The Christmas CarolThe Christmas Carol as Christian Truthas Christian Truth

How Christian is Charles Dickens?How Christian is Charles Dickens?

Session Two: November 30, 2014

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know themthem. 21 Not every one that saith unto . 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.will of my Father which is in heaven.

The Word to Live ByThe Word to Live By

Mathew 7:19-21 (KJV)

Session Truth:Session Truth:

Charles Dickens would certainly have Charles Dickens would certainly have defined himself as a Christian defined himself as a Christian

As noted last week, his text makes it As noted last week, his text makes it clear that a Christ-less Christmas was clear that a Christ-less Christmas was the furthest from his mind.the furthest from his mind.

His life contains mixed symbols.His life contains mixed symbols.

His work is otherwise.His work is otherwise.

An imperfect vessel:An imperfect vessel:

However his imperfections' as a man are, in However his imperfections' as a man are, in fact, a mute point since fact, a mute point since truth is truth, truth is truth, even even when told by an unbeliever. when told by an unbeliever.

And the truth is that Dickens has prepared a And the truth is that Dickens has prepared a work which shows both a Christ-like concern work which shows both a Christ-like concern for the poor as well as the Christ-for the poor as well as the Christ-empowered pattern required for a true empowered pattern required for a true change of heart. change of heart.

48 And [Jesus] said unto them, Whosoever 48 And [Jesus] said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. 49 And John all, the same shall be great. 49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for usnot against us is for us..

..

Scripture:Scripture:

Luke 9: 48-50 (KJV)

Chapter Overview:Chapter Overview:

The Question of Dickens’ Christianity The Question of Dickens’ Christianity His deep relationships with Christmas.His deep relationships with Christmas. The Christian Inspiration of Dickens’ A The Christian Inspiration of Dickens’ A

Christmas CarolChristmas Carol A Christ-less Christmas was unthinkable to A Christ-less Christmas was unthinkable to

Dickens--Jesus’ found throughout the text.Dickens--Jesus’ found throughout the text. Dickens wrote his “little carol” in less than Dickens wrote his “little carol” in less than

seven weeks.seven weeks. Not so exaggerated, but gloriously probable.Not so exaggerated, but gloriously probable.

Was Charles Dickens Was Charles Dickens A Christian?A Christian?

The famous Russian novelist Fyodr The famous Russian novelist Fyodr Dostoevsky spoke of Dickens as a “great Dostoevsky spoke of Dickens as a “great Christian.”Christian.”

Not a Simple Question to Answer:Not a Simple Question to Answer: One, we scholars know that he was far from

perfect. Late in his life Dickens’ marriage floundered.

This is common enough, but he placed the blame for the breakup publicly, in the magazine or which he was the editor, entirely upon her.

Even among his closest friends, the opinion was held that he behaved badly towards Elizabeth who in spite of this remained respectful of him and later of his memory throughout their separate lives.

On the other hand, claims that Dickens On the other hand, claims that Dickens had an affair with the young (the age of had an affair with the young (the age of his daughter) actress Ellen Lawless his daughter) actress Ellen Lawless Ternan, is more the product of a Ternan, is more the product of a sexualized modern mindset than a sexualized modern mindset than a Victorian one. Victorian one.

Also one terrible event should not define Also one terrible event should not define

an individual’s faith not for King David an individual’s faith not for King David and not for Charles Dickensand not for Charles Dickens

SecondSecond,, he was a Unitarianhe was a Unitarian, which for many , which for many conservative believers means a belief system conservative believers means a belief system without any overt claims of Christ’s divinity. without any overt claims of Christ’s divinity. (A Unitarian friend of mine in graduate (A Unitarian friend of mine in graduate school once responded to my enquiry of what school once responded to my enquiry of what Unitarians believed with “Well, we actually Unitarians believed with “Well, we actually don’t have that much that is demanded of us don’t have that much that is demanded of us to believe, but we still like to get together for to believe, but we still like to get together for pot luck suppers!”pot luck suppers!”

However, his friend and his first biographer, However, his friend and his first biographer, John Foster, maintains that he was drawn to John Foster, maintains that he was drawn to the movement because of its active interest in the movement because of its active interest in the poor and that he, in fact, remained the poor and that he, in fact, remained orthodox in his belief throughout his life.orthodox in his belief throughout his life.

It is true that especially in the Victorian period there were It is true that especially in the Victorian period there were many Unitarians who remained orthodox and in fact many Unitarians who remained orthodox and in fact evangelical in their Christian beliefs evangelical in their Christian beliefs

As for evangelicals, especially Methodists, Dickens had As for evangelicals, especially Methodists, Dickens had formed formed

a very low opinion of a very low opinion of

them early in his life them early in his life

for their tendency to for their tendency to

allow anyone who allow anyone who

claimed to spirit to be a minister. claimed to spirit to be a minister.

Meanwhile Dickens did not trust the high Meanwhile Dickens did not trust the high church tendencies within the very formal church tendencies within the very formal elements of the Church of England. elements of the Church of England.

His friend Foster while maintaining “the His friend Foster while maintaining “the safety” of Dickens' belief, rather safety” of Dickens' belief, rather ambiguously refers to it as being ambiguously refers to it as being characterized by a "depth of sentiment characterized by a "depth of sentiment rather than clearness of faith" (ii, 147).rather than clearness of faith" (ii, 147).

ThirdThird He did not speak of his faith overtly in He did not speak of his faith overtly in public.public.

In a time when faith was often used as a way In a time when faith was often used as a way to raise oneself up socially, Dickens to raise oneself up socially, Dickens refused to refused to make public pronouncements about his belief make public pronouncements about his belief systemsystem. .

In fact not long before he died he was queried In fact not long before he died he was queried by a clergyman about the ideas of Christianity by a clergyman about the ideas of Christianity within his novels. In response he wrote: “I within his novels. In response he wrote: “I have always striven in my writings to express have always striven in my writings to express veneration for the life and lessons of Our veneration for the life and lessons of Our Savior, because I feel it. . Savior, because I feel it. . . But I have never . But I have never made proclamation of this from the housetopsmade proclamation of this from the housetops” ” (Qtd. in the Forward to (Qtd. in the Forward to Life of Our LordLife of Our Lord 4). 4).

Yet in spite of these questions Dickens Yet in spite of these questions Dickens seems to have held to the last a reliance seems to have held to the last a reliance upon faith When Dickens bade farewell to upon faith When Dickens bade farewell to his sixteen-year-old son Plorn, who was his sixteen-year-old son Plorn, who was off to Australia, he wrote: off to Australia, he wrote: "I put a New Testament among your books, "I put a New Testament among your books,

for the very same reasons, and with the very for the very same reasons, and with the very same hopes that made me write an easy same hopes that made me write an easy account of it for you, when you were a little account of it for you, when you were a little child...." (Qtd in Johnson, ii: 1100).child...." (Qtd in Johnson, ii: 1100).

The Life of Our LordThe Life of Our Lord

This Life of Our Lord was a family secret into the twentieth century because Dickens forbade its publication by his children. His grandchildren also followed his wishes and it was not until his great grandchildren came along that it was published in the 1930s. This clearly would have been a major best seller, but Dickens did not want profit from this project.

In spite of this vagueness of orthodoxy there In spite of this vagueness of orthodoxy there is no debate among scholars that Christian is no debate among scholars that Christian principles and Christian images of at the principles and Christian images of at the center of Dickens’ attitudes towards the center of Dickens’ attitudes towards the poor and towards the reclamation of poor and towards the reclamation of individuals.individuals.

Steven Marcus, the famous Dickens scholar, says Steven Marcus, the famous Dickens scholar, says forthrightly that of course Dickens was a Christian.” forthrightly that of course Dickens was a Christian.”

The English writer George Orwell said of Charles The English writer George Orwell said of Charles Dickens: “he ‘believed’ undoubtedly.Dickens: “he ‘believed’ undoubtedly.

Dickens’ involvement with Dickens’ involvement with ChristmasChristmas

His view of life was later to be described or His view of life was later to be described or dismissed as "Christmas philosophy," and he dismissed as "Christmas philosophy," and he himself spoke of himself spoke of "Carol philosophy" "Carol philosophy" as the as the basis of a projected work. basis of a projected work.

““The Carol” immediately entered the general The Carol” immediately entered the general

consciousness; Thackeray, in a review, called consciousness; Thackeray, in a review, called it "a national benefit, and to every man and it "a national benefit, and to every man and woman who reads it a personal kindness." woman who reads it a personal kindness."

His "philosophy," never very elaborated, involved more His "philosophy," never very elaborated, involved more than wanting the Christmas spirit to prevail throughout the than wanting the Christmas spirit to prevail throughout the year, but his great attachment to Christmas (in his family year, but his great attachment to Christmas (in his family life as well as his writings) is indeed significant and has life as well as his writings) is indeed significant and has contributed to his popularity. contributed to his popularity.

"Dickens dead?" exclaimed a   London costermonger's girl "Dickens dead?" exclaimed a   London costermonger's girl in 1870. "Then will Father Christmas die too?"--a tribute in 1870. "Then will Father Christmas die too?"--a tribute both to his association with Christmas and to the both to his association with Christmas and to the mythological status of the man as well as of his workmythological status of the man as well as of his work

Dickens’ Christianity in the “Carol Dickens’ Christianity in the “Carol Philosophy” of Philosophy” of A Christmas Carol.A Christmas Carol. As mentioned a Christ-less Christmas was As mentioned a Christ-less Christmas was

unthinkable to Dickens. unthinkable to Dickens. Even though he was Even though he was criticized even in his own time for not being overt criticized even in his own time for not being overt about his faith.about his faith.

The most famous example is Ruskin's comment to The most famous example is Ruskin's comment to a friend that Dickens' Christmas was nothing more a friend that Dickens' Christmas was nothing more than than "mistletoe and pudding--neither resurrection "mistletoe and pudding--neither resurrection from the dead, nor rising of new stars, not teaching from the dead, nor rising of new stars, not teaching of wise men, nor shepherds." of wise men, nor shepherds." (Qt. in Davis 59).(Qt. in Davis 59).

Actual textual references to Actual textual references to Christ. . .Christ. . .

[Fred] "I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when [Fred] "I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round--it has come round--apart from the veneration due to its sacred apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from thatthat--as a good time; a kind, forgiving time. . . " (Dickens 62). --as a good time; a kind, forgiving time. . . " (Dickens 62).

[Marley] "Why did I walk through the crowds of fellow-beings [Marley] "Why did I walk through the crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down and never raised them to with my eyes turned down and never raised them to that blessed that blessed Star which led Wise Men to a poor abode? Star which led Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?" (Dickens homes to which its light would have conducted me?" (Dickens 79) 79)

[Marley] "Not to know that [Marley] "Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness" short for its vast means of usefulness" (Dickens 79). (Dickens 79).

[Narrator] "He resolved to lie awake until the hour was past; and, [Narrator] "He resolved to lie awake until the hour was past; and, considering that considering that he could no more go to sleep than go to heaven, he could no more go to sleep than go to heaven, this was perhaps the wisest resolution in his power" (Dickens 84). this was perhaps the wisest resolution in his power" (Dickens 84).

[Bob] "He [Tiny Tim] told me coming home that he [Bob] "He [Tiny Tim] told me coming home that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made remember upon Christmas Day, who made beggars walk and blind men seebeggars walk and blind men see" (121). " (121).

[Narrator] "After a while they played at forfeits; for [Narrator] "After a while they played at forfeits; for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a mighty Founder was a child himselfchild himself" (Dickens 136). " (Dickens 136).

[Peter reading scripture] [Peter reading scripture] "And He took a child, and "And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them. . ." set him in the midst of them. . ." (Dickens ) (Matt (Dickens ) (Matt KJV). KJV).

[Narrator] "He [the redeemed Scrooge] [Narrator] "He [the redeemed Scrooge] went to went to churchchurch. .

But How Christian is the Carol?But How Christian is the Carol? The matches Christ’s own mission on earth:The matches Christ’s own mission on earth:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to head the broken poor; he hath sent me to head the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captive, hearted, to preach deliverance to the captive, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. ((Luke 4:18 liberty them that are bruised. ((Luke 4:18 KJV)KJV)

Jesus’ ministry was two fold: to bring help to Jesus’ ministry was two fold: to bring help to the poor and to bring salvation to the individual the poor and to bring salvation to the individual and so does Dickens’ and so does Dickens’ Christmas CarolChristmas Carol..

The PoorThe Poor Dickens from the very start said that this Dickens from the very start said that this work was work was

going to be “a sledgehammer” in favor of the poor going to be “a sledgehammer” in favor of the poor man’s child.man’s child.

He had recently been encouraged to visit ragged He had recently been encouraged to visit ragged schools which he found deplorable and it is interesting schools which he found deplorable and it is interesting that his concern about those finds its that his concern about those finds its expressions that expressions that poverty would actually block an individual from being poverty would actually block an individual from being able to pursue a relationship with Godable to pursue a relationship with God ..

The The Christmas CarolChristmas Carol was his sledgehammer was his sledgehammer for the poorfor the poor. . Remember this line from the Ghost of Christmas Present:

““It may be that in the sight of Heaven you It may be that in the sight of Heaven you are more worthless and less worthy to live are more worthless and less worthy to live than MILLIONS like this poor man’s child.”than MILLIONS like this poor man’s child.”

The Reclamation of the The Reclamation of the individual.individual.

““Why show me this if I am beyond Why show me this if I am beyond all hope?”all hope?”

Scrooge speaking to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

The Pattern of Salvation—The Pattern of Salvation—Archetypal?Archetypal?

C.S. LeC.S. Lewis wrote that. . . wis wrote that. . .

   ““There is, then, a particular kind of story There is, then, a particular kind of story

which has a value in itself--a value which has a value in itself--a value independent of its embodiment in any literary independent of its embodiment in any literary work.”work.”

An Experiment in CriticismAn Experiment in Criticism

Sigmund Freud

"Myths are the Dreams of the RaceDreams are the Myths of the Individual"---------------------Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Freudian Thought

C.G. Jung(1875-1961)

Jungian Thought

God’s Archetypal Revelation to all of Humanity

A Literal View of Belief Systems

The Exclusive Nature Endemic to Those Who Are Certain

The Pattern of Personal SalvationThe Pattern of Personal Salvation

Scrooge passes through Scrooge passes through the universal the universal pattern of true pattern of true repentance and salvation:repentance and salvation:

Starting in DeathStarting in Death Unable to Self SaveUnable to Self Save Supernatural -- Terrifying --GraceSupernatural -- Terrifying --Grace The Power of MemoryThe Power of Memory The Affirmation of ExperienceThe Affirmation of Experience The Recognition of ConsequenceThe Recognition of Consequence The Acceptance of GraceThe Acceptance of Grace

Are there Other Narratives which Are there Other Narratives which follow this Pattern?follow this Pattern?

Rime of the Ancient MarinerRime of the Ancient Mariner

How the Grinch Stole ChristmasHow the Grinch Stole Christmas

Disney’s Beauty and the BeastDisney’s Beauty and the Beast

Most Important: What about Your Own Story?

Finish this sentence: “A Finish this sentence: “A leopard cannot change leopard cannot change its. . .”its. . .”In the natural order of things, this is the In the natural order of things, this is the truth—truth—an altered life is a myth. an altered life is a myth. For For Christians including Dickens however, Christians including Dickens however, what seems to be an impossibility is, in what seems to be an impossibility is, in fact, a wonderful possibility.fact, a wonderful possibility.

Old Marely was as dead Old Marely was as dead as a doornail. . .as a doornail. . .

This must be distinctly This must be distinctly understood understood or nothing or nothing wonderfulwonderful can come of the can come of the story I am about to relate.story I am about to relate.