Simple question looking for simple answer :)

[lamer]

Hey all, I'm new to the forums so let me first say hi :D I've recently re-read the Narnia books (well almost, I'm halfway through them :P) and since I'm now older I can see things in the book that I didn't see before. Before I took it as a literal thing but now I know it can be looked at other ways.

Ok, my simple question is this: Aslan. Is he actually supposedly playing the part of God, or is he just a representor of what He does? What I mean by that is, does Lewis intend that Aslan be Christ? Or does he intend to make Aslan the "Christ" of Narnia?

Thanks for any help, and if that wasn't readable (I'm tired xD) let me know and I'll explain it better. I hope this doesn't turn into some big debate or anything :P Thanks!

[Saruman]

No, you've explained quite clearly.

As has been discussed on this forum, C.S. Lewis' intentions for writing Narnia were simply to create fun children's stories and to let the imagination soar. However, the finished outcome of his stories was scattershot with Christian themes, allegories, ideas, etc., and Aslan is at the very epicenter of all of this. Indeed, somewhere else on this forum there was a discussion on "the nine names of Aslan," and that one of them most certainly was Jesus Christ (he told, I believe, Eustace and Jill that he existed in our world, but that he "went by a different name" - and they would have to get to know him in our world).

Again, I will not go into any other details about "The Last Battle," but at the end the children see Aslan and he is "not in the form of a lion."

[lamer]

Oh, there are other topics on this? I'll go look and see. Thanks for the help. :)

[Saruman]

No problem. And feel more than welcome to discuss some more in this thread you've made! After all, it makes for a great discussion. There's plenty to talk about when it comes to Aslan. :)

[inkspot]

Here is what CS Lewis said:
I said "Let us suppose that there were a land like Narnia and that the Son of God, as He became a Man in our world, became a Lion there, and then imagine what would happen.

And
"The whole series works out like this:
• The Magician's Nephew tells the Creation and how evil entered Narnia,
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - the Crucifixion and Resurrection,
• The Horse and His Boy - the calling and conversion of the heathen,
• Prince Caspian - restoration of the true religion after a corruption,
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - the spiritual life (especially in Reepicheep),
• The Silver Chair - the continuing war against the powers of darkness,
• The Last Battle - the coming of Antichrist (the ape). The end of the world and the last judgement."