Subscribe to Posts
Subscribe to CommentsIndividual Entry: Epic
« What is intelligence? |
Main
| Rorschach by Newspaper »
If you read this blog, PLEASE sign in to my guest book on frappr.
No personally identifying information is needed, so this is risk-free. Just provide a name (even a nickname), your zip code, and any statement you want to make ("hi" is sufficient).If you want to know more about me, click here.
July 12, 2005
Books : Epic
Epic : The Story God Is Telling and the Role That Is Yours to Play
by John Eldredge
A couple years back, I read the book The Cry for Myth by Rollo May (a noted Psychologist and Existential Philosopher). In it, May examines how people are drawn to myth and fictional stories as a means to understand the world around them, and how they invent stories when none of the existing ones seem to fit. May uses ancient myths, modern stories, and case studies of his patients to make his case that we are driven to understand ourselves as being part of a larger story.
Epic is a small book (only 104 under-sized pages – I read it in under 40 minutes) follows along a similar lines; but with a distinctly Christian flavor. Starting with Lord of the Rings, and using dozens of other stories – mostly movies like Star Wars, Titanic, Last of the Mohicans, The Matrix, Braveheart, Gladiator, etc. to say that we are all in fact characters in an epic story - a love story set amid a great battle between good and evil. He calls out parallels between the stories that become popular and the great story told in the Bible.
As a Christian who is also an unrepentant fan of popular culture, I found this to be an thoroughly enjoyable book – both in terms of its analysis of popular fiction, and the presentation of Christianity which I think draws nearer to the heart of the gospel than many sermons I have heard from the pulpit. Christianity is not about rules and threats – it is an love story which we are all invited to be a part of.
I consider his book is a must-read for any Christian who is a fan of modern fiction, and I would recommend it to non-Christians who are open to a new perspective on that faith.
Posted by Steven at July 12, 2005 03:37 PM
Comments
(only 104 under-sized pages – I read it in under 40 minutes)
Remind me to hide your reading glasses...that should slow you down a bit! (-:
Posted by: Anne at July 13, 2005 12:34 AM
