Narnia Movie: Edmund's betrayal

Re: Concerning Edmund's sin/betrayal.

I think that Edmund chose a lesser good over a greater good. In some way he called good evil, but in another way he simply exaggerated an evil within his siblings, especially Peter, and made them seem worse while at the same time diminishing his own evil (and ignoring it). He had a grudge against Peter. He was already out of sorts because of needing to leave his family. In the movie he rushed back into the house to get his father's picture. He was feeling abandoned. These feelings of being abandoned (father at war, mother sending them away) were legitimate. George MacDonald might call these things "lawful excuses". Perhaps. So much in Edmund's favor.

What isn't excuseable is his tormenting Lucy, and denying Lucy (as one could say "isolating her") once he realizes that she is correct, and enters Narnia.

The question for me is: When does Edmund effectively "fall" in the story? Is it when he belittles Lucy before he enters Narnia? Is it when he "falls" for the Witch's temptation, just listening to her, not trusting his conscience or the inner voice that was warning him? Turkish Delight in itself is not evil, or immoral, but it becomes evil or an avenue for evil when it is chosen over conscience and caution. He is seduced by pleasure. He eats and eats: his gluttony is an outward and visible sign of a growing inward and hidden depravity. The White Witch tempts further by letting him believe (but does he REALLY BELIEVE, or does he once again lie to himself?) that he would become her prince, and eventually rule?

What is ironic, is that he truly was destined to rule Narnia, but the ORDER was completely essential. The order he imagined (or that the witch offered) was to rule through her and have his siblings serve him. The Lie: He wasn't to serve anyone. The ORDER established by the prophesy and Aslan was for him to rule through ASLAN, and to be subservient to the High King, Peter. His rule was meant to be one of obedience to the True King, and the High King, and one of service.

In this way, a good (his destiny to be king) was twisted to become an evil (his imagined rule over his siblings through the White Witch). It is interesting how this theme comes up again in the Silver Chair when Rilian becomes ensnared by the Emerald Witch/Serpent and almosts invades Narnia on the Emerald Witch's behalf. He would have ruled Narnia (his rightful dominion) yet under false pretenses. His rightful rule would have be replaced by a wrongful rule. In essence, had he not be freed from the magic spell, he would have usurped his own throne.....

Christmas

I think ever since I was young I have felt a tension during the holiday season. Now it's in vogue to even complain about using the word "holiday" instead of "Christmas" when referrring to this season. Many evangelicals decry the secularization of just about everything within the public sector. It concerns me, too. But sometimes evangelicals just want to cling to forms or words without embodying substance.

The problem within our culture runs very deep. It's not just a split between the secular culture and its icons and the Christian culture and its icons. The secular culture promotes: Santa (usurped from the original Christian culture, for Santa used to be Saint Nicholas, a fourth century saint known for his generosity); reindeer; large, fat snowmen; snowflakes and stars; the colors green and red. The Christian culture remembers the manger scene: idealized with manger, and infant Lord who doesn't cry, well-robed wise men and humble shepherds, feminine angels with wings, halos and white robes. But behind the familiar scenes, issues, icons and stereotypes reigns the Living God moving through history, creating, restoring, redeeming, and transforming.

Is there a reason to fret? Obviously the lure of consumerism, and the Call of the Mall entices us to become jaded and cynical about the season. But after a few decades of the same old complaints, I've just let go. I don't bother with complaining, or giving in to it all. I just ignore it. Or at least I ignore it most of the time.