bookofmirrors | The Chronicles of Narnia

So, the three of us splurged on The Chronicles of Narnia today.

I'm not really intending to put anything that might be considered a spoiler in this post, but I'm not going to tailor my post to NOT be spoiler-laden, either. I guess I just kinda figure everyone knows the story.

However, in case I'm wrong, and you don't wanna risk it, you may choose not to

I find it hard to even put into words this movie. I remember a long time ago, as an adult, buying the boxed set of the Narnia books, and starting to read them, and getting kinda bored, and I don't think finishing even one of them. However, several months ago, when the three of us were sitting there, and that preview came on, I felt SUCH a powerful wave of strong tears-caught-in-your-throat emotion from both

blckwngdorcl and

lunenoire that I sat up and took notice. When

lunenoire told me that the Narnia books were C.S. Lewis' attempt to teach Christianity to children, I was immediately interested.

So, in my forays to the bookstore, as well as with

lunenoire's copies of the books, I read the whole series (in chronological, rather than written, order).

In The Magician's Nephew, I was moved to tears by the depiction of the creation of Narnia. There was something breathtakingly beautiful about a world being sung into existence. The love with which is was done was almost like a palpable blanket around me as I read it. Aslan was... I don't know how C.S. Lewis was able to imbue a character with so much... lovekindnesswisdompowerjoyicouldgoonandonandon... What a beautiful and incredible way to introduce God to children. Aslan is the Christian God that gets lost in the fire and brimstone, in the holier than thou, in the dogma. Aslan is the Christian God as he was meant to be. Not the construct the Church has created. This is the God that holds you in his lap while you weep, and offers no judgement. This is the God that sacrifices himself for you and doesn't expect a thing of you in return. This is the God that plays with you when he returns, just 'cause he's so happy to see you, and to be a part of the world again.

This is the Christian God that Christianity denies its followers.

And I find that so sad. How absolutely beautiful would the world be if we emulated THAT God? Not the one that casts sinners into the depths of hell, but the one who lets you use his body as a pillow? Not the one that requires fear but the one who embodies love? Yeah, sure, they taught both those things when I was growing up, but somehow the love stuff got lost in the other stuff. I see the way of the world today, and I see that that message is getting more and more lost. Dogma and doctrine over love and joy. (Couldn't think of a good alliteration.) It just makes me want to cry that all of that was lost.

The movie itself was every bit as beautiful. They did it justice. All three of us were crying throughout the movie. Aslan was... perfect. Liam Neeson's voice was instantly recognizable and instantly believable. The movie was as palpable as the books.

Aslan is not a tame lion, and God cannot be similarly tamed by his followers.

And Praise Aslan for that.