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Finding God in the Land of Narnia
In Finding God in the Land of Narnia, best-selling authors Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware explore the deep spiritual themes of redemption and grace found in the popular Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. With amazing clarity that captures the tone and style of C. S. Lewis himself, the authors offer a depth of insight that will surprise even the most ardent Lewis fan. Each chapter will help readers gain not only a deeper understanding of the popular Lewis series, but a deeper understanding of God himself.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
40 people are currently reading
2525 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Bruner
62 books9 followersKurt Bruner serves as Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Lake Pointe Church and on the adjunct faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary. A graduate of Talbot Seminary and former Vice President with Focus on the Family, Kurt led the teams creating films, magazines, books, and radio drama. As President of HomePointe Inc., he helps local church leaders create an ongoing culture of intentional families. Kurt is the best-selling author of more than a dozen books. Kurt and his wife, Olivia, have four children and live in Rockwall, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 5, 2023
This book is making parallels between Narnia and the Bible using different themes and encourages a reader to meditate on these themes.
November 8, 2021
This book is a spiritual reflection on the Chronicles of Narnia. The book retells parts of the story, and then the authors give their thoughts in an inspirational, reflective way.
The style was less to my taste than other Narnia themed books I’ve read, but I still found it interesting.
November 29, 2017
4.75⭐️
I really enjoyed diving back into the world of Narnia and seeing all the connections between the bible and Narnias world and characters. I knew when i first saw Narnia it had symbolism of Jesus but this story took the world and its iconic images and described all the depth and meaing behind it. I loved it.
I really enjoyed diving back into the world of Narnia and seeing all the connections between the bible and Narnias world and characters. I knew when i first saw Narnia it had symbolism of Jesus but this story took the world and its iconic images and described all the depth and meaing behind it. I loved it.
May 9, 2019
C.S. Lewis was a religious man and the authors take was quite interesting.
February 9, 2022
This book left me mind blown, crying, and wanting to reread The Chronicles of Narnia because of all the pictures of God/ heaven I missed the first time. 10/10
November 11, 2022
Amazing book, such a beautiful description of the land of Narnia and how Lewis used it a a reflection of our own world. I read the whole Chronicles of Narnia a couple years ago and loved the way Lewis created a whole world with the idea of Aslan ruling it. Kurt Bruner made it enjoyable to dive back into the world and compare it to scripture and see the similarities. 10/10
January 15, 2025
I’ve been on a Narnia kick as of late & remembered I was given this book by a dear friend of mine over a year ago! This was absolutely the best book to kick off 2025 with as I would love to read more spiritually themed books this year. The parallels between Narnia & Christianity move me tears & I could quite literally talk about this for hours so I’ll end the review here.
(But if I have any friends that would love to chat all things Narnia, I’m your gal 😉)
(But if I have any friends that would love to chat all things Narnia, I’m your gal 😉)
December 9, 2020
This book is quite religious and will always stay close to my heart.
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April 26, 2018My copy has 1 page more than the database lists, 185 instead of 184.
May 22, 2019
Finished May 21, 2019. The book was actually pretty good. I only gave it 3 stars because I found it difficult to finish the book. I am not usually a fan of nonfiction. This book was no exception.
December 20, 2015
This wasn’t as enlightening as I’d hoped. The lessons are fairly shallow and the connections pretty obvious. I was hoping for something deeper, and was disappointed, as I was with Finding God in the Lord of the Rings. It contains only a small sampling of the biblical truths in Narnia; the authors missed many opportunities. Even the ones they chose don’t seem to be the strongest examples. It's more of a devotional than a book for study.
It covers all 7 Narnia books, but has only 3 or 4 short chapters from each. Each chapter is 2-3 pages of paraphrase from a book, then 3-4 pages of a biblical lesson that can be drawn from that section. It has plenty of verses.
Notes
Remnant theology
Remnant theology (the truth that “the true people of God have always been a small and faithful remnant surrounded by a large, unbelieving majority”) appears throughout the Bible. Examples: Abraham’s call, the Exodus, the wilderness wanderings, the divided kingdom, the Exile, the restoration, Jesus’ tiny following of average people, and the scattered New Testament church (1 Peter 1:1). Other verses which speak of it: Deut 26:5, 1 Chron 16:19, Matt 7:14, Is 10:22.
“There is a long literary tradition of Christian symbolism associated with” the albatross. Seafaring men “regarded it as a messenger from God. Its appearance in the sky was always interpreted as an omen of great good.” The albatross has Christian symbolism in Moby Dick and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Aslan’s Table in Dawn Treader
Aslan’s Table in Dawn Treader represents Communion (Lord’s Supper).
It covers all 7 Narnia books, but has only 3 or 4 short chapters from each. Each chapter is 2-3 pages of paraphrase from a book, then 3-4 pages of a biblical lesson that can be drawn from that section. It has plenty of verses.
Notes
Remnant theology
Remnant theology (the truth that “the true people of God have always been a small and faithful remnant surrounded by a large, unbelieving majority”) appears throughout the Bible. Examples: Abraham’s call, the Exodus, the wilderness wanderings, the divided kingdom, the Exile, the restoration, Jesus’ tiny following of average people, and the scattered New Testament church (1 Peter 1:1). Other verses which speak of it: Deut 26:5, 1 Chron 16:19, Matt 7:14, Is 10:22.
“In view of all this, should believers ever be surprised to find themselves in the minority? Hardly. … Would David be shaken? Would Elijah be shocked? Would Jesus be caught off guard? … they would probably take a look around, shrug their shoulders, and say, ‘Appears to be situation normal. Now let’s get back to work.’”
“This is Scripture’s most recurrent portrait of the true church: a fellowship of unlikely heroes who overcome the enemy not in strength of numbers or by dint of force, but by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, and by not loving their lives unto death (Rev 12:11).”The albatross in Dawn Treader
“There is a long literary tradition of Christian symbolism associated with” the albatross. Seafaring men “regarded it as a messenger from God. Its appearance in the sky was always interpreted as an omen of great good.” The albatross has Christian symbolism in Moby Dick and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Aslan’s Table in Dawn Treader
Aslan’s Table in Dawn Treader represents Communion (Lord’s Supper).
March 21, 2017
Amazing!!!! I wanted to read this book (and Finding God in the LOTR), but the library doesn't have either of them. Thankfully, my church library had this one.
Bruner and Ware take you through each of the seven Narnia books and expound on the Christian, Biblical elements found within each. By no means do they cover all of the symbolism, the books is only 175 pages, including the introduction and afterthoughts.
Each chapter is only a few pages in length and end with a reflection. You could almost use this book as a devotional of sorts. Right away, in the very first chapter, the authors turn a lightbulb on in my head. In discussing how the creation of Narnia reflects the creation of our world, the authors say, "In the yet incomplete world of Narnia, the great Lion sang - and it was so. In our forming world, God spoke - and it was so.... Nothing exists but that which came from the brush and pen of God..... He engineered the first architectural structures, called mountains and trees; programmed the first computer, called the brain; and invented the first miracle drug, called the immune system." I had never thought of mountains & trees, the brain, & the immune system like that! It was a really neat thought.
Later, in looking into The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, they discuss the albatross that guided the voyagers out of the darkness around Dark Island. "It's not by chance that Lewis chose the albatross to play the role of deliverer in this scene. As it happens, there is a long literary tradition of Christian symbolism associated with this particular bird. Seafaring men of old held it in great awe and regarded it as a messenger from God. It's appearance in the sky was always interpreted as an omen of great good." The authors go on to give more detailed examples of the albatross as a symbol of a savior and even Christ Himself. I never knew that about the albatross, and so, never had seen the significance of the bird in Dawn Treader.
This is definitely a book I'd like to own someday. It's a great supplement to The Chronicles of Narnia.
Bruner and Ware take you through each of the seven Narnia books and expound on the Christian, Biblical elements found within each. By no means do they cover all of the symbolism, the books is only 175 pages, including the introduction and afterthoughts.
Each chapter is only a few pages in length and end with a reflection. You could almost use this book as a devotional of sorts. Right away, in the very first chapter, the authors turn a lightbulb on in my head. In discussing how the creation of Narnia reflects the creation of our world, the authors say, "In the yet incomplete world of Narnia, the great Lion sang - and it was so. In our forming world, God spoke - and it was so.... Nothing exists but that which came from the brush and pen of God..... He engineered the first architectural structures, called mountains and trees; programmed the first computer, called the brain; and invented the first miracle drug, called the immune system." I had never thought of mountains & trees, the brain, & the immune system like that! It was a really neat thought.
Later, in looking into The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, they discuss the albatross that guided the voyagers out of the darkness around Dark Island. "It's not by chance that Lewis chose the albatross to play the role of deliverer in this scene. As it happens, there is a long literary tradition of Christian symbolism associated with this particular bird. Seafaring men of old held it in great awe and regarded it as a messenger from God. It's appearance in the sky was always interpreted as an omen of great good." The authors go on to give more detailed examples of the albatross as a symbol of a savior and even Christ Himself. I never knew that about the albatross, and so, never had seen the significance of the bird in Dawn Treader.
This is definitely a book I'd like to own someday. It's a great supplement to The Chronicles of Narnia.
August 22, 2016
If you wanted a book that (poorly) recapped all the highlights from C.S. Lewis’s (excellent!) Chronicles of Narnia and another tacked on page of how it connects to various aspects of Christianity; this book is for you. Also for you if you wanted to know how the great epic Russian novel War and Peace ends (thanks a lot, it was on my to-read shelf!). If those weren't enough reasons for you, the (obvious) parallels the author draws (Narnia being created by the breath of Aslan, Aslan as Jesus, the ‘real’ Narnia as heaven, ect.) also include some good ole predestination theology with a bit of prosthylitizing on the side. It also lacks any appreciation of how Plato’s philosophy shaped the series, especially the end of The Last Battle. So this is for you if you don’t like philosophy either! (Here (http://diannaeanderson.net/?p=1361 ) is a nice critique of C.S. Lewis’s Platonic bias, granted I love the guy but he wasn't always right about everything!) Thankfully, it is hardly academic in tone and the word 'analysis' could not be used to describe it (sorry look elsewhere!).
July 8, 2020
To me this book was fun!
I am a big lover of the Narnia series (I think i have read them at least 4 times) and being able to see them in a deeper light made me love them even more!
This was a very quick and easy read, and it pointed out things that I even missed while reading these books! I am always trying to figure out all of the symbolism in Lewis's books and being able to see even more was a treat for me!
The only thing I wish that was in this book was more on the little things that I am still wondering about! Like why are there 5 ponds in the M.N. or what was the significance of the rings?? I still have so many questions on why Lewis wrote the things he wrote!
Overall loved it!
I am a big lover of the Narnia series (I think i have read them at least 4 times) and being able to see them in a deeper light made me love them even more!
This was a very quick and easy read, and it pointed out things that I even missed while reading these books! I am always trying to figure out all of the symbolism in Lewis's books and being able to see even more was a treat for me!
The only thing I wish that was in this book was more on the little things that I am still wondering about! Like why are there 5 ponds in the M.N. or what was the significance of the rings?? I still have so many questions on why Lewis wrote the things he wrote!
Overall loved it!
September 6, 2019
I liked this book better than Further Up, Further In, but I was a little disappointed that it wasn't deeper. I think that is because the chapters are so bite-size, which actually made it easier to finish. Whatever the case, it helped me see some symbolism in the Narnia books that I hadn't seen and that is why I read it.
September 30, 2023
Such a wonderful introspective book. Each segment supports the readers connecting the story, referencing Scriptures for each chapter and each character in the book. Beautifully written. Its narrative awakens one’s imagination. I very much enjoyed the reflective moments at the end of each fifteen chapters.
May 19, 2024
This book made me want to read the Chronicles of Narnia again, to find God in them. Bruner does an excellent job in linking several stories and events from Narnia to concepts of faith, like desire, heaven or the birth of Jesus. This is done in a very eloquent manner and spot-on references from the Bible, which reminded me of Lewis' writing style itself. A great read!
July 21, 2014
I love C.S. Lewis and I love the Narnia books so I had high hopes. But this book provided no new insights for me and it really sounded like someone's master's thesis or an academic paper. Listened to about half of it on audio and then gave up.
May 12, 2012
Very superficial
November 11, 2024
Enjoyable and surprisingly insightful at times. Makes me want to read their book on LOTR.
June 22, 2025
Finding God in the Land of Narnia adalah sebuah eksplorasi spiritual yang mengajak pembaca untuk menelusuri kedalaman makna rohani di balik dunia imajinatif Narnia ciptaan C.S. Lewis. Ditulis oleh Kurt Bruner dan Jim Ware, buku ini merupakan refleksi spiritual dari The Chronicles of Narnia yang membedah simbolisme dan pesan moral melalui lensa iman Kristen.
Setiap bab berfokus pada satu aspek cerita atau karakter tertentu—mulai dari Aslan sebagai simbol Kristus, hingga tema pengorbanan, kebajikan, dan pertumbuhan rohani para tokohnya. Penulis menyajikan pemahaman teologis yang membumi, cocok untuk pembaca awam maupun mereka yang mendalami spiritualitas.
Yang menarik, buku ini mengajak kita menemukan makna rohani dalam Narnia, tanpa kehilangan pesona fantasi khas C.S. Lewis. Dengan gaya penulisan yang reflektif dan menginspirasi, buku ini berhasil menjembatani dunia fiksi dan nilai-nilai spiritual secara elegan.
Setiap bab berfokus pada satu aspek cerita atau karakter tertentu—mulai dari Aslan sebagai simbol Kristus, hingga tema pengorbanan, kebajikan, dan pertumbuhan rohani para tokohnya. Penulis menyajikan pemahaman teologis yang membumi, cocok untuk pembaca awam maupun mereka yang mendalami spiritualitas.
Yang menarik, buku ini mengajak kita menemukan makna rohani dalam Narnia, tanpa kehilangan pesona fantasi khas C.S. Lewis. Dengan gaya penulisan yang reflektif dan menginspirasi, buku ini berhasil menjembatani dunia fiksi dan nilai-nilai spiritual secara elegan.
January 31, 2018
Es triste decir adiós.
El año pasado me despedí de cada uno de los personajes de las Crónicas de Narnia y me dolió demasiado el corazón.
Ahora con este libro fue como reencontrarte con amigos y ahora al fin me he despedido de estos personajes, pero duele.
Aún que fue hermoso ver el trasfondo de C. S. Lewis que dejó en estos libros.
El año pasado me despedí de cada uno de los personajes de las Crónicas de Narnia y me dolió demasiado el corazón.
Ahora con este libro fue como reencontrarte con amigos y ahora al fin me he despedido de estos personajes, pero duele.
Aún que fue hermoso ver el trasfondo de C. S. Lewis que dejó en estos libros.
March 31, 2018
This is lovely book that reveals the Biblical themes in the Chronicles of Narnia without being analytical. He identifies themes in all seven books and compares those themes the principles of Christianity. Because I taught these stories for thirty years, I appreciated the clarity and straightforwardness of the commentary.
March 14, 2021
A good read for it discusses a more deeper understanding of what C.S. Lewis wants the audience to perceive about Aslan. The book itself has a lot of reflection that you would realize you actually agree to. I learned so much from this book and I was able to appreciate The Chronicles of Narnia more than the time I first read it.
January 22, 2019
A reminder again of how powerful The Chronicles of Narnia series is not just as a story, but as a reflection of Christian faith. In particular, it continuously emphasized how our excitement and joy in experiencing Narnia and seeing Aslan should be the same for Heaven and Jesus.
January 14, 2019
I love how that take specific pieces of the series and show God in each piece with Scripture references. Easy read and very interesting!
February 18, 2019
Una gran lectura .. hermosa de inicio a fin junto con sus comparaciones y la base de él por qué salió ese magnífico mundo
November 25, 2019
A stirring, penetrating analysis of the many theological symbols found within Lewis's Narnian world, and a work I now look forward to sharing with my own children.
December 5, 2020
Good material for the audiobook format. A quick listen.
September 30, 2021
Must be on every child or young adult book shelf. Wonderful imagination.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews