Fascinating. The question of whether or not the people outside the Judeo-Christian tradition (i.e. Pagan poets, philosophers and writers) can be divinely inspired is something I've been contemplating about these days.
I believe it was Tolkien who suggested that all Pagan myths contained fragments of the shared truth about God that He revealed more fully through His covenant with Israel, and later through Christ. Perhaps some are simply closer to the truth than others. Perhaps God granted some of them to perceive things more clearly. Do those count as divine inspiration? It can certainly serve as a form of "seedbed for truth".
I actually wrote a recent article arguing that the Chaoskampf pattern common across various myths are actually distorted memories of the fall in the garden and the yearning for the promise given about the serpent's defeat at the aftermath.
That’s a fascinating idea! And I think you’re right to invoke Tolkien’s conception of the truth myth here. I think that’s precisely what he was referring to
I think it's also a better way to frame these stories to be honest. Plenty of Christians either dismiss other myths as pure fiction (like Marvel movies), or get anxious that engaging with it seriously might risk veering into syncretism. Both instincts, while well-meaning, might actually diminish the power of the Gospel.
I think so as well! Given the Christian assertion that God is “I am who am,” then it would be naturally that all powerful stories do so because they point to a fullness of Truth found in the logos made flesh
If “God” then necessarily defined as a transcendent intelligence, created life from the timeless eternal; to what flaw do we attribute our implausible “if?”.
Fascinating. The question of whether or not the people outside the Judeo-Christian tradition (i.e. Pagan poets, philosophers and writers) can be divinely inspired is something I've been contemplating about these days.
I believe it was Tolkien who suggested that all Pagan myths contained fragments of the shared truth about God that He revealed more fully through His covenant with Israel, and later through Christ. Perhaps some are simply closer to the truth than others. Perhaps God granted some of them to perceive things more clearly. Do those count as divine inspiration? It can certainly serve as a form of "seedbed for truth".
I actually wrote a recent article arguing that the Chaoskampf pattern common across various myths are actually distorted memories of the fall in the garden and the yearning for the promise given about the serpent's defeat at the aftermath.
https://evangel108.substack.com/p/dance-of-the-dragons
That’s a fascinating idea! And I think you’re right to invoke Tolkien’s conception of the truth myth here. I think that’s precisely what he was referring to
I think it's also a better way to frame these stories to be honest. Plenty of Christians either dismiss other myths as pure fiction (like Marvel movies), or get anxious that engaging with it seriously might risk veering into syncretism. Both instincts, while well-meaning, might actually diminish the power of the Gospel.
I think so as well! Given the Christian assertion that God is “I am who am,” then it would be naturally that all powerful stories do so because they point to a fullness of Truth found in the logos made flesh
Wonderful piece. Thank you!
Thanks Michelle! Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent topic & handling of it :)
Thank you sir!
Beautifully told. We must always seek “heavenly truth.” It’s what keeps us grounded in current chaos.
Thanks Laura. Indeed, “the truth will set you free,” as the saying goes
If “God” then necessarily defined as a transcendent intelligence, created life from the timeless eternal; to what flaw do we attribute our implausible “if?”.
Deborah.
…waking query after reading your beautiful post.
Thanks Deborah! That’s a thought very much worth pondering and taking seriously