and the wellspring of our existence - that which in ages past and present men have been pleased to call God."<br /><br />If you ignore two phrases "elemental ether", and "field of energy", I find nothing disagreeable in what is said. If anything, it is quite explicit that God created everything, upholds everything, is the living, supreme intelligence over all, etc., etc., etc.<br /><br />Why were the two phrases put in? (a) Sir Henry is speaking to "scientists" (and so is Lawhead!), and (b) Sir Henry is from the past, when they actually spoke like that when trying to understand God in a modern, philosophical, way.<br /><br />No, this is not Biblical language, but I don't have a problem with it because it cleverly disguises the more important truths so they can slip in and take root.<br /><br />Anyway, you bring up some important issues, so let's keep discussing them.<br /><br />-RobertRobert Treskillardhttp://robert.epictales.orgnoreply@blogger.com