The Longings of a Fairy Story

The Truth Behind Good Fiction

This is Tim Keller’s account of Lewis and Tolkien discussing myths and reality. It expands from yesterdays reenactment post of J. R. R. Tolkien explaining what a True Myth is to C. S. Lewis.

I remember in my younger formative Christian years, which took place while I was in college, that many “good Christians” around me believed fiction was a bad thing. Perhaps because I was coming later to the Christianity than my peers, I wasn’t persuaded. In fact, I became an English major hoping to get in some quality reading before I graduated (it didn’t happen as I had hoped).

It seems to me at the time my classmates’ biggest argument against fiction was that it is a false narrative.

Of course, not all fiction is good, but it does play an important role in enabling us to think  about abstract ideas in useful ways.

Finally, as to whether fiction is good or bad. Take it up with Jesus the parable-story teller.