Narnians Without Narnia: Theology

I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. 

Puddleglum the Marshwiggle is, I believe, one of the greatest heroes in the Chronicles of Narnia. Lacking the flair of Reepicheep and the positivity of the Beavers, Puddleglum faces all challenges assuming the worst, and then charges forward anyway. Perhaps the most extreme example of this is when he recites the above quoted lines. Puddleglum’s willingness to side with Aslan and live like a Narnian despite the possibility that they may not exist, is more than just his conclusion of a logical deduction based on the Ontological Argument, it is the acceptance of a covenant with God and morality despite the (possible) non-existence of those concepts in reality. The circumstances which give rise to this declaration are as follows.

The Lady of the Green Kirtle, upon witnessing the attempted escape of Prince Rilian from her evil clutches, seeks to re-enchant Rilian and his would-be rescuers: Puddleglum, Eustace, and Jill. She casts a hypnosis spell by burning an incense which gave off a sweet and drowsy smell, and monotonously strumming on a mandolin-like instrument. Despite the efforts of the protagonists to fight against the hypnosis they are slowly overcome, until Puddleglum makes his sacrifice. With his bare feet, Puddleglum extinguishes most of fire burning the incense thus breaking the enchantment. The sharp pain combined with the dispersion of the enchantment, provides him with a moment of extreme clarity, in which he speaks to the barrenness and helplessness of the witch’s world, ending his speech with the above words.

How are we to understand Puddleglum’s declaration? It could mean, that even though the truth of Aslan and Narnian culture are in doubt, he will follow them anyway because perhaps they are, in fact, true. Given that the world would be much more interesting, moral, exciting, and so forth if there were a God (Aslan) and an objective morality (living as a Narnian) Puddleglum declares he will lean on the side that they do exist. 

Another possible explanation is to suggest that though it can be proven that Aslan and Narnia do not exist, Puddleglum refuses to accept the world in such a state and will make them exist despite proofs to the contrary.

This thought process leads us to contemplate some of the following questions. What would we do if it were proven to us that our religious beliefs were fundamentally flawed? What would Christians do if it could be proven conclusively that Jesus was not God but a human? What would traditional Jews do if it could be proven conclusively that God did not give the Torah to Moses at Sinai? Would we question these conclusive proofs saying that they only seem conclusive due to our own lack of intellectual or spiritual capability? Would we say that we will continue on our path irregardless of proof because we have a lifestyle that brings us joy, (perceived) meaning, and makes us better people (whatever that might mean)? Could our belief perpetuate and make true something that is not?

An example of this latter point: as a Jew, I believe that our nation is eternal. No enemy who sets out to destroy us, no religion who attempts to convert us, and no nation that seeks to assimilate us will ever be completely successful. God promised this to us in the bible and though tested, His promise has always allowed us to survive. Of course, Jews are a notoriously stubborn people. So how much of our survival is God's intervention and how much is our own belief that we are eternal? 

Or maybe it really doesn’t matter too much…

To be continued…