Live Like a Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewis’s Chronicles by Joe Rigney – a book review. Live Like a Narnian is published by Eyes and Pen Press; paperback 180 pages. For those interested, Rigney has also written Lewis on the Christian Life: Becoming Truly Human in the Presence of God published by Crossway (300 pages) which draws on a broader spectrum of C. S. Lewis’ writings.
Some Background
Many Chronicles Purists will advise you to begin reading the Seven Chronicles with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. One reason cited is that it was the first book Lewis wrote in the series. However, as a teen, in our secular school library, The Magician’s Nephew was the only book I saw on the shelves. It happens to be one that portrays the creation of Narnia; the beginning of it all.
So I began with that and I’m glad I did. The reason I say this is that I came out from two religious schools and immediately recognized something special in Aslan and the creation of Narnia.
I could feel a joy and delight welling up as I read Nephew. That special-ness was confirmed when I next discovered the Wardrobe and recognized what Lewis had done. It was a treat I needed (unlike Edmund’s Turkish delight). Personally, I’m glad I read them in that order.
The Review
Rigney advises the reader to read the Chronicles first, if they haven’t already. I agree, mostly; but I think there’s also a chance that someone stumbling on his book might get their appetite whetted. What Rigney does in Live Like a Narnian is draw out the special-ness of Narnia; the very one I recognized, but much, much more.
Early on as a lead into his book, he talks about Lewis’ book, The Abolition of Man. Rigney writes,
To summarize, Lewis sees the progression like this: 1) the marginalization of value statements leads to 2) the separation of fact from value, which leads to 3) the creation of men without chests, which leads to 4) the elevation of “instinct” as an ultimate value, which, because of its own self-contradictions. Lead to 5) man’s attempt to conquer nature through science and technology and 6) the tyranny of the conditioners over mankind, which in the end is 7) the abolition of man. (Page 30)
Does the above sound familiar? Shades of That Hideous Strength!
Perhaps my favorite chapter was The Folly of Nothing-Buttery. And, no, it has nothing to do with butter. Going from a school which taught Christ and Christian values to a state school with a library full of secular books extolling subjects like evolution created a crisis in me. The concept that this world is nothing but an accident and mankind is nothing but the result of that accident lurked in the background of our classrooms. Rigney addresses this folly.
Living like a Narnian is an antidote for living like men without chests (Abolition) that live under the shadow or mantle of the social Innovators and Conditioners. Rigney brings out the best of the traits of the main characters, and in at least two cases, their redemption. This is one reason the Chronicles drew me, aside from Aslan.
Live Like a Narnian is a highly readable and accessible little book that introduces readers to Narnia. If you haven’t read the Chronicles, reading it might just make you want to, and also Lewis’ other books.
Highly recommended!
Further reading
On Aslan and the Reading of Many Books
Time to Visit That Hideous Strength Again
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Live Like A Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewis’s Chronicles
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