Comments on: Pilgrim’s Egress

By: Mike Bull

Mike Bull — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:22:06 +0000

Yes Robert, I agree. I love Bunyan’s sermons, and this was probably beyond the scope of his allegory. It’s a good thing we have Narnia.

Are there people who are not postmillennial?

By: Robert Murphy

Robert Murphy — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:54:13 +0000

I think you are quite right, Mike, even if you say things in a very post-mill way! But these two things — hierarchy and desperation — are not divisible. Christ ruled by submitting. We must reign while remaining desperate. I like your thought, and I think you point out an area where Bunyan — who otherwise BLEEDS Scripture — was more influenced by his culture. We share most of that culture, especially the material dualism (this world is bad, it would be better to be sitting on clouds, etc.)

By: Mike Bull

Mike Bull — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:20:50 +0000

I should add that I am aware of Lewis’ ‘Pilgrim’s Regress.’ Its focus is quite different to Bunyan’s. The giants are not obvious sins but subtle philosophies, the “counterfeit Christianities” of the early 20th century. It does, like Bunyan’s stories, deal with the inward journey as an outward life. But I don’t ever remember ‘Regress’ being read and taught to children as a model for Christian living.