Baptized Imagination (or how to be subversive)

Not raised in any faith tradition, I converted to Christianity as an adult, drawn to it, in part, by the writings of C.S. Lewis. Turns out he didn’t start out life as a Christian, either, but was drawn to it, in part, by the writings of George MacDonald. When Lewis later converted to Christianity, he described MacDonald’s book Phantastes as having baptized his imagination. So it was with me—reading their novels had a similar effect on my imagination, as did the novels of Madeleine L’Engle, Dorothy Sayers, and Ellis Peters. Those authors inspired me with the desire to write stories that baptize the imagination of future generations. 

But how? How did they achieve that effect? 

Kerry Dearborn wrote an article in 2004 titled “The Baptized Imagination” in which she identifies three ways fantasy stories can transform the way we see reality. They provide a glimpse of (1) God’s true glory, (2) the goodness at the heart of all things, and (3) our abiding connection to creation and one another. Stories rooted in a baptized imagination do all three things. Stories that are pure escapism may leave us feeling disconnected. Those rooted in a twisted imagination just leave us feeling like we need a bath. 

Sounds like a baptized imagination is both subversive and contagious. Important, too, because it guides us to keep choosing love. Every day. Every moment. And love is the ultimate resistance to those who seek to divide, dominate, and diminish us.