News Article

A panel of Gonzaga University professors will discuss, “A Christian in Narnia: Thoughts on the New Film Version of ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’,” from 4-5:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9 in Room 203 of the Administration Building on the GU campus. The event, presented and sponsored by the Gonzaga Socratic Club, is free and open to the public.

Panelists will include philosophy Professors David Calhoun, Brian Clayton, and Richard McClelland. The new Narnia film, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” opens Dec. 9, and panelists will preview the film on the evening of Dec. 8.

The famous seven books, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by C. S. Lewis have delighted fantasy literature fans of all ages since they were first published in 1950. The first book in the series, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” has provoked spirited discussion about its depiction of Christian themes of sin and redemption. Among the questions the panelists will probe are: To what extent should the book be regarded as Christian? Is it an allegory in which elements of the Christian Gospel are merely “disguised” and repackaged in a fantasy setting? Further, how is the specifically Christian character of the story handled in the film version?

Following a discussion of these and other questions, plenty of time will be allocated for further questions and discussion.

For more information about the Socratic Club, please see its Web site at
http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/calhoun/socratic/