Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Must a Creator Immortal?

In the previous post, I asked why the White Witch thought she could kill Aslan. She knew that he created Narnia (and presumably the universe of Narnia) so how could she not realize that he is immortal? 

Before we get to an answer we should note that a spirtual mistake of this sort happen another time in Narnia. The Narnians assumed that Tash was simply a false god, one that did not exsit. And they weren't the only ones: the Calormen of "The Last Battle" also did not believe in the existence of Tash and I think we can argue that the Tisrocs did not either. Remember this exchange: 

    "O impeccable Tisroc," said the Vizier. "In comparison with you I love neither the Prince nor my own        life nor bread nor water nor the light of the sun."

    "Your sentiments," said the Tisroc, "are elevated and correct. I also love none of these things in                   comparison with the glory and strength of my throne..."

The Tisroc mentions no love for Tash only for his own power. Strangely enough, the only character we know for sure believed in Tash was Emeth!  

As for the Narnians, only when Tash came into Narnia did they realize there was a spiritual evil that had possessed the Calormens and aimed to fight against Aslan on Narnian soil. 

Be that as it may, I think there's a reason the White Witch did not equate Creator to immortal, because she did not equate Destroyer to immortal. She was the great destroyer of Charn, yet not immortal. What is the difference between creation and destruction. In fact, destroying is far easier than creating. Only a truly intelligent and loving being can create, but any tyrant can destroy. 

The value of creation is underestimated, undervalued, and perhaps even vilified. Screwtape says, "At present the Enemy says 'Mine' of everything on the pedantic, legalistic ground that He made it: Our Father hopes in the end to say 'Mine' of all things on the more realistic and dynamic ground of conquest." Thus, the devil, the White Witch, Tash, the Tisroc, and so many others gain power and ownership through destruction. But in truth, only evil must be destroyed, ownership is attained via creation. And a true creator must be greater than what he creates. Thus, the creator of the world must be immortal.   

Monday, May 12, 2025

Killing Aslan?

Why does the White Witch think she can kill Aslan?

In the Christian Bible Pontius Pilate killed Jesus because he did not recognize Jesus' divinity. However, the White Witch saw Aslan create Narnia. She understood that Aslan is the Creator. So why does she think that he could die?  

I think the answer has to do with the asymmetry between Creation and Destruction. 

But let's think about it a bit more bbefore we go on... 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Are You a Daughter of Eve?

Why, Daughter of Eve, that's what I brought you here for.
I'm to lead you where you shall meet him...

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The creatures of Narnia look at their foreign visitors and ask what to the creatures is the most important of questions, "Are you a daughter of Eve?" It is the first question Tumnus asks Lucy, it is the musing of Trumpkin when presented with Eustace and Jill, it is moniker Mr. Beaver gives to Susan in the above quote. And perhaps what is most confusing, the children do not realize what it means.  

Well, what does it mean? 

On its surface the question of Tumnus is simply one of species identification. Are you really that species descended from Adam and Eve who I supposed to be looking out for. Perhaps instead you are a small giant or one of the jinn? Lucy, unsure why anyone would confuse a human for anything else, is understandably not able to process the question. 

But, as we see with Tumnus, there is more to the question, though perhaps at this point himself does not realize. Are you a Daughter of Eve? A descendant of the woman who, on the one hand, brought sin to the world, but is yet, "Little less than divine. (Psalms 8:5)" Are you of the kind that tore creation asunder, but is still a creator yourself, "the mother of all life (Genesis 3:20)"? Do you understand that coming from the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve, "That is both honor enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth."

For only when you do, can you face the one God, the Divine Presence, the Creator of All.

Aslan brings the children to Narnia to get to know him, but to do that they first need to know themselves and where they come from.   

The Lamp-post and the Burning Bush (Part 2)

There's one more point I wanted to raise with respect to the lamp-post (for now). In fact, it's another parallel to Moses. At the Pa...