T
Thomas_Jennings
Guest
Say, Treebeard from The Lord of the Rings. Now obviously that creation was ‘from’ the idea of a tree coupled with the idea of a giant version of a man. Both trees and men were created by God and reflect God. However, Tolkien seemingly created a being who’s attraction lay in that particular mixture of ‘giant-tree-man’ that, may be inspired by trees and men but is quite different and differently enjoyable than either a true tree or a man. Does that mean Tolkien created a new type of beauty that isn’t a reflection of God (surely not!)?
The same with stories. Their attraction lies in their mixture. I’ve heard a learned Christian say narratives can be invented by us but the materials are from God. Fair dos. Except in that, say, Wind in the Willows has its own beauty from being a mixture between various elements. Isolate these elements or use them differently, it would have a different appeal or ‘feel’. Again, is this truly a ‘new creation’? Or are our fictional constructs reflections, not just in their parts, but in their ‘formula’?
The same with stories. Their attraction lies in their mixture. I’ve heard a learned Christian say narratives can be invented by us but the materials are from God. Fair dos. Except in that, say, Wind in the Willows has its own beauty from being a mixture between various elements. Isolate these elements or use them differently, it would have a different appeal or ‘feel’. Again, is this truly a ‘new creation’? Or are our fictional constructs reflections, not just in their parts, but in their ‘formula’?