This is probably not exactly what I hoped to write about my experience of reading The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyon but I have been procrastinating and I don't want to lose this accomplishment as I have to so many other posts intended for this blog that I never got around to writing. And there is no time like the present. So here I go.
I am dating this post March 3rd because that is the day I finished my reading; however, I am writing this much later (see below). Being something of a mathematical, engineering mind, I am partial to numbers and take pleasure in symmetry (03/03). I didn't plan this date but it seemed like a good place to stop my study of TPP.
My endeavor to read TPP began a few years ago when R.C. Sproul's Renewing Your Mind show featured the book in promotion of Derek Thomas' lecture series for Sproul's Ligonier Ministries. Intrigued by the several sample lectures, I provided a token donation in order to obtain the promised book and lectures DVD (see above). I had heard of TPP before but it was never on my reading list. Challenged by its label of being a classic as well as the observation that it is rare reading for today and even rarer to finish both parts, I began my study. For whatever reason, though, my efforts stalled about a quarter into the first part.
And so the book and DVD joined the heap of my other unfinished (reading) projects. My interest was rekindled during my reading of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women where it was a frequent component of the first part of that book. [An interesting connection between both LW and TPP is that both started out as a single book with a later sequel that were then combined into a single volume.]
One of the biggest challenges for me in reading TPP was the lack of chapters; it is just one long text. The lecture series didn't help by specifying the corresponding pages of the book. This is what did me in the first attempt. I became overwhelmed trying to match up the lectures with the reading and checking the scriptural references. For my second try, I set my own pace and just read something every day (no rush).
Another challenge was the antiquated syntax (I think that's the correct word). It's like the difficulty with comprehending the King James Version of the Bible but not as bad as deciphering Shakespeare.
It didn't help that the Penguin edition seemed to contain too many typos regarding the scriptural references in the margin notes. What saved me was finding an online version that had the (seemingly) correct references. This version was also divided into sections which helped me to gauge my progress. I think I was like a slow driver: going 30 mph in a 35 mph zone.
The map on the front cover was also a fun help. I wish there was a larger version because that would make it easier to follow. I do like maps, recipes for traveling. Being on the right path is helpful.
Once I finished the first part, I was eager for more. So I started over and this time made an effort to coordinate the lectures with my reading (again, not easy because an explicit guide was not part of the package). During my first attempt, I did not watch the lectures but rather listened to them via MP3 files saved to my cell phone which I listened to during my evening walks. For my second try, I did not have a good earphone so I was somewhat forced to watch the lectures. This turned out well even though the visuals were boring and virtually useless. There were no maps, illustrations, or visual supplements; just Dr. Thomas talking to a bunch of people. Fortunately, each lecture was rather short, about 25 minutes. These overviews helped to focus on the story and the various themes.
A highlight of the lectures for Part One was learning that the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was highly influenced by TPP even though he was something of an atheist. This led me initially to weekend of listening to RVW music, especially Symphony No. 5 and then No. 3. His was a fascinating life story worth its own post (alas, another of my unfinished projects). The culmination of his life's work was an opera version of TPP.
Around November (2020), I started reading The Second Part of TPP. The first part dealt with the journey of the man, Christian while the Second Part deals with his wife, Christiana, and their four boys. SPOILER ALERT: Both Christian and Christiana make it to the Celestial City (aka Heaven). The story of the four boys was saved for another potential book that was never written.
Although the book is revered as a Christian (religious) classic, I was intrigued with the political background that caused Bunyon to write these stories. The introductory material in my Penguin edition was interesting but served me merely as an appetizer. There's got to be more to the story (background): history, you know? That quest led me to my set of Durants' The Story of Civilization (but that is another post, hopefully).
Certainly the religious preaching in these books is an obstacle to the skeptic, atheist, non-Christian, Catholic, etc. However, from an intellectual and historical perspective, I found them (i.e., both parts of TPP) to be provocative. The book raises questions about (among others) deity/God, religion, life after death, reality, salvation, etc. I could write lots about the religious aspects of the story. The short answer is that it didn't convince me to convert and give my life to Jesus.
In the end, this book was like a century bike ride for me. I accomplished my goal and enjoyed the ride. The journey motivated me to start another ride with the Durants. So far so good with that.Reading has helped me to get this far through the Covid lockdown.
If you have read The Pilgrim's Progress and/or are fan of Ralph Vaughan Williams, I would love to hear from you. Any intelligent, respectful response is always welcome.
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Written Saturday 30 March 2021 (first day of Spring).
Written Saturday 30 March 2021 (first day of Spring).