Tolkien and Lewis

By Mike Banta

 

 

You may not know that I am a big fan of good fantasy and science fiction writing. As a teen I was very much taken with The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, as well as the novels of CS Lewis, including the Narnia books, and the science fiction trilogy beginning with Out of the Silent Planet. CS Lewis, as most of you know, was also a prolific and popular Christian writer. Tolkien was a devout Catholic.

 

JRR Tolkien

Lewis and Tolkien were friends while professors at Oxford. Both men were fascinated by the power of mythology. Today we often equate the word “myth” with “fable” or something not true. But Tolkien and Lewis were convinced that mythic stories could deeply move and influence people. When they could find no contemporary authors publishing such stories, they decided to write some themselves. The resulting books are the masterpieces we know both men for today.

 

CS Lewis

 

CS Lewis credited Tolkien for his conversion to Christianity. In 1931 the two professors (joined by a third friend named Hugo Dyson) went for a walk on a blustery evening, talking far into the night. Humphrey Carter recounts the story in his biography of Tolkien, which I have abbreviated:

 

Lewis could not yet understand the function of Christ in Christianity, could not perceive the meaning of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Tolkien and Dyson reminded him that when [Lewis] encountered the idea of sacrifice in mythology he admired it and was moved by it. Could he not transfer his comparatively unquestioning appreciation of sacrifice from the myth to the true story?

 

“But,” said Lewis, “myths are lies, even though lies breathed through silver.”

 

“No,” said Tolkien, “they are not.”

 

After further conversation, Lewis finally asked, “You mean that the story of Christ is simply a true myth, a myth that works on us in the same way as the others, but a myth that really happened? In that case, I begin to understand.”

 

Lewis wrote to a friend twelve days later, professing his belief in Christ based on this conversation.

 

What moves you deeply? Are there books or stories that inspire a deep and enduring connection? CS Lewis was drawn into relationship with God because he admired mythology, and it became a paradigm for understanding Christ in reality. Perhaps for you it is the beauty of nature, or the preciousness of human relationship that inspires you. I am reminded of Paul speaking to us in the first chapter of Romans, as I paraphrase:

 

… That which is known about God is evident within [us], for God made it evident to [us].

 

Yes, we come to know God through scripture, prayer, and preaching, but in those ways and more, through the Holy Spirit speaking within us. As humans we are drawn to that which generates deep feelings of joy and connectedness, for in these things we glimpse our Creator. That which we see “as through a glass, darkly” causes us to further discover the vastness of the Gospel, which draws us more deeply into wholeness of relationship with God.

 

Lord, as we anticipate new understanding and growth in You, we ask You to use that which moves us deeply to teach us and draw us nearer to You. We ask that each day would bring us new dimensions of understanding of Your Gospel. Let us exult in fresh experiences of Your love and compassion. Amen.