John Bunyon's Pilgirm's Progress

[Scheherazade]

Am I the only one on this forum who thinks this is a highly important work?

Surely it is one of the greatest allegories in the history of the English language and one of the most impressive and meaningful translations of Christian doctrine into a more palatable story.

So, you agree that the Christian doctrine needed to be turned into a "more palatable story"?



Together with Everyman, this one left an invaluable impression on us... One that of giggle and snicker. Somehow, we found them very amusing.

[isidro]

Endearing perhaps. The stories of Christian and Everyman proves touching and soul wrenching, if one sees them in that light, because they do in fact apply to Every Man. Duh.

As I have taught religion for over 10 years now in one form or other, yes, I think that the standards are rigid though necessary and it helps to see a story in which other people fall but have the tenacity and faith to pick themselves up and keep going. We feed on each others' experiences and words, do we not? Christianity isn't easy to live by the actual doctrine and this was written in fact to teach young children. It is argued that it also inspired Little Women and that the book mentioned given to the sisters was not the New Testament but Bunyon's work. We all have our personal pilgrimages in life and this was held up as an example, not perfect like Christ but fallable like us which I think allows us to accept our mistakes without anger, resentment, or despair.