The Power of the Writer

In C.S. Lewis's lovely stories of Narnia, he writes about Aslan (analogous to Jesus) and a witch (representing Satan).

Let me ask you some questions.

1. Did Aslan appear in the form of a lion?
2. Did Narnian time proceed at a different rate from our time?
3. Was Narnia created by Aslan?

The answer to all these questions is definitely "Yes".

That is to say, in the fictional world created by C.S. Lewis, the answer is definitely "Yes".

However, in the real world, the questions themselves are almost meaningless.
1. "Aslan" appeared only in the form of a printed word, until Hollywood added a lion costume and some computer graphics.
2. Narnian time is a fictional concept and therefore bears no relation to real time.
3. "Narnia" was dreamed up by Lewis himself.

In his book, "Mere Christianity", Lewis poses a false trichotemy which I paraphrase as follows:

"Jesus gave us three possibilities: Lunatic, Liar or Lord. He left us no other option. We can't simply say he was a good man and leave it at that."

Lewis had a blind spot; perhaps he couldn't help it, being a writer himself. The power of the writer. It wasn't Jesus who wrote the gospels - it was the gospel writers. And they had the power to add or twist anything they wanted. In their culture, it was fairly common to write "hagiographies" - stories that glorified a dead hero. It was acceptable to dress up and tidy up the hero's life to make him or her seem more wonderful, mystical and marvellous. The early church had the power to change and add episodes to the gospels in any way they wished. We have evidence that this did occur.

If I wrote your life story, it would be within my power to make you into a god, a hero or a villain. Never forget the power of the writer.