I just returned from watching Life of Pi in 3D at a local movie theater. I thought it was very well done and was pleased that Hollywood stayed true to the book for once.
The only part that irked me a little about the book and the movie is the irrational religious worldview espoused by the main character, Pi Patel. Pi considered himself a Hindu, a Roman Catholic, and a Muslim. Apparently, no one ever told Pi about the Law of Noncontradiction. However, rather than cursing the syncretic darkness, I want to encourage my fellow Christian evangelists and apologists to step it up in the arts and entertainment arenas.
You see, Pi Patel was an extremely interesting and likeable character. Life of Pi was one of the greatest adventure stories written in recent times. When I read the book a few years ago, I thought to myself it would make a great movie; now it is a great movie. As a result, some people may watch the movie or read the book and become curious about Hinduism, Catholicism, or Islam. They may even find themselves agreeing with Pi that it is possible to practice all three faiths at the same time. Regardless of whether Yann Martel ever intended to promote syncretism (and possibly universalism) or not, that is precisely what he did by writing such an endearing tale, starring a charming syncretist.
There are street evangelists a-plenty who can explain the four spiritual laws or present a straightforward gospel message. Every day there are more and more apologists who can give rigorous intellectual defenses of the Christian worldview. This is a good thing! However, for various reasons some people will never respond positively to overt biblical truth. Some people will stubbornly resist any argument in favor of Christianity, no matter how rational. The arts, which were once dominated by Christians, can pack a powerful existential punch for those who would resist a more conventional expression of Christian faith.
Great Christian writers once wrote enduring stories that are considered classics today. Even Jesus often taught in parables. Where are the J.R.R. Tolkiens, G.K. Chestertons, or Fyodor Dostoyevskys of our generation? These men wrote treasured literary classics that were rooted in the Christian worldview. In contrast, nowadays most explicitly Christian fiction merely imitates popular fiction while forcing a gospel message into the story. Christians once dominated the arts, including literature. Now Christians are relegated to Christian ghettos. Rather than being a powerful influence through the arts, the Church now settles for cheap derivatives target-marketed to the evangelical niche.
"The Church of our day should be pregnant with passionate propagation, whereas she is often pleading with pale propaganda." - Leonard Ravenhill
Thankfully, there are a few exceptions, but great Christian art and literature ought to be the norm. We have persuasive evangelists and rational apologists presenting plain gospel messages. This does not need to stop by any means! However, we also need clever storytellers to revive Literary Apologetics.
Consider the parables of Jesus, the well-chronicled Old Testament histories of the Jewish people, or the New Testament Gospels and Acts. Consider the Psalms or Song of Solomon. Most of the Bible is made up of stories. If God inspired the biblical authors to win hearts and minds primarily through history, fable, and poetry, perhaps evangelical Christians are neglecting one of the most powerful ways to impact our society? Stories speak to us in a way that mere factual presentations of information cannot.
C.S. Lewis once wrote that, "The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact." When he referred to the gospel as a "myth" he did not mean it was imaginary or was otherwise not true. He was referring to "myth" as a story that explains the world. Unlike the old Pagan myths, the stories of the Bible happened in history. This gives Christianity a distinct advantage over present-day religions that are based on myth (such as Hinduism) or folklore (consider the Islamic Hadith or Buddhist tales of the Bodhisattva). Christians need to capitalize on the fact that our story is verifiably true. Christian writers also should look to our rich heritage of parable tellers and poets.
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