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Title: The Pilgrim's Progress (Oxford World's Classics) by John Bunyan, N.H. Keeble ISBN: 0-19-283400-2 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: April, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.83 (23 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Captivating
Comment: This book is a true classic. John Bunyan spins a wonderful tale of the spiritual walk to heaven. The language may be a bit hard and it won't be that easy of a read, but it is definately worth the while!
It is spiritually edifying and also quite captivating.
A must read!!!
Rating: 5
Summary: Classic
Comment: Pilgrim's Progress is without a doubt one of the true classics of time--an allegory that has remained a best seller years after its introduction.
My first introduction to Pilgrim's Progress was as a child in parochial school. I had to do a book report on it in 5th grade and ended up reading numerous times for various projects throughout grade school.
The reader follows the main character--aptly named "Christian"--on his journey to the Celestial City.
Along the way, Christian passes through the many trials of life, symbolized by intruiging characters and places along the way. An early temptation is the "City of Destruction", which Christian narrowly escapes with his life. The various characters are perhaps the most fascinating portion of the book--Pliable, Giant Despair, Talkative, Faithful, Evangelist, and numerous others provide the reader with a continual picture of the various forces at work to distract (or perhaps, encourage)Christian on his ultimate mission.
Of course, the theology (for those of the Christian faith) of Pilgrim's Progress is a constant source of debate, the book is nonetheless a classic of great English writing.
It's not a quick read--that's for sure--however, I certainly would recommend that one read it in its original form. Don't distort the beauty of the old English language with a modern translation.
Rating: 3
Summary: Wonderful theology, incomplete allegory
Comment: The Pilgrim's Progress is perhaps one of the most enduring allegories ever written; it has set the form for several more recent works (Hannah Hurnard's "Hind's Feet on High Places," most notably). Bunyan's work was, for 18th century Christians, a companion to the Bible. The theology is a perfect example of Reformation thought, and were it not for a major flaw in the allegory, this work would be just about perfect.
Setting out from the City of Destruction, Christian makes his journey throughout many perils and temptations, eventually finding his way (through death) to the Celestial City, to live with Christ and the saints. Along the way he learns much about evading temptation, and much practical advise on escaping sin is given to the reader through his discussions with travelling companions Faithful and Hopeful.
However, by no means is Christian's journey representative of the Christian life as it is meant to be lived. Two stunning flaws stand out - first, that Christian in no way has any direct contact with Christ, until after his death; secondly, that Christian's life is devoid of relationships, outside of his two travelling companions.
These two realities of the novel are startling, especially given that the Christian life is, first and foremost, relational-primarily, the Christian lives in relation to God, and then in relation to his neighbor. The Christian is not an island; he is to evade the world, but love those in it. Bunyan entirely misses this key point.
Not only is the life Bunyan paints theologically incorrect, but it is entirely undesireable. It would be unimaginable for the Christian to live an entire life without, along the way, enjoying intimacy with Christ. Indeed, it is these moments of intimacy in spite of imperfection, which drive the Christian's soul onward. And it hardly needs mentioning that a Christian who, rather than reaching out and loving those around him, dismisses them as sinners and leaves them behind, is more reminiscent of Pharasitical hypocrisy, than Christian love.
If one is looking for a challenging allegory, they need look no further than Hannah Hurnard's "Hinds Feet on High Places;" its protagonist, Much Afraid, is throughout her journey often in direct contact with Christ, and her redemption comes not through death, but through Christ making her able to go out into the world and love. Though "Hind's Feet" is not as theologically rich as Bunyan's allegory, its practical application is far more uplifting, hopeful, and correct.
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Title: The Pilgrim's Progress in Modern English (Pure Gold Classics) by John Bunyan, L. Edward Hazelbaker ISBN: 0882707574 Publisher: Bridge-Logos Publishers Pub. Date: 01 July, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.99 |
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Title: Pictorial Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan ISBN: 0802400191 Publisher: Moody Publishers Pub. Date: December, 1960 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen L. Taylor ISBN: 0802449263 Publisher: Moody Press Pub. Date: June, 1982 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (Penguin Classics) by John Bunyan, W. R. Owens ISBN: 0140432809 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: November, 1987 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Confessions (Oxford World's Classics) by Saint Augustine, Henry Chadwick ISBN: 0192833723 Publisher: Oxford Press Pub. Date: April, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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