Lewis and Tolkien Debate Myths and Lies

A clip from EWTN's "Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings:' A Catholic Worldview" portraying a debate between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien on whether or not myths are lies. This debate was ultimately instrumental in C.S. Lewis's conversion to Christianity.

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[TravelingCoder]

If you strip away the fancy language, the argument presented is basically just "Christianity is true, because I like it and want it to be true" which is obviously dumb since merely liking something does not make it true.

Anyway, it is very much possible that there are things beyond what we can percieve, but if you have elaborate beliefs about them, you are really just making stuff up or trusting something without much reason.

[TheaterOfTheWordInc]

@TravelingCoder No, this is not the argument presented at all. Strip away the fancy language, as you suggest, watch again, and try again. What is the argument Tolkien is making? It has several elements to it. Try to define one. Wishful thinking is not there at all. Come on, TravelingCoder, you can do it. Instead of simply asserting that all Tolklien is saying is "I want it to be true, so it is," follow what he's saying and try again. I challenge you. Outline his main points, if you can.

[guilhermefreire48]

God bless you,thanks for this video.

[MontChevalier]

@Ashiman12 As the Greeks used to do in their tragedies. Now, you see, dogma doesn't necessarily require closing your mind, it merely embellishes the identity of the person. I myself am Catholic, as Tolkien, but there is more to it all than just a bunch of books and stories. I have been studying Norse mythology, does that make me a disciple of Odin or Thor? No, I merely open my eyes to the possibilities. But no religion, whether great or humble, comes without practice.

[Dodec84]

@Dodec84 And even: "to reject this it's either darkness or wrath" (!)

[Dodec84]

First Tolkien is complaining that the "materialists" are making him believe that "this is all there is", A few minutes later Tolkien tells "christianity is not one myth among many, it is the True Myth". Hmmmm ....

[cuchulain55]

@cuchulain55 all i mean not are

[cuchulain55]

@Ashiman12 are the tradional stories from all tradions are complely literal. my only problem with tolkien is he dosnt take his belief far enough.

[Ashiman12]

Myths use lies to tell truths. I'm an atheist, but I actually like mythology. I have nothing against stories that convey some kind of message or moral, relavent to actual human experience. In fact, not having a commitment to one set of dogma allows me to appreciate such stories from MANY traditions. My only probably is when people start thinking the stories are literal, and use myths as systems of repression and control. I love myth. I'm just not a fan of religion.

[motjon]

This was pretty pointless in its efforts, why put dead men in a debate? of which they can't really argue realistically hence the fact that they are dead.

[motjon]

@Douglas1102 i believe that people should have respected your opinion, and you were right about this dead having words put in his mouth.

[MobiusCoin]

Grant Morrison is probably a big fan of Tolkien.

[MontChevalier]

Did this conversation actually happen???