C.S. Lewis' Allegorical Journey

I finished reading C.S. Lewis’ The Pilgrim’s Regress this weekend, and though I did not find the book enthralling, it was an entertaining allegory.  The book seems to follow Lewis’ own meanderings from unbeliever to believer, and, as in many other Lewis writings, exhibits Lewis’ complete embracing of Christian faith.

Paging through the book, I find I only took my pen to it two places.  In one of those instances, I penned a remark that a statement made in Lewis’ book reminded me of remarks made by Plato in regards to what we know, or remember, that I had highlighted from the book Great Dialogues of Plato.

The other notation made was an underlining of the following where Lewis criticizes the inductive method when applied to science.

"Hypothesis, my dear young friend, establishes itself by a cumulative process: or, to use popular language, if you make the same guess often enough it ceases to be a guess and becomes a Scientific Fact."

C.S. Lewis, The Pilgrim’s Regress, pg. 22

A statement which, by substituting “Religious Truth” for “Scientific Fact,” can be applied to Christianity.

I did enjoy Michael Hague’s illustrations within Lewis’ book.  On to Nietzsche.

Posted by on 04/18 at 07:52 AM

  1. That’s quite similar to a statement by Lenin: “a lie told often enough becomes truth.” And, somewhat more cynically, by Pilate: “what is truth?”

    It is true, however, that people can be easily led astray by false religious teachings. You need only look at Christian encouragement that quotes Jeremiah 29:11. (“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you.’")

    People are taught that God will protect us, though that verse is really a prophecy regarding the Israelites bondage (that probably has messianic meaning as well). In reality, 11 of the 12 apostles (John was the odd one out) died in martyrdom. The way of the cross often leads us directly into harm’s way.

    Did you have something in mind about Christianity that gets repeated into truth? I found it interesting that you read a work by one of the greatest Christian apologists and were struck only by a comment that reminded you of Plato and another regarding fiction being turned into truth.

    Posted by Matt Diephouse  on  04/18  at  02:23 PM

  2. Matt -

    I did not have any other thought in mind regarding Christianity.  I was simply struck by the similarities.

    Posted by  on  04/18  at  03:30 PM

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