The Inadequacies of Language

On By robstroudIn C.S. Lewis & the Inklings, Theological Matters, Writing1 Comment

A rather unsettling but communicative image.“Language exists to communicate whatever it can communicate. Some things it communicates so badly that we never attempt to communicate them by words if any other medium is available.” (C.S. Lewis Studies In Words).

Human beings are extremely verbal creatures. It’s no accident that even most sign language used by the deaf community is based on gestures being the equivalent of given words. I suspect this lexical dimension of our nature has something to do with our creation “in the image of God.”

After all, God obviously loves words. His only begotten Son is the very “Word” (Logos) of God, through whom everything that exists was spoken into being.

Yes, words are important to humanity, whether or not we acknowledge a Divine source for that fact. Well chosen words communicate effectively. And, although rhetoric is no longer a formal component of most curricula, one evidence of a solid education is fluency in communication.

Those of us who dabble in writing value the proverbial “well turned phrase” more than most. At the same time we agree with the wisdom of C.S. Lewis quoted above. For some things, words are an impoverished means of communication.

Take for example intense grief. While the unknowing stumble about trying to find the “right words,” we who are older have learned a hug and shared tears are far more effective agents of healing.

Similarly, joy can be ill-expressed via words on occasions when “words are not enough.” Observing the awe shimmering in the eye of a parent cradling their newborn, communicates volumes more than any treatise on “happiness” could.

Lewis, a timeless master of the English language, reminds us all that even the precious gift of language . . . possesses its limits.

What’s So Important about the Milvian Bridge?

On By robstroudIn Advice to Writers, Christianity, Military Musings, Numismatics, Potentially Useful Trivia, The Ancient ChurchLeave a comment

Constantinian Triumph CoinWhile pondering what to write about today, I visited one of those “This Day in Christian History” websites. It cited 27 September as the day of Constantine the Great’s “conversion” (in the year A.D. 312). Ironically, the website was in error, with the actual date being the evening of 27 October.

Many people might say “what difference does it make?” but writers will be reminded once again of the necessity of accuracy in their writings! What sort of credibility do you think that website now holds for me?

At any rate, returning to the subject of Constantine’s October 312 conversion . . . it was one of the pivotal events in the history of the world. Not only did Constantine end the persecution of the Church, he raised Christianity to the status of favored religion. Contrary to most quasi-historians, it would be left to a later emperor to establish Christianity as the empire’s official faith.

The early fourth century was a turbulent and fascinating time. Constantine had to battle a number of other so-called Imperators. (“Caesar” remained one of their many titles, but it was no longer the synonym for the ultimate ruler.) One of Constantine’s challengers—who allied himself completely with the pagan faction which still vastly outnumbered the Christians—was Maxentius.

On the evening before the battle, in response to a divine vision, Constantine had his soldiers mark their shields with a symbol for Christ (most likely, a chi-rho). He would ultimately march under that sign to victory over all of his enemies. Licinius, his final foe, would also throw his lot with the pantheon of Rome and other pagan deities. Like Maxentius, he too would fall.

This coin was minted by Constantine to commemorate his victory over these agents of the “Serpent.” The Labarum (Constantine’s standard, topped by the chi-rho) pierces the creature. The legend on the coin reads “Spes Publica,” which means “hope of the people.”

On the matter of just how transformative Constantine’s spiritual conversion actually was . . . well, that’s a subject for another day. Suffice it to say now that he regarded his allegiance to Christ as sincere, and he never recanted. Oh, and the importance of the Milvian Bridge . . . if Maxentius had not fallen there, history would read quite differently today.

Does More Education = Greater Faith?

On By robstroudIn C.S. Lewis & the Inklings, Christianity5 Comments

A new study has found that advanced education does not necessarily result in a decrease in religious orientation.

Liberals have long held the ramparts of academic bastions. They make it difficult for conservative (especially Christian) faculty members to enter their ranks. This is a great irony, since one of their hypocritical mantras is that everyone should maintain an “open mind.” Apparently they believe the mind should remain open to virtually everything except for traditional values and faith. Case in point, the gifted C.S. Lewis was denied a full professorship at Oxford, and ended his career teaching at Cambridge University, where the faculty at the time was less prejudiced.

The recent study by sociologist Philip Schwadel offered some shocking results. For example, highly educated individuals are actually more likely than their less educated counterparts to attend worship services. You read that correctly, they are more apt to practice their faith by participating in corporate worship. In fact, data from the General Social Survey revealed that with each additional year of education, the likelihood of attending religious services increased 15 percent!

Lest Christians get too excited over the study, however, there are a couple of caveats. In essence, more highly educated people tend to become more liberal in their theology. This manifests itself in a lower view of Scripture’s authority, and a corresponding tendency toward viewing the God who was incarnate in Jesus Christ as a generic “higher power.”

So, at the end of the day we find ourselves where we began. There are devout Christians across the educational spectrum. Some hold impressive degrees from prestigious universities. Many of them teach, and we should pray that they are able to do so without compromising their integrity.

God and the world don’t value things in the same way. As Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God . . . For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong . . . so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”

Ultimately I’m unimpressed by the new data—I’ve always recognized the truly intelligent people in the world are those who follow Jesus.

Being an Inkling

On By robstroudIn Advice to Writers, C.S. Lewis & the Inklings2 Comments

“I called the name [Inkling] a ‘jest’, because it was a pleasantly ingenious pun in its way, suggesting people with vague or half-formed intimations and ideas plus those who dabble in ink.” (J.R.R. Tolkien in a letter dated 11 September 1967)

As an inkling, I gather regularly with other individuals eager to study the art of writing. This community of writers is an indispensable dimension of what it means to be an inkling. Indeed, it might be argued that no inkling is an island, entire in him- or herself.

For three decades now I have recognized that being an active member of a writer’s group improves my work both qualitatively and quantitatively. The truth is I write much more faithfully when I know I will be attending a meeting where friends are curious to know how my various projects are progressing. In the past, whenever I moved to a new location without an existing writing community, I simply gathered other interested people and started one. In fact, on the first anniversary of September 11th I was gathering with fellow writers each Saturday to focus on this renewing exercise . . . even as we supported Operation Enduring Freedom from Shabaz Air Base in Pakistan.

Beyond the selfish motivation, I also possess a genuine desire to assist and encourage others in their own writing journey. I have always found mentoring others to be extremely rewarding.

If you have any writing aspirations of your own, I strongly encourage you to seek out a group of dedicated writers who meet frequently. Some of these are faith-based, while others are genre-oriented. There are also groups without a unifying ethos, although from my past experience such fellowships struggle to retain their cohesion

If you should be so fortunate as to find a community as invigorating as Oxford’s Inklings, count your blessings. But don’t measure your local options by that lofty standard. Joining a circle of likeminded friends as you pursue your writing can still be amazing even if it is populated by imperfect writers like you and me.

Welcome to the Conversation

On By robstroudIn Writing2 Comments

Words are powerful. Nothing less than the world was created by the Word, the Logos. And the words uttered by the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve are powerful as well. They possess the power to empower life . . . and to inflict deep wounds, leaving lasting scars.

Illuminated by God’s light, may words of mercy, encouragement and joy predominate here. If you have words of grace to share, don’t hesitate to post your comments.

The “About” link explains the name of this column. It also describes some of the general posts you can expect to read here. I hope that this blog proves to be thought-provoking, uplifting and entertaining. As the weeks and months progress, I hope you let me know how you think I’m reaching that lofty goal.