The Occult in Narnia, Part 7 - C.S. Lewis Promotes the Occult in His Books
C.S. Lewis claimed to be a Christian, but does his fruit show it? What themes and beliefs do Lewis' Narnia books promote? In this article, we will look at a few excerpts from some of his Narnia stories. What messages do they tell us, and what are they teaching children?
The "Deep Magic"
We start with a scene from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. After Edmund betrays his family and friends to the White Witch, he felt bad about what he did. Aslan, the lion, sends a rescue party to snatch Edmund out of the witch's hands. Aslan then confronts the witch over her right to hold Edmund under her power. C.S. Lewis writes:
[The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe]
"Have you forgotten the Deep Magic?" asked the Witch.
"Let us say I have forgotten it," answered Aslan gravely. "Tell us of this Deep Magic."
"Tell you?" said the Witch, her voice growing suddenly shriller. "Tell you what is written on that very Table of Stone which stands beside us? Tell you what is written in letters deep as a spear is long on the trunk of the World Ash Tree? Tell you what is engraved on the sceptre of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea? You at least know the magic which the Emperor put into Narnia at the very beginning. You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill." [A.]
Notice that this law set up by the "Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea" (who is supposed to be God the Father) is called "magic"? In Prince Caspian, we learn that Aslan is the son of the Emperor-over-Sea. Lewis writes: "And if Aslan himself comes, ... he is the son of the great Emperor-over-Sea, ...." [B.]. C.S. Lewis said that Aslan was a type of Christ [C.]. For this "Father God" character to use magic goes against God's own holy Word, the Bible. Deuteronomy 18 says...
Deuteronomy 18:9-11 (underlining added)
"[9] When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. [10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, [11] Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
The Magic Spell Book
But, Aslan promotes occult magic to the children reading the Narnia books. From The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we have this short dialogue between Aslan and Lucy. Lucy had just used a magic spell book to cast a spell to turn everything that is invisible visible. As you read, pay attention to how Lewis describes the spell book to his young audience (i.e. curious children). C.S. Lewis writes:
