Last night, we finished reading 'The Last Battle
', the final story in the Narnia series. The last time I read this series to my kids, I stopped at 'The Silver Chair', so this was the first time we've read 'The Last Battle' as a family. At the end, all of the star characters meet up in a sort of 'Heaven' (C.S.Lewis wrote many religious books, my favourite being 'The Screwtape Letters
') and we were beginning to find it a little tedious. What happened to the story, my children wanted to know?
Chas, who had read the book on his own, said "This book spoiled the whole series for me." He found it moralistic and sad.
When all of the lucky characters are milling and meeting, Max said "Where is Ginger? What about Ginger?"
"Well." I mused, "This is sort of like Heaven, and many religious people think that people get to go to Heaven if they are good, and I suppose Ginger was a bit bad."
"BUT!" Max sat up straight, arms outstretched, "They all FEEL so good when they get there. They forget everything bad. They can be their real good self!"
And THAT led to a lively discussion about forgiveness and our perceptions of wisdom and goodness, I can tell you. What do YOU think?
', the final story in the Narnia series. The last time I read this series to my kids, I stopped at 'The Silver Chair', so this was the first time we've read 'The Last Battle' as a family. At the end, all of the star characters meet up in a sort of 'Heaven' (C.S.Lewis wrote many religious books, my favourite being 'The Screwtape Letters') and we were beginning to find it a little tedious. What happened to the story, my children wanted to know?Chas, who had read the book on his own, said "This book spoiled the whole series for me." He found it moralistic and sad.
When all of the lucky characters are milling and meeting, Max said "Where is Ginger? What about Ginger?"
"Well." I mused, "This is sort of like Heaven, and many religious people think that people get to go to Heaven if they are good, and I suppose Ginger was a bit bad."
"BUT!" Max sat up straight, arms outstretched, "They all FEEL so good when they get there. They forget everything bad. They can be their real good self!"
And THAT led to a lively discussion about forgiveness and our perceptions of wisdom and goodness, I can tell you. What do YOU think?
Comments
I believe that it's God's standard, not people's because as humans, we're inherently flawed. I also believe in God's grace and forgiveness which gives us 100% clemency through Jesus. This has nothing to do with my feelings, however, because my feelings are as changeable as the weather and a terrible map to set my life's course by!
My kids read the first part of the first book of the Narnia series and announced it was too silly. And they have that most annoying of all plot to sci fi/fantasy geeks--no matter how smart or valorous the protagonists are, they always need Aslan to save the day.
You have no idea how rare that is.
Some smart kiddos you have there. What a great conversation starter for a meaty topic!
The first books are such great stories... the last one, lame! Except for discussing!
Personally, I have no idea... I just like feeling prepared myself! ;-)
I sure am glad that we know how to cook at our house!
...and my verification word was "walla"
Indian word for "worker"
so Voila!
Trust Max, that Wise Head, to create the Conundrum!
Dad, Max is the wisest of them all...