In defense of Narnia

I’ve been trying to ignore most of the Narnia hype in the run-up to the movie (though I’m looking forward to the movie itself). Like with The Passion of the Christ I find the idea of a “Christian” marketing blitz pretty distasteful.

But this article is worth a read. Michael Nelson, a professor of political science at Rhodes College, defends the Narnia books from Philip Pullman’s charges that they’re sexist, racist, gratuitously violent, and “loveless.” Pullman, the author of a series of apparently explicitly anti-Christian children’s books, seems to be on a one-man crusade to discredit Lewis. Though it doesn’t appear that Lewis’ popularity is in any danger at this point.

Incidentally, the Inquirer carried an excerpt this morning from a letter that Lewis had written saying that he was “absolutely opposed” to a live-action film version of the Narnia books. He was more open to the idea of a cartoon “if only Disney did not combine so much vulgarity with his genius!” (Disney is producing the movie.) Make of that what you will.

(Link via Tolle, Blogge)