TILL WE HAVE FACES Pt. 2: Book Discussion – SA212

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3 responses to “TILL WE HAVE FACES Pt. 2: Book Discussion – SA212”

1. 

   Thomas Kolar

   December 20, 2016

   I’m glad I got to finally listen to this and I’m glad you guys finally got to cover it. I think Till We Have Faces is arguably the best book CS Lewis wrote, and is the magnum pus of his career, summing up so many of the major ideas of his work. It has the psychological insight of Screwtape, the allegorical power of Narnia, and one of the most thorough working outs of his thinking about the relationship between classical pagan culture and Christianity. And that last point is one that I have to argue with Evan about. He seemed to be saying that Lewis was advancing the idea that the pagan worship and mythology of Glome was demonic, and that’s why Lewis described them in terms like “darkness” or “blood.” I think this frankly a misreading of Lewis’s whole approach to paganism. He never saw it as entirely evil or demonic, but took a more medieval anglo-catholic approach that emphasized the potential goodness and truth contained in classical greek or norse paganism that was ultimately “baptized” in the faith. He of course never denied the darkness or evil that was potentially present in paganism, but he argued that under the faith, pagan culture and mythology could be purified and enjoyed. I mean, he had Bacchus in Prince Caspian, for heaven sakes. As Edmund said, you wouldn’t want to be around Bacchus without Aslan, but with Aslan you were safe to revel. The description of the priest and the holy places in Faces is not, I think, presenting it as demonic but is presenting the aspects of classical culture Lewis described as “Thick.” the Fox and classical skeptical philosophy is the “Clear”- philosophy, art, and ethics. However the “Thick” is sacrifice, blood, and mystery. The holy place of Glome isn’t demonic, but a place of religious mystery. Lewis would argue that Christianity is the perfect merging of Thick and Clear, but that both are necessary for religious life. The pagan religion of Glome is one of the best tools those people have to try to understand God and a moral life. There is a number of evil and terrible errors mixed in, but also a surprising amount of truth. Even the sacrifice of Psyche is both a terrible evil and at the same time a kind of blind groping toward the future coming of Christ. It’s not purely demonic as much as incomplete, crude, and flawed, but with the potential for true moral and spiritual growth
   toward God (per Romans 2:14-16, a passage Lewis specifically references in Last Battle).

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   1. 

      Sean Durity

      January 18, 2017

      I agree with your reading of Lewis’ intent with the religion of Glome. Both the Fox and Bardia (a follower of Ungit) represent a level of truth, but not complete. Christianity bridges the gaps and unites the two into one Truth – the person of Jesus, as the end of the story reveals.

      I am very thankful for these episodes. They made me buy and read Till we Have Faces (and I held off on the 2nd part until I read the book completely). I enjoyed the book very much. In fact, it looks like I will be leading a class/reading group on this book at my church in the spring. Thank you for inspiring me to read this one!

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2. OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET – SA344 – Strangers and Aliens: Science Fiction & Fantasy from a Christian Perspective

   September 23, 2021

   […] CS LEWIS EPISODES:TILL WE HAVE FACES Pt. 1: The Origin of the Book – Episode 211TILL WE HAVE FACES Pt. 2: Book Discussion – Episode 212A Celebration of C.S. Lewis – Episode 101The Silver Chair and the Red & Blue Pills – […]

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