The new “Prince Caspian” movie is out and it’s worth seeing—at least for older kids. It’s a little more violent than the first Narnia movie and seems to be geared more toward teens this time. The production quality is superior to the first movie and the soundtrack is exceptional. I expected there to be less Christian overtones in this one, but the theme of faith in the Savior in the face of adversity was pretty blatant. This time around, the Pevensie kids team up with various sylvan creatures to overthrow an evil kingdom of men. Along the way, they have to reject temptation from monstrous demons promising an easy victory.
Some of our homeschooling acquaintances don’t want their kids to watch or read “fantasy”—C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkein included. But I’m of the opposite mindset. I think children can differentiate between make-believe and reality. And I think stories that pit the forces of good against the forces of evil strengthen their values and mold their character. Kids know there aren’t real Orcs or Stormtroopers or White Witches. But they know there are bad guys in the world. These stories give them a frame of reference when it comes time for them to call on their own courage.
There’s a book I came across several years ago—but never actually read—that makes a similar argument. It’s called “Killing Monsters: Why Kids Need Fantasy, Super Heroes and Make-Believe Violence.” Obviously there are limits. But I don’t recall being scarred as a kid—or questioning my faith—just because I watched “Star Wars” or “Superfriends.” Instead, it's the morally-relativistic stuff that'll get you.
In "The Two Towers," as hordes of armored beasts storm the gates of his fortress, King Theoden laments: “So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?”
To which Aragorn, the king-to-be, replies: “Ride with me. Ride out and meet them.”
There’ll be times when our kids will have to “ride out and meet” the forces of darkness. Not with swords, but with words and deeds. In the meantime, if they can learn anything of resolute courage from a movie or a book, all the better.
Some of our homeschooling acquaintances don’t want their kids to watch or read “fantasy”—C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkein included. But I’m of the opposite mindset. I think children can differentiate between make-believe and reality. And I think stories that pit the forces of good against the forces of evil strengthen their values and mold their character. Kids know there aren’t real Orcs or Stormtroopers or White Witches. But they know there are bad guys in the world. These stories give them a frame of reference when it comes time for them to call on their own courage.
There’s a book I came across several years ago—but never actually read—that makes a similar argument. It’s called “Killing Monsters: Why Kids Need Fantasy, Super Heroes and Make-Believe Violence.” Obviously there are limits. But I don’t recall being scarred as a kid—or questioning my faith—just because I watched “Star Wars” or “Superfriends.” Instead, it's the morally-relativistic stuff that'll get you.
In "The Two Towers," as hordes of armored beasts storm the gates of his fortress, King Theoden laments: “So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?”
To which Aragorn, the king-to-be, replies: “Ride with me. Ride out and meet them.”
There’ll be times when our kids will have to “ride out and meet” the forces of darkness. Not with swords, but with words and deeds. In the meantime, if they can learn anything of resolute courage from a movie or a book, all the better.
1 comment:
well said brother...thank you for not burying your head in the sands of fundamentalistic legalism and speaking the truth....last time I checked my homeschooled teens weren't scarred either...on the contrary from the influences of Tolkein and Lewis, my 17 year old son is a published author of a christian fantasy novel...now how cool is that!!
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