That Hideous Strength - Ch 1 - Sale of College Property

Jane married Mark Studdock six months ago.  Before they married, they had endless talks.  Now she feels like she is in solitary confinement.  He claims either sleepiness or tends to intellectual preoccupation, since Mark works as a fellow at Bracton College (which has no students - a sort of think tank). She wonders what happened to the mutual society, help, and comfort the minister at their marriage spoke about.  They have no children so Jane can remain independent and pursue her work, though she left the job she enjoyed.

After marriage, Jane wants to work on her doctoral thesis about Donne (John Donne, the 17th Century poet and cleric who focused on metaphysics and love), or at least intends to, but seems to make no progress.  She is stuck on a verse from his poem Love's Alchemie (also called Love's Alchemy):
Hope not for mind in women; at their best
Sweetnese and wit, they are but Mummy possesed

While puzzled by the meaning of this line, and just how she should try to understand it for her doctrinal thesis, she glances at a picture she sees in the paper, which immediately reminds her of a recent dream she had, which seemed more like a nightmare which terrorized her. The newspaper reported about the execution of Alcasan, an Arabian radiologist who poisoned his wife who was executed by beheading for his crime.  In her dream, Jane saw a man with this face beheaded by twisting his head off.  Then Jane saw a different head of an ancient British, druidical man being dug up in a churchyard.  Jane thought he was dead, but she then saw him come to life and begin talking in something that sounded vaguely like Spanish to her.  Then Jane woke up she was so frightened.

Meanwhile, Mark, now a fellow for 5 years at Bracton College at Edgestow, talks with sub-Warden Curry.

Mark Studdock

Mark delights to find that he is now part of the inner circle, the Progressive Element - something he's desired for quite some time.  However, Mark also discovers that his appointment as a fellow at the college had to do with the considerable influence of Lord Feverstone, someone who spends most of his time in London.  Apparently, Mark learns, without Feverstone's influence, many favored another scholar named Denniston.  Until now, Mark imagined he was selected on his own merits, and it disturbs him to discover otherwise. (Feverstone's name is Dick Divine, a name from the first book in the trilogy where he appears as a villainy character.)

Sub-Warden Curry wanted to talk with Mark about the upcoming meeting of the fellows that day, and specifically about a motion for the College to sell Bragdon Wood, a secluded, walled in, peaceful area of well-tended grass (by sheep) and trees, with an ancient well in the middle, smack in the middle of the College.  The old well by reported legend is the burial site for Merlin (and so called Merlin's well).  An organization named the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments (N.I.C.E.) made a generous offer to purchase Bradgon Wood to construct a new building to house their operations.  The NICE presents a new organization which fuses the state and laboratory where thoughtful people could make a better world free from the constraints of red tape and with an unlimited, state supported budget.

At the meeting, the Busar announced that the College's budget looked so woeful, the meager stipend for the Junior Fellows might have to be cut from the amounts already paid.  Thus when the question of the sale of Bradgon Wood to the NICE for a generous amount arose, only the old guard wanted to hang on to this part of the college that had belonged to it since its founding back in 1300.  The rest clearly saw the advantage of the sale and the motion easily carried.  During the meeting, we begin to see the doublespeak which tends to dominate some circles which we will examine in the upcoming chapters.

Jane can't focus on her work, being troubled by her dream.  She goes out for a walk and to do some shopping.  She runs into Mrs. Dimble, who invites her home to lunch with Cecil Dimble, her husband.  Dr. Dimble was Jane's tutor at Northumberland where he serves as a fellow.  Mrs. Dimble acted as an unofficial aunt to all of his pupils.  They live in a cottage by a river next to the wall of Bragdon Wood.  While alone with Mrs. Dimble, Jane begins to cry and confesses that she is not going to have a baby, that she's depressed about being alone, and about her nightmare.

Dr. Dimble knows Bracton will likely sell Bradgon Woods to the NICE, as well as their home.  He also

knows about the legend of Merlin's burial under the well.  He begins talking about Arthur, distinguishing between the 5th Century Arthur from the later 12th Century additions from the French which added the tales about the affair between Guinevere and Lancelot.  He also talks about Merlin - not evil, yet a magician; a druid who knows about the Grail; something now lost, in between.  He adds that the stories say Merlin is buried, but not dead.

When Dimble notices Jane does not look well, he takes her into the drawing room where she tells him about her dream.  The Dimbles suggests someone for Jane to see about her dream.

Overview of book

Ch. 2 - Dinner with the Sub-Warden

List of Characters

That Hideous Strength - Overview

C. S. Lewis wrote the final book in his space trilogy, That Hideous Strength, in 1945, as World War II winded down.  (I later plan to write a post about his space trilogy.)  He saw the terrible and hideous abuse of power by the Nazis, who rejected Christianity.  He also saw England, especially in academia, rejecting not only Christianity, but also almost any type of spirituality, as material naturalism tended to dominate the elites.  Lewis sought to push back against this and show what materialist naturalism tended to lead towards.  He also wanted to show how mankind tended to abuse authority and power to manipulate others.  He understood stories better conveyed a message than academic books.

Lewis, a medieval scholar at both Oxford, and then Cambridge, who wanted to draw from the best of the medieval world and weave it into his story.  So we find Merlin and references to King Arthur in his story.  We also find a medieval cosmology built into the story.  He also loved myths - and so - we find references to the Greek and Roman gods.

C. S. Lewis

But most importantly, C.S. Lewis converted from atheism, or at least an agnostic, to Christianity, under the influence of his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien.  So this book shows us a battle between forces under the direction of Satan, and the forces under the direction of Christ as mediated through angels.  In a way it prefigures the final battle of these forces foretold in the Book of Revelation, but more so in the present time Lewis lived in.

Lewis subtitled the book, An Adult Fairy Tale.  Both Lewis and Tolkien wanted to rescue fairy tales from the nursery room and reinvigorate the genre for modern times.  Tolkien began with The Hobbit (1937).  Lewis followed with his space trilogy beginning with Out of the Silent Planet (1938), and followed by Perelandra (1943).  Though Lewis wrote it as a follow-up, it stands on its own as a complete story.

Usually, I summarize a book in one blog post.  However, I find this book difficult to so summarize, and too important to treat this way.  Instead, I will post something, a chapter at a time, since there is so much going on within it. I am also going to reread it as I do so.  I found it somewhat difficult to follow the first time through, as others have commented.  Part of the reason has to do with this book reflects a dystopia.  That means its the opposite of a utopia, where everything is perfect and happy.  In a dystopia (like 1984), everything is upside down and disturbing.  Writers usually use dystopias as a warning of what will come if action doesn't change things.  In addition, Lewis writes a somewhat complex novel to convey a certain level of distress as what he sees as the wrong direction his society in England heads in near the end of World War II.  It's meant as a warning.

The Lewis-Tolkien Friendship

Out of the Silent Planet (Part 1 of the Space Trilogy)

Perelandra (Part 2 of the Space Trilogy)

Chapter Summaries in That Hideous Strength
Ch. 1 - Sale of College Property
Ch. 2 - Dinner with the Sub-Warden
Ch. 3 - Belbury and St. Anne's-on-the-Hill
Ch. 4 - The Liquidation of Anachronisms
Ch. 5 - Elasticity
Ch. 6 - Fog
Ch. 7 - The Pendragon
Ch. 8 - Midnight at Belbury
Ch. 9 - The Saracen's Head
Ch. 10 - The Conquered City
Ch. 11 - Battle Begun
Ch. 12 - A Wet and Windy Night
Ch. 13 - They Have Pulled Down Deep Heavens on their Heads
Ch 14 - Real Life is Meeting
Ch 15 - The Descent of the Gods
Ch 16 - Banquet at Belbury
Ch 17 - Venus at St. Anne's

That Hideous Strength - Conclusion

That Hideous Strength - Character List

Mere Christianity - Overview

The Fellowship of the Rings (film)

Though I have watched The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring several times before, for the first time, I watched it after I completed reading the book the filmmakers based it upon (The Fellowship of the Rings), which made it that much more enjoyable.  I also watched the Special Extended DVD Edition, which adds an additional 30 minutes of material to the usual 178 minutes running time of the film (making it an almost three and a half hour movie).

It's considered a landmark film which I highly enjoy watching time and again over the years.  It did very well at the box office.  It garnered 13 Oscar nominations, winning four Oscars.  The American Film Institute ranks it at No. 50 on its list of 100 greatest American films and as the second greatest fantasy film of all times.

Though it helped having a $93 million budget to work with, it helped even more that the director and leader of the project, Peter Jackson, being a lifelong fan of the books, poured his love for it into every aspect of the film.  Many described him as basically an overgrown hobbit.  He maintained good pacing throughout the film.

New Zealand scenery

The all-star cast, led by Elijah Wood, also poured themselves into their roles.  Some of them, like Christopher Lee, read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy once every year, as do many fans of the series.  Special mention for Andy Serkis who provided the voice and motion capture for the CGI character, Gollum.

They shot the film entirely in New Zealand - with it's visually stunning scenery, which helped to convey a sense of what Middle-Earth might have looked like.

The talented crew garnered the four Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Makeup, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score.

Jackson planned this film as the first film of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  (I will write about the film trilogy later.)

Aragorn

The film largely follows the plot of the book, which I discuss in my post on it.  Of course, in adapting the book to film, Jackson condenses the story, and makes minor changes for pacing and to focus on the story of Frodo and the ring.  Sadly, Jackson decided to leave Tom Bombadil out.  Jackson also added some twists to enhance the development of some of the characters.  For example, Aragorn expresses self-doubt in the film so that he hesitates to claim his title as king, whereas in the book he awaits the appropriate time to make this claim.

If you haven't seen this film, I highly recommend it.  If you have seen it, watch it again if its been awhile.

The Tolkien-Lewis Friendship

The Fellowship of the Rings (the book)

The Two Towers (book)

I finished reading "The Two Towers," the second part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, which contains two books - Book III, The Treason of Isengard, and Book IV, The Ring Goes East (The Lord of the Rings trilogy contains 6 books altogether).

The story picks up where "The Fellowship of the Rings" (the fist part) leaves off, at the breakup of the fellowship - that is where Frodo and Sam leave on their own to pursue the path towards destroying the ring of power, Boromir dies attempting to defend Merry and Pippin from the Orcs, the Orcs capture and steal away Merry and Pippin, under orders to capture alive a half-ling (another name for a hobbit), and Aragon, Gimli, and Leglolas, after sending Boromir down the river in a proper funeral boat, begin the chase on foot after Merry and Pippin to rescue them from the Orcs.  (Gandalf the Grey apparently dies in the first part, but reappears in the second part transformed into Gandalf the White - a more powerful wizard.)

As the story develops through deep twists and turns, you find yourself deeply immersed in the world of

Middle Earth, which has a deep, profound, and long history, sometimes conveyed in conversations, but more reflected in the actions of the many characters, the vast geography they travel, and the variety of those who people middle earth.  This is part of the draw which attracts many readers to read these stories again and again - some as often as once a year.

This part of the story revolves around two towers (as the title suggests) - the tower of Orthnac at Izengard ruled by Saruman, the White Wizard (who has turned traitor), and the tower of Barad-dur (which translates into English as the Dark Tower) where the Dark Lord Sauron rules from.  These two loci of evil seek to rule Middle Earth, which the Dark Lord can easily do if he can obtain the ring of power which Frodo bears in order to destroy it, though he must do so in the land of Mordor which Sauron rules.

The Ents

Tolkien continues many of the themes from the first part, such as the corrupting influence of power, the inevitability of decline, duty, the value of fellowship.  He again imparts how myths tend to promote the gospel message (a favorite topic of his).

I especially enjoyed his imaginative creation of the Ents, living trees who guard, shephard, and protect the trees of the forest.  They are so upset with Saruman's heedless destruction of the trees that they finally decide they must attack.  They destroy Isengard and keep Saruman essentially locked up in his tower so he can no longer spread his evil in the region.

Later on, Frodo and Faramir, Boromir's brother, have a long, fascinating conversation which covers much of the history of Middle Earth.  Most important to the plot development, Frodo spares Gollum's life from the hand of Faramir, much as his uncle did back in the original story, "The Hobbit." This will play an important role in the development of the story later on.

I again urge any who have not read these stories to do so.  They stand as a great work of literature.

Part 1: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring (Film)

The Lewis-Tolkien Friendship

Predestination - Part 4 - The Bible

The reason many Christian traditions support predestination is that the Bible contains several passages that use that word, or variations of it.  Or else it expressly speaks about how God chose us way before we chose him.

So, for example, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul writes, For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:4-6 - emphasis added)

Soon thereafter, Paul writes, In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  (Ephesians 1:11-12 - emphasis added)

Chapter 8 of the book of Romans also talks about predestination, twice.  More importantly, the Bible also talks about how God how God elected us, how he chose us long before we chose him, as well as God's sovereignty, all closely related to predestination.  I might discuss this in a future post, especially since it contains two different words for foreknowledge and predestination (since some consider predestination to simply be foreknowledge).

However, the Bible also asserts, time and time again, that God created man with free will.  Any understanding about predestination that denies mankind's free will goes against what the Bible teaches about both predestination and free will.  I will write more about this in a future post.

Part 3 (last post)
Part 1 (Intro)

Predestination - Part 3 - Mystery

As Christians, we accept there are many aspects of our faith we will never fully understand.  We call those aspects of our faith mysteries.

That doesn't mean we should give up understanding as much of our faith as we can.  Christianity is not a mystery religion (in contrast to most world religions).  Instead, it emphasizes reason as holding a vital role in faith, as Rodney Stark does in, The Victory of Reason.  But it recognizes our reason has limits, often expressed as mysteries.

When it comes to predestination, it helps when we recognize the limitations of our reason when it comes to certain issues revolving around predestination such as God's election, His sovereignty, His gift of free will (part of the image of God), His foreknowledge, the assurance of the saints, etc.  Some Christians seem to assert almost an absolute knowledge about these matters.  I tend to be suspect of such assertions.

On the other hand, some Christians seem to all to hastily deny predestination, sometimes along with the other related issues I mentioned in the previous paragraph.  I also tend to be suspect of such hasty denials.

Instead, while I try to ask for support for these positions, I also seek to urge them to recognize some of the mysteries surrounding some of these issues.

I hope to convey, and you will appreciate, some of the mysteries about predestination as I discuss it further in future posts.

Part 4 (The Bible)
Part 2 (Misconceptions)
Part 1 (Personal Testimony)

Predestination - Part 2 - Misconceptions

Many hold a common misconception that only Calvinists teach Predestination, or that they somehow originated this teaching (or doctrine).

Instead, many Christian traditions hold various forms of Predestination, which originates with the Church fathers.  St. Augustine wrote, "A Treatise on the Predestination of the Saints," back around 428 or 429 A.D..  He was not the first Church father who addressed this issue.  The Bible itself addresses predestination, but I plan to more fully address that in another post.

Both the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy teach about predestination.  So Thomas Aquinas largely agrees with St. Augustine about this issue.  However, Catholics usually do not like to talk about predestination.

Lutherans also usually do not like to talk about predestination, though Luther largely agreed with Calvin about it.  Luther usually wanted to stick to talking about the Law and Gospel.  Methodists also do not like to talk about predestination since the Wesley brothers emphasized free will, though they closely worked with those who held strong views about predestination, such as George Whitefield (a Calvinist).

Yet, even those who usually do not like to talk about predestination usually agree with the closely related teachings about the Sovereignty of God, as well as Election.  Thus, I usually find more agreement about predestination among Christian traditions than disagreement, even when some want to talk about Election or the Sovereignty of God.

Another common misconception - many equate predestination with pre-determinism (or simply determinism, or just fatalism).  In another words, in this misconception, they believe predestination means God controls (or compels) people and their decisions.  Thus God compels the evil people act out.  This view simply misunderstands the historic teachings about predestination.

A similar misconception - many believe predestination opposes, cancels out, or negates free will.  Simply stated, it does not.

In future posts, I will try to carefully set forth how I understand what historic Christianity usually asserts about predestination, and some variations about this held by various traditions.

Part 1 - Predestination - Personal Testimony

Predestination - Part 1 - Testimony

Detail -  "Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo -  1512

Predestination remains a complex and controversial topic within the Church.  After holding some challenging conversations with some Christian friends, I want to begin to address this topic in this blog.  It may take more than one post here (since I try to keep them short), so I want to begin with a personal testimony.

My parents raised me Catholic.  But when they divorced, I (along with my family) drifted away. In public high school (following parochial elementary school), I became an atheist.  But later, near 20, I converted to a born-again evangelical faith.

For several years, I was proud I made a decision for Christ.  However, as the years went by, I began to realize that all along, God had a plan for me, and moved first to reach out to me, long before I made a decision to accept Christ, and the price he paid at the cross to save me.

Before long following that, I began to realize, that most of what of goes on around me revolves more of what

God does, and less of what I do.  Regardless of what I plan or decide, purpose or determine, it seems to go different, and as I look back, it seems it went according to God's plan all along.  I don't mean what I do is not important, it is.  It just means what God does is more important.  That is why I pray.

So as time went on, it became easier to accept what the Bible describes as predestination.  The Church has taught this through the ages to varying degrees in different tradtions.  When properly taught, it does not take away from the freedom (free will) God bestowed upon mankind in his creation.  However, I will deal with this issue in future posts.

For now, I pose the question: Did you choose God first, or, as you look back, did God choose you first?  Or another way of looking at it: Did you act first, or did God?

Part 2 - Predestination - Misconceptions

Holiness

Catholics and Evangelicals alike agree on the call on Christians to live a holy life.  (See the 2005 statement by Evangelicals and Catholics Together, The Call to Holiness.)  However, I find, when I raise this topic with my Christian friends, they tend to view the terms holy, or holiness, negatively.  At least they are being honest.  They know they are sinners and so they do not feel holy, or, at least, they do not feel those terms should be applied to them.  They know God is holy; they believe, or at least hope, their priest or pastor is holy; they know others who might qualify as holy; but they feel uncomfortable if those terms are applied to them.  They often hold to no hope of becoming holy.

The New Testament seems to hold a different view.  It uses the word "saints" over 60 times, usually to refer to any believer who is "in Christ" -that is whom Christ dwells.  Some New Testament versions translate the Greek word hagios, as the holy ones.

Fra Angelico.
The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs
 (about 1423-24)

The New Testament writers did not employ a rose colored filter.  They knew well that all believers are sinners.  Yet they did not shy away from using the term saints (holy ones) broadly to apply to all believers.  Why?

St. Paul asserts, in his Epistle to the Romans that God applies the righteousness of Christ to us sinners through faith. In other words, though we deserve punishment, since Jesus Christ completely lived a holy life, and because He fully paid for our sins by His death at the Cross; when we fully place our faith in Christ as paying the price for our sins, God looks at us as though we lived as holy a life as Jesus did.  (Romans 3:21-31)

St. Paul goes on to clarify - this teaching does not mean we can simply sin all we want.  Instead, he asserts we are dead to sin, but alive in Christ.  (Romans 6:11)

No doubt, we all sin.  So John says if we claim to have no sin, we are not truthful.  (1 John 1:8 & 10)  Instead, he urges us to confess our sins.  (1 John 1:9)  John goes on to urge all of us to live a holy life.

St. Peter sums this up when he recalls what God says in the Old Testament, But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16 - referencing passages in Leviticus)  Peter addresses this to all believers, not just to a select few.  He urges all of us to live a holy life.

Probably the best way to think about holiness is as a journey.  Isaiah refers to a highway called a way of holiness (Isiah 35:8).  As sinners, we embark on a journey where God, through His Holy Spirit, transforms us, step by step, into holiness.  Though we never quite arrive, we embarked on that journey and hopefully progress on that highway.  Though we may sin, we confess it, receive God's forgiveness, and continue on that journey.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

I watched the final part of The Hobbit film trilogy by Peter Jackson: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, released in 2014.  It covers the portion of The Hobbit book from when the dragon Smaug leaves the Lonely Mountain to attack Lake-town, to the end of the book.

Galadriel

In my favorite part of the movie, Galadriel (played by Cate Blanchett), accompanied
by Elrond and Saruman, rescues Gandalf, and battles with and defeats Sauron, along with the Nazgul (the Ring-wraiths), banishing them to the East.  She expends tremendous power in this effort, which explains why she seems somewhat diminished when we get to The Fellowship of the Rings.  However, Tolkien does not explain this in The Hobbit, where Gandalf mention he was detained on a mission longer than he expected without explanation.  Apparently Tolkien explained this in the appendices to The Fellowship of the Ring.  So I appreciated that Jackson included this aspect of the story in the film.

Smaug attacks Lake-town - Bard takes aim

I also liked the scenes where Smaug attacked Lake-town - brought down to his death by Bard the Bowman.

However, Jackson dragged out the battle scenes too long.  The battle does not take up much length in the book, and Jackson seemed to want to get every ounce he could out of the battle scenes, and then more.

Still I enjoyed the film, as well as the film trilogy, and recommend watching it.

The Hobbit (the book)

The Lewis Tolkien Friendship

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (film)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (film)