Holy Spirit Allegory

[Larael]

Today at church during a youth group discussion we began talking about ways we picture the Holy Spirit, and someone raised their hand and said that when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into the disciples he pictured Aslan breathing on those who had been turned to stone.

I thought this was really interesting, because I had never really found an allegory to the Holy Spirit in CoN till it was mentioned today. I find that it really does fit and I just wanted to know your opinions on it too.

[Luthien of Narnia]

I completely agree with that. Recently I read a book called something like "Finding God in the Chronicles of Narnia", and it talked about this. I find such allegories intriguing, as there is just so much a person can draw from them, and apply to their life.

For example, we can see Aslan's breath as the Holy Spirit, and only when he blew on the "dead" people, could they be revived. Also, there are a ton of places in the CoN series where His breath makes the kids feel stronger, like they can do what they need to do. I believe the Holy Spirit is a comforter, and gives us the strength to go on(as well as many other things), and in this way the allegory seems clear.

[†vikingmaiden†]

That is interesting...the holy spirit as Aslan's breath. I think the Holy Spirit is a really cool aspect of the Trinity that doesn't always get mentioned a whole lot. It is interesting, in Celtic Christian tradition, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Wild Goose...however, I digress as usual. Maybe we could even picture the Holy Spirit as the Breath of God...I usually picture the Spirit as a beam of sunlight...but there are a ton of ways you can view it.

While the parallel is completely valid, I would not call it an allegory (get ready for some stuffy English major moments )...allegory is a story when each element of the story is representative of one specific thing. If you've read John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, you will find that it is an allegory...the characters have names of the concepts they represent (Christian, Charity, Vanity Fair etc. etc.). Allegory was a favourite of medieval mystery plays as well. Narnia is not a true allegory. This does not mean it has no spiritual meanings or parallels. Another thing that gets 'allegorized' are the parables of Jesus. Not everything in the parables represent something (although people try and make it work), but there is a main message that are paralleled to our own lives. That is rather the way I view Narnia or anything by Tolkien or Lewis. It is a part of a mythological idea, that all stories mirror the Christian myth--which Lewis and Tolkien called "The One True Myth".

[Gwenneth]

Hmm, yeah, everyone knows about how Jesus is Aslan and the Emperor-beyond-the-sea is God, but I've never really thought about the Holy Spirit. I think you're right, though.

And actually VM, you made a good point. I never really knew that an allegory had a speicific meaning for every character.

[sinbearer]

vikingmaiden said:

....but there is a main message that are paralleled to our own lives. That is rather the way I view Narnia or anything by Tolkien or Lewis. It is a part of a mythological idea, that all stories mirror the Christian myth--which Lewis and Tolkien called "The One True Myth".

So well said Vikingmaiden! Many times not everything fits perfectly or represents something but it doesn't have to...the truth is still there in infinitely deep layers.

I love the thought you brought up Larael. I was always impressed with how Father Christmas gives gifts to the children just like the Holy Spirit gives us gifts but never thought about Aslan's breath. Totally neat thought!