Overview

Authors C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien have captured the imagination of millions of readers across languages and cultures with unforgettable stories enchanting the familiar and transforming the way we look at lions, lampposts, and rings. They have also touched the way many see weightier matters of life, moral brokenness, and death. As powerful as they are, fantasy stories are primarily created for the imaginative delight of the author and the reader, and they are good in and of themselves. But are there secondary goods for stories like The Chronicles of Narnia? One lesser-known potential is that stories like these can powerfully communicate across cultures. More importantly, they can help people understand and appreciate the wonder and truth of the Christian worldview for the first time or with fresh insight. Part of what got C. S. Lewis's attention as an atheist was George MacDonald's fantasy, Phantastes. Other Watchful Dragons shows some of the best ways narrative contributes to cross-cultural apologetics through The Chronicles of Narnia. But greater still, the path there involves an exploration of the powers of narrative, seen in renowned writers George MacDonald, J. R. R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis, as well as contemporary scholarship.

Full Product Details

9798385237111

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Jonathan Parker is a gifted scholar and communicator who has opened fresh pathways for understanding the power of story in cross-cultural apologetics. With clarity and depth, he shows how narratives like C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia can bridge worldviews and invite readers to encounter the beauty and truth of the gospel. This book is both timely and important, offering Christians an imaginative and faithful resource for sharing Christ in a pluralistic age."" --David A. Croteau, Dean, Seminary and School of Counseling, Columbia International University ""In a world filled with competing stories and beliefs, Other Watchful Dragons is an essential resource. Parker bridges the worlds of literary imagination and missional urgency, providing a practical tool for missionaries, pastors, and Christians seeking to build authentic connections and share the gospel across cultures. This book offers a thoughtful analysis of Narnia, equipping the church for more thoughtful, creative, and effective witness."" --Greg Vruggink, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Asia Biblical Theological Seminary ""As Jonathan Parker's winsome study shows, when C. S. Lewis in the 1950s shifted from writing apologetics to become the chronicler of Narnia, he didn't leave his Christian apologetics at the wardrobe door. Parker draws on narrative apologetics, comparative worldviews, and cross-cultural evangelism to offer his readers fresh insights into how the Narnia stories dramatize worldviews and woo readers to treasure the beauty, goodness, and truth found in Jesus Christ."" --Steve Baarendse, Professor of English and Humanities, Columbia International University ""How did Lewis and Tolkien captivate the attention of entire generations? They found that the use of stories is sometimes a more powerful apologetic tool than a logical syllogism. Jonathan Parker's new book on narrative apologetics offers a well-researched, theologically informed, and thoughtfully constructed framework for contextualizing the Christian message in just this way. This is a must have book for any apologist seeking to inspire others to take a stroll through the Shire, navigate their way through Narnia, or eagerly embark on a brand-new journey that builds bridges between the imagination and the truths of the Christian worldview."" --Josh Waltman, Associate Professor of Theological Studies, Liberty Theological Seminary ""Jonathan Parker offers a compelling exploration of how The Chronicles of Narnia serves as a rich resource for cross-cultural apologetics. By weaving together narrative and theological insight, this work shows how Lewis's fiction not only communicates Christian truth and beauty but also challenges the coherence of competing belief systems. A vital contribution to both narrative and cross-cultural apologetics, this book reaffirms the enduring power of story in translating faith across cultures."" --Brian Autry, Executive Director, Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia ""Jonathan Parker is a gifted scholar and communicator who has opened fresh pathways for understanding the power of story in cross-cultural apologetics. With clarity and depth, he shows how narratives like C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia can bridge worldviews and invite readers to encounter the beauty and truth of the gospel. This book is both timely and important, offering Christians an imaginative and faithful resource for sharing Christ in a pluralistic age."" --David A. Croteau, Dean, Seminary and School of Counseling, Columbia International University ""In a world filled with competing stories and beliefs, Other Watchful Dragons is an essential resource. Parker bridges the worlds of literary imagination and missional urgency, providing a practical tool for missionaries, pastors, and Christians seeking to build authentic connections and share the gospel across cultures. This book offers a thoughtful analysis of Narnia, equipping the church for more thoughtful, creative, and effective witness."" --Greg Vruggink, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Asia Biblical Theological Seminary ""As Jonathan Parker's winsome study shows, when C. S. Lewis in the 1950s shifted from writing apologetics to become the chronicler of Narnia, he didn't leave his Christian apologetics at the wardrobe door. Parker draws on narrative apologetics, comparative worldviews, and cross-cultural evangelism to offer his readers fresh insights into how the Narnia stories dramatize worldviews and woo readers to treasure the beauty, goodness, and truth found in Jesus Christ."" --Steve Baarendse, Professor of English and Humanities, Columbia International University ""How did Lewis and Tolkien captivate the attention of entire generations? They found that the use of stories is sometimes a more powerful apologetic tool than a logical syllogism. Jonathan Parker's new book on narrative apologetics offers a well-researched, theologically informed, and thoughtfully constructed framework for contextualizing the Christian message in just this way. This is a must have book for any apologist seeking to inspire others to take a stroll through the Shire, navigate their way through Narnia, or eagerly embark on a brand-new journey that builds bridges between the imagination and the truths of the Christian worldview."" --Josh Waltman, Associate Professor of Theological Studies, Liberty Theological Seminary ""Jonathan Parker offers a compelling exploration of how The Chronicles of Narnia serves as a rich resource for cross-cultural apologetics. By weaving together narrative and theological insight, this work shows how Lewis's fiction not only communicates Christian truth and beauty but also challenges the coherence of competing belief systems. A vital contribution to both narrative and cross-cultural apologetics, this book reaffirms the enduring power of story in translating faith across cultures."" --Brian Autry, Executive Director, Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia

Author Information

Jonathan M. Parker is Adjunct Professor of Christianity and Culture at Washington University of Virginia and an adjunct professor at Columbia International University. He is senior pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church, a multi-ethnic church in Northern Virginia. He has also had the privilege of living abroad in Colombia and Costa Rica as well as traveling to over twenty countries in Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available