Reading List for April, 2020: Adventures in Myth with C.S. Lewis, Jordan Peterson, and Homer (as well as some other stuff)

One of the more agreeable aspects of these weeks of quarantine has been the time I have spent with the late William Manchester exploring the life of Winston Churchill. This second of three volumes catalogues the long, lonely road Churchill slogged in between the world wars – seeing clearly the threat posed by Hitler, warning of it repeatedly and vociferously, and not being heeded.

These books have been valuable to me on a personal and ministerial level. Not every aspect of Churchill’s character and actions can be applied to the life of a pastor or missionary – but a surprising amount can. I will save the details for a couple forthcoming articles.

The Iliad by Homer

When the professor of the Pre-Socratic Philosophy class I’m taking assigned me Homer’s Iliad, I was pretty enthused. I had never read this particular Greek classic, and I was eager to dive in. At the beginning I found the prose entertaining and the storyline engaging.

Then things started to drag. How many ways can a soldier be killed with a spear? Many, it turns out. How was it possible for a man to stop what he was doing and remove the armor from a slain foe? I don’t know, but they do that. A lot. And if you think all the slaying and armor-stealing is bad, it’s because you have skipped over the part where each warrior, upon meeting his foe, feels obligated to rehearse his lineage and accomplishments before coming to blows. After about the fifth time this happened I was like “Come on, Achilles, just kill the guy already!”

And that brings me to another important point: I’m not sure if Homer’s objective was to make me like Achilles, but if it was, he failed. I came away from the reading definitely in the pro-Hector camp.

And the gods. Don’t get me started on the gods. If this is an example of European polytheism, it’s no wonder the continent converted to Christianity. The amazing thing is that it didn’t happen faster.

But don’t let me discourage you. If interminable battles, childish heroes, and petty, devious deities are your thing, you’ll love this book.

Evangellyfish by Doug Wilson

After wading through Homer, I wanted something a little lighter with fewer stabbings. I decided to pick up Evangellyfish by Doug Wilson.

I know Wilson isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but if you enjoy – as I do – the way he turns a phrase while gleefully skewering the idols of the left and right, you will probably get a kick out of this book.

Wilson’s victims in this merry fictional romp through the world of modern American evangelicalism include (but are not limited to):

Mega churches
Mega church pastors
Sexual predators
#metoo
The Media
Christian publishers
Secular education
Christian education
Overzealous prosecutors
Youth pastors
Grievance bloggers
Bloggers in general…

Now that I think about it I’m not sure which included more impalement. the Iliad or Evangellyfish.

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

After finishing The Silver Chair with my boys, Puddleglum continues to be my all-time favorite Narnia character. Besides the obvious comic relief he provides, I see a hidden profundity in which his dogged fundamentalism confounds the sophisticated, deconstructive arguments of the evil queen.

Also, Lewis’ less than subtle barbs aimed at modern education are as relevant today as they were then.

Myth and Meaning in Jordan Peterson: A Christian Perspective compiled by Ron Dart

In one of my philosophy classes the professor has assigned us to write a paper on the importance of myth. Casting about for research material, I remembered that I had downloaded “Myth and Meaning in Jordan Peterson: A Christian Perspective” after finding it on sale on Amazon (Thanks, Tim Challies!).

This is a compilation of articles by several Christian writers, compiled by Ron Dart, who evaluate the works of the noteworthy (or notorious, depending on your viewpoint) Canadian psychologist.

While the content necessarily revolves around Peterson and his world view, I was pleased that several of the articles dealt at length with the subject of myth as it relates to culture, society, and philosophy. Though there were parts through which I found myself wading waste-deep, most of the book I found to be quite accessible.

If you are a Christian who is aware of Peterson (either through his books or videos), or are curious about how a Christian takes on the subject of myth, this is an excellent resource.

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