Aesop’s Fables

10 Comments

1. To play the devil’s advocate, how would that be different from any other work of fiction, for example, the Chronicles of Narnia? Both are admittedly “fabulous”, i.e., not representing itself as truth. So neither are lying or being dishonest.

   I find it curious that you would condone Chronicles of Narnia, but condemn Aesop’s fables. Perhaps I am missing something.

   For me, the test with works of fiction (such as Aesop’s fables) would be: Does the fiction present a worldview that is good and edifying, and otherwise in congruity with Philippians 4:8? Is the moral of the story, in fact, “moral”?

   Now, I would disagree with those who attempt to use “moral stories” such as Aesop’s, in order to give an illusion of morality without Christ.

   But outside of that, to the extent that Aesop’s fables are morally sound, I would have no problem with them.

2. I’ve never had any interest except for cultural relevancy. How would you know what “cry wolf” meant if you didn’t know the boy who cried wolf? I’ve often wondered, however, about this value of liberal arts education, and whether it just wastes gray matter. On the other hand, Paul used secular literature in some of his sermons. Does this justify that knowledge?

3. I guess thats why they are called ‘fables.’ So far every fable I’ve heard from Aesop has some valid moral truth to it. I guess I would classify them as secular, but not worldly – much like classical music vs. CCM.

4. Hey you can’t play devil’s advocate!! That was my part. And my point, for that matter.

   On the Narnia front, I didn’t think that I “condoned” the Chronicles. I’ve never even read one complete book of the set.

   In the past I simply tried to articulate what I had heard other Christians say about that type of literature.

   Maybe I was unclear. That’s very easy when you can’t see my body language or hear my voice inflections.

   🙂

5. The Bible is full of nontruth, parables that Christ used for starters. Does that mean we should stay away from the Bible?

6. So, I guess because I didn’t YELL what I had to say or alliterate it, it must have some faulty reasoning in it. 🙂

7. LOL! I hear you.

   When I first read your post I knew you were being sarcastic. I thought to myself hmm that certainly this post is not ‘Jeffvoegtlinesque.’

8. If Aesop and CS lewis is so evil, why are they in the college/school library? How about Chaucer and the Caterbury tells, the likes of Lord Byron in his gay in glory?

9. Dear Anonymous,

   Please see previous comments. I am being sarcastic! Thanks.

10. There is a big difference between a parable and some fantasy fiction – like Lewis. Parables may not be about a specific situation (ie. a true account or event); however there is nothing in them that contradicts reality, they are used as an illustration. Personally, I do believe many of Jesus’ parables actually were real situations – if not one actual event, then based on events He (God) knows of – ie. they were not fantastic tales made up to entertain.

    The difference between that and Lewis is Lewis is more than likely not even saved (dying with last rites in the Catholic church), and his stories contradict the Bible so much (in The Last Battle, a character who deliberately served the evil god in the series his whole life was declared to be serving the truth God all along, though ignorantly!). To our modern day ecumenical movement, Lewis is their hero, their spokesperson. Stay away from that guy!

    By the way, The Canterbury Tales also presents religious junk (Catholicism, if I remember correctly).

    Nothing like being separated in our reading! (It is one thing to have read something and know what is wrong with it, another thing to promote it when it clearly contradicts God’s Word or teaches a false gospel – we need to make sure we are never guilty of that.)

    P.S. I am not promoting Aesop’s Fables either. I would rather teach the pure morality of the Bible than a watered down form of religious (not Christian) values.–>

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