I'm teaching a Literature Elective at PSCC on the Chronicles of Narnia in the Spring, and thus have been reading a lot (perhaps too much) on Lewis, imagnation, fantasy, etc. The question constantly revolves in my mind as I teach through courses: what is the worth of Fantasy? Both Lewis and Tolkien argued that Fantasy specifically awakens a desire for something more - something outside of our everyday existence. *If* this drives people towards Christ, it is a marvelous tool - but if it can satiate that desire through the text itself, it is dangerous. I suppose this is how all things, especially dealing with the imagination, work. I also have students ask me: how do I glorify God with my imagination? I don't know if I have an answer, but here is an interesting quote:
"Imagination is either refined or corrupted in the course of a human being's maturation and growth...to some it might seem that the important question is whether imagination is waxing or waning in society. But this is not the issue. Wherever there are human beings imagination exists and is exercised, much as wherever there are spiders webs are spun. The important question that needs to be brought up is what kinds of imagination our contemporary culture encourages." - Vigen Guroian
I think our contemporary culture encourages weak, self-centered, twisted, and lustful imagination. Many fans of fantasy and fairy-tale contest that, fairy tales specifically, teach children the right kind of wonder. They meld morals with imagination and emphasize consequences for actions. Interesting stuff. One of my students postulated that the less "you" there is in your imaginative output, and the more God, the better. I suppose it all comes back to the heart: WHY do you create? I do think we must train and refine children's imaginations because, ultimately, our faith is a melding of imagination, reason, will - all of us. It's not just about knowing the right stuff, it's about imagining the right things, too.
3 comments:
That is the best answer to that question yet. That has been the question I have been asking you for along time. That is definitely an awesome answer. Thanks for sharing and always trying to what glorifies God most.
Yah thats definetly a controversial question...My dad used to be into fantasy and sci fi but he got sick of it because after awhile it was just too much for him...Like recently i went and saw Eragon...and it was cool but i still dont know if it was really a worthwhile movie to wathc...thats an interesting thing to discuss though...hmmmm well, ill ttyl!
Very well said.
The mind is an amazing creation--we must use it wisely, in purity, and purposefully.
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